With the 2024 NBA Draft class playing in their first games, now is the time to look back and evaluate the successes of the previous classes. Starting with the point guards, there have been many impressive players from that position in these past drafts. Here are the top point guards from each of the past five drafts, spanning from the 2019 NBA Draft to the 2023 NBA Draft.
Top Point Guards From Each of the Past 5 Drafts
2019: Ja Morant
The Memphis Grizzlies drafted Ja Morant 2nd overall in the 2019 NBA Draft and he has been fantastic for the franchise. Utilizing his athleticism and court vision, Morant has been able to catapult the Grizzlies into consistent playoff contenders. He even led the Grizzlies to the second seed in the Western Conference during the 2022-2023 NBA season, winning over 50 games that year. Despite concerns surrounding his size and shooting, Morant has shown that he can fully leverage his speed, explosiveness, and bounce to dice up opposing defenses. He can effortlessly finish at the basket with both finesse and power. The shooting concerns that he had pre-draft are still real as he hasn’t been a good shooter. However, He has been great in every other way offensively. Morant has lived up to his draft position and has been everything as advertised with his play on the court.
2020: Tyrese Haliburton
The Sacramento Kings drafted Tyrese Haliburton with the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Despite that, Haliburton was traded to the Pacers in exchange for Domantas Sabonis in the 2021-2022 NBA season. Since the trade, Haliburton has had the freedom to be the number one option in Indiana. With the Pacers, Haliburton has developed into one of the most exciting offensive players in the league. He can consistently knock down threes using an unorthodox form and led the league in assists last season. He has quarterbacked a top-three offense in the 2023-2024 NBA season while averaging 20.1 points and 10.9 assists. Not only that, Haliburton also brought that same team to the Eastern Conference Finals. While some of his weaknesses pre-draft are still present, he has developed into an offensive star. Without a doubt, Haliburton is the best point guard in his class.
2021: Cade Cunningham
The Detroit Pistons drafted Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The big guard from Oklahoma State has made the best out of a bad situation and developed into an excellent point guard. He has shown that he can fully utilize his size against other, smaller guards and bully them. He possesses excellent court vision and feel for the game, making him a great playmaker. Additionally, Cunningham has shown he is a good defender who can use his size to be a strong defensive presence. Last season, Cunningham showed development in his three-point shot, adding it alongside his mid-range shot-making and rim finishing. Not only that, Cunningham saw an overall increase in his stats, averaging 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists. Cunningham has been the best point guard in his class and has done the best he can with the Pistons.
2022: Andrew Nembhard
The Indiana Pacers drafted Andrew Nembhard with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. While he has started as the shooting guard playing next to Haliburton, Nembhard has more than what it takes to play point guard. Moreover, Nembhard has run as the point guard in a sixth-man role and performed well. As a prospect, Nembhard’s talents were his abilities as a shot creator and playmaker. He knows how to both score and pass in the pick-and-roll. Not only that, but Nembhard is a great ball-handler and a good defender. All of the strengths he showed in college translated over to the NBA and he has shown improvements in areas like shooting. Due to his success, Nembhard has shown himself to be the best point guard in his draft class.
2023: Keyonte George
The Utah Jazz drafted Keyonte George with the 16th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Without a doubt, George has had the most impressive rookie campaign out of all the rookie point guards last season. For his efforts on the season, George was named to the All-Rookie Second Team, which shows how good he was. While not the most efficient, George had many impressive scoring outings throughout the season and his shooting stood out. Additionally, his playmaking looked much better than when he was in college. Other players like Scoot Henderson or Anthony Black may go on to have greater careers than George. However, as it stands, George has shown the most out of any of the point guards in the 2023 NBA Draft.
