Which point guards had the best 2017?
Magazine covers, political drama, and a little bit of European basketball - this year provided some amazing moments for some of the world's best point guards.
Which five enjoyed the best 2017, both on and off the court?
1. Russell Westbrook - Oklahoma City Thunder
"MVP! MVP! MVP!" Russell Westbrook had himself a tremendous 2017, finishing the 2016-17 season with the NBA's first triple-double average since Oscar Robertson in 1962. In all, Westbrook posted 37 of them in 2017.
He won the league MVP over James Harden last season and managed to get a relatively subpar Oklahoma City roster into the playoffs. Despite some early struggles this season, he's still averaging close to another triple-double with 23.9 points, 9.9 assists, and 9.4 rebounds per game.
Looking away from his dominating on-court performances, Westbrook has also become a walking style guide for all athletes. Sports Illustrated even has him listed as the best-dressed athlete of 2017. It's been a great year all-around for one of the most intense athletes in the NBA.
| 2017 Dates | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01 - 04/12 | 47 | 32.1 | 10.8 | 10.1 | 42.0 | 34.8 |
| Playoffs | 5 | 37.4 | 11.6 | 10.8 | 38.8 | 26.5 |
| 10/17 - 12/25 | 34 | 23.9 | 9.4 | 9.9 | 41.6 | 31.6 |
2. Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry played the role of champion and activist in 2017. After his Golden State Warriors hoisted their second Larry O'Brien trophy in three years, Curry went ahead and openly declined President Donald Trump's invitation to the White House.
Curry's power was on display when the President subsequently revoked the Warriors' invitation altogether. Such a statement by Curry displayed the value of athletes expressing their views and showed it can make a difference. It doesn't hurt that his 2017 numbers have been as great as always with Kevin Durant by his side.
Besides winning championship No. 2, Curry cracked the top 10 in career 3-pointers made and is currently ranked eighth all time with 2,000. The NBA's favorite baby face has continued to be one of the most efficient and productive players in the game.
| 2017 Dates | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01 - 4/12 | 45 | 26.3 | 4.6 | 7.2 | 47.0 | 41.7 |
| Playoffs | 17 | 28.1 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 48.4 | 41.9 |
| 10/17 - 12/25 | 23 | 26.3 | 5.1 | 6.6 | 47.3 | 38.1 |
3. Kyrie Irving - Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics
It's been a strange but exciting year for Kyrie Irving. He made it to a third straight NBA Finals before falling to Curry's Warriors in five games. Regardless, Irving wanted to move on from the shadow of LeBron James and didn't want to be a sidekick on the Cleveland Cavaliers anymore. He wanted his own team.
Those wishes came true when Irving was traded to Boston, where he's proved to be very effective without James. The Celtics won 16 straight games early in the season, as Irving finally became the focal point of a successful roster. He's been one of the top clutch players in the league this season.
Irving also made headlines throughout the year with his philosophical side, trolling reporters by discussing his belief that the earth is flat. Saying he doesn't believe Christmas is a holiday was the icing on the cake.
Oh, and "Uncle Drew" the movie was announced! It's been wild 2017 for Irving.
| 2017 Dates | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01 - 04/12 | 43 | 26.1 | 2.9 | 5.7 | 46.8 | 39.1 |
| Playoffs | 18 | 25.9 | 2.8 | 5.3 | 46.8 | 37.3 |
| 10/17 - 12/25 | 35 | 24.7 | 3.0 | 4.9 | 49.1 | 41.0 |
4. John Wall - Washington Wizards
John Wall got paid. A lot. And deservedly so after his outstanding 2017, during which he led the Washington Wizards to the second round of the playoffs, pushing the top-seeded Boston Celtics to seven games.
Wall averaged career highs in points and assists, and posted a career high in field-goal percentage. He also made his first-ever All-NBA team in 2017 before inking an enormous four-year, $170-million extension with the Wizards. With the yearly increases, Wall will make just under $47 million in the final season of his deal.
Through the first two months of the current season, Wall has had some injury troubles that have slowed him down. He's seen a drop in production with the emergence of Bradley Beal as well, but that doesn't change the fact that Wall gave himself plenty to smile about this year.
| 2017 Dates | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01 - 04/12 | 48 | 22.9 | 4.0 | 11.1 | 44.3 | 32.5 |
| Playoffs | 11 | 27.2 | 3.7 | 10.3 | 45.2 | 34.4 |
| 10/17 - 12/25 | 23 | 18.6 | 3.8 | 8.8 | 41.4 | 33.0 |
5. Goran Dragic - Miami Heat (and Slovenia!)
Yeah, it seems strange to have Goran Dragic in the top five. No, he isn't a top-five point guard in the NBA. But in terms of 2017? Few matched his remarkable year, in which he led the Miami Heat to a late-season surge followed by a special performance at Eurobasket.
Sure, the Heat missed the playoffs last season. But just barely, and they shouldn't have even been in the conversation after their terrible start to campaign. Dragic was the best player on a team that went 30-11 in the second half of the season - the best mark in the Eastern Conference over that span. His drive-and-kick game fueled the Heat's run.
He may not have played in the playoffs, but Dragic was a superstar during this summer's Eurobasket tournament. Dragic led underdog Slovenia to victories over France and Spain before beating Serbia in the final. With all that in mind, you don't need to be a top-five point guard to have a top-five year.
| 2017 Dates | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01 - 04/12 | 46 | 21.2 | 3.7 | 5.3 | 48.9 | 40.5 |
| Eurobasket | 9 | 22.6 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 48.2 | 38.5 |
| 10/17 - 12/25 | 30 | 16.4 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 44.0 | 37.2 |