The NBA is over 70 years old now, and its history is littered with great performances from giant centers, skilled forwards, and nifty guards. But it’s the smaller guards who tend to capture our attention as fans more than anyone else. They’re the ones that must overcome a size disadvantage by being quicker, sneakier, more agile, peskier, or just downright better. And with the introduction of the three point line in the 80s, the smaller guards had another new advantage: shooting.
The older NBA game tilted heavily towards its big men. Names like Wilt, Kareem, Mikan, and others dominated the early decades while guards were typically supporting players. In the modern game, guards are the stars. So who are the greatest 25 guards in NBA history? Let’s count them down from 25 to 1, starting with a few honorable mentions that didn’t quite make the list…
