TOP 5 Friday...Point Guard Edition

Since ESPN created a list of the Top 20 Athletes in the past 20 years and, in our opinion, they couldn't have been more wrong with the entire list, we've decided to make our Top 5 Friday something similar for the next few weeks. We will be going through the Top 5 Point Guards, Shooting Guards, Small/Power Forwards and Centers in the past 25 years. This week we'll start it off with the Top 5 Point Guards.

5- Steve Nash- This 2-time MVP was one of the smoothest pick and roll players the game as ever seen. He turned little known guys into All Stars and was one of the best free throw shooters throughout his career. He wasn't necessarily known for his defense, but he was a key member of the "7 seconds or less Suns" that had as much success as any team in the West for a few years, but couldn't get over that last hump...The Spurs.

4- Gary "The Glove" Payton- My All-Time favorite player, GP was one of the best 2-way players of our generation. He led the 96 Sonics to the finals, only to run into Jordan and the Bulls. Between playing lock-down defense on opposing teams best players, to tossing ally ops to the Rain Man, GP had that killer instinct and confidence that made him a perennial All Star and Hall of Fame player.

3- Jason Kidd- Initially known as "Ason" Kidd because he had no J, this-now Milwaukee Bucks head coach is in the Top 5 of 3 pointers made in NBA history as well as 2nd in assists. He was one of the best in the fast break and as he slowed down later in his career, finally got a championship with the Dallas Mavericks and became a very underrated defender.

2- John Stockton- My SECOND All-Time favorite player and the record holder for most assists and steals in NBA History. He and The Mailman were amazing to watch as they shredded defenses with the most basic Pick-n-Roll. They made it look so easy and it was, in large part, due to Stocktons' ability to see the play develop before the defense even knew what was happening. It was a shame he never got to win a ring, but he was part of the greatest team ever assembled during the 1992 Olympics and The Dream Team.

1- Tony Parker- Do I think that Parker has more skills than the other four PGs mentioned on this list, no, however, he was one of the most important players on a Spurs team that has won 4 championships and looks poised to defend its title this year. He is the youngest player to 1,000 games so hes been healthy and his game has evolved from someone who couldn't hit a 15-foot jump shot, to someone who you cant go under the screen to defend. I've also never seen a player of his size finish as well as he does around the rim. It is amazing some of the shots he gets off!



Maybe Parker isn't the most skilled of the Top 5 PGs in the past 25 years, but he's been the leader of the Spurs for over 10 years and he has the most hardware. At the end of the day, that's the most important thing!