Mount Rushmore of NBA Point Guards Since 2000

So many great Point Guards have cycled through the NBA over the last 21 years. We have gotten to see the Point Guard go from a heavy pass-first position to a more balanced game with scoring and passing holding the same weight and now in the current NBA we see score-first point guards as the positions top tier.

It was hard to keep certain guys off this list but that's what happens when making a Mount Rushmore. So let me know if you agree or disagree with the list by @ing us on our Twitter account @LeftBenchTweets. Without further ado lets get to the Mount Rushmore.

Chris Paul, 2005-Present

You just cant have this Mount Rushmore without the Point God. Since entering the league in 2005 CP3 has never had a season with less than 6.5 assists and 15 points. To put things in perspective, he has more seasons of those numbers than Lebron in less years. Chris Paul has led the NBA in assists and steals a combined 10 times, solidifying himself as not only one of the greatest 2-way point guards of the millennium but in the history of the league as well. In his 15th season he was traded to from the championship caliber Rockets to the Oklahoma City Thunder and entering that season the Thunder had a 0.2% chance of making the post-season according to ESPN BPI. What did Chris Paul do? He proves all the haters wrong that were counting him out and calling him washed and leads the Thunder to playoff averaging 17.6 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.6 steals.

The most impressive part of Paul's long storied career is just how long he been doing it for. He is 1 of 2 players from his draft class still currently on an NBA roster (Lou Will is the other one) and in his 16th season has led the Phoenix Suns to the Western Conferences #2 seed at the all star break which looks like its going to lead to the Sun's first playoff berth since the 2009-2010 season. Yes a player in his 16th season is going to be the reason that one of the NBA's most starved franchise's will finally see the light at the end of the tunnel that its been looking for, for so long. He also has the Suns sitting with an Offensive Rating of 115.6, tied with the 2016-2017 Warriors who is arguably the greatest team of all time.

Lets not question anything and just appreciate the Point God while we have him.

Steve Nash, 1996-2015

Yes, I know that Steve Nash was drafted in the 90's but he is easily one of the greatest point guards of the new millennium. Nash is 7 time All-NBA with 2 MVP's on his resume, tied with Steph Curry for most MVP's for a point guard since 2000, pretty good company to be in.

He was the floor general for 6 offenses that led the NBA in offensive rating in their respective seasons, 3 on the Mavs and 3 on the Suns. Those 6 seasons are all good to be ranked in the top 20 of the highest offensive ratings of all time. Yea, he's that good. He is the 11th most efficient 3 point shooter in NBA history, ahead of 3 point specialist's Klay Thompson and Duncan Robinson, and the 3 ball was just another part of his Offensive Arsenal. His passing is top tier in NBA history. Nash led the NBA in assists 5 times and averaged double digit assists in 7 of his 18 seasons. Whether he was splitting defenders with a beautiful bounce pass or doing his iconic behind the back, he always seemed to put on a show with his passing.

If him being that dominant on the court as a player wasn't enough, he has a very good chance of dominating the coaching aspect of the game as a coach for the Nets.

Steph Curry, 2009-Present

This one was too obvious. He is the greatest shooter in NBA history, 3 time NBA champion, led the 2015-2016 Warriors to the greatest regular season record in NBA history, 2 time NBA MVP, all time free throw percentage leader, holds the record for 3 pointers in a season, and so many more ridiculous records and accolades for his resume. He is easily going to destroy the NBA's all time 3 point record. Right now he is sitting at #2 putting himself 300 makes behind Ray Allen, Steph will be the record holder by some point next season at 33 years old. At such a young age that only means he has a few years to distance himself even more from everyone trying to catch him.

Not many players in the leagues history have a better highlight tape than Steph. He puts people in a state of shock and awe night in and night out whether he's casually hitting a 30 footer, shattering a defenders ankles, or performing one of his acrobatic layups. I say with lots of confidence, we will never see a better shooter than Steph Curry.

Damian Lillard, 2012-Present

Damian Lillard is the only point guard of this current generation that sniffs Curry when it comes to offensive game. He's a dog on offense and can score from anywhere on the court. He's 10th all time in 50 point games and has a higher career scoring average than Steph Curry, who many say is the greatest or 2nd greatest Point Guard in NBA history.

The best aspect of Dame's game is being at his best when it matters most. Dame Time is some of the most exciting few minutes in sports. If its a close game in the 4th quarter odds are that Lillard becomes super human and leads his team to the win with ridiculously clutch buckets and rarely missing in the process. In clutch time (the last 5 minutes of the game, essentially Dame Time) Damian Lillard currently leads the NBA this season with over 5 ppg.

Just giving Dame Dollar the respect he deserves considering he is one of the most disrespected and underrated players in NBA history.