It's no secret that point guard play in the NBA is at one of the highest levels it has ever been. Thanks to an influx of talent in recent drafts, as well as some veterans who haven't yet lost a step, it seems every team that's contending for the title this year has one of the league's best point guards.
While there are exceptions to this new rule, it's clear that the NBA is becoming a point guard's league and will be for year's to come. All the evidence you need to know that is in the Skills Challenge for this year's All-Star Weekend. Sure the Slam Dunk Contest or the Three-point Contest might provide more highlight reel moments, but the Skills Challenge will be a treat to any one who is a fan of the current NBA.
Five of the league's most electrifying point guards will participate and it's anyone's guess which one will take home the trophy.
Click over to our slideshow to preview the participants.
Stephen Curry is the least-traditional point guard on this list. In fact, he's a point guard in name only as he and backcourt mate Monta Ellis are much more likely to bomb away on offense, even though both are capable of throwing a no-look pass (yet Curry is still managing six assists per game this season).The challenge emphasizes speed, passing accuracy, and shooting. Curry's the best long-range shooter of this bunch, but the other contestants are simply better passers and faster than him.REUTERSNow we get to the tricky part, because it's possible that anyone of these next four can win it.Wall would be one of the most-exciting NBA rookies ever if it weren't for Blake Griffin. Griffin has been so superb this season that he is overshadowing the fantastic season Wall is having, and overshadowing the fact that Wall has the Wizards back on track to becoming a playoff team in the future.Wall is fast and explosive, he's going to be able to maneuver through the challenge in an effortless manner. The jump shot portion might give him trouble though as that is the weakest aspect of his game—though only because Wall uses his speed to get to the basket so easily he's never had to rely on his jump shot.However, Wall is the only one of the remaining contestants who is not playing in the actual All-Star Game. Will the other three take it easy in order to show off their skills on Sunday? John Wall is a competitor, so if that's the case, he'll be right there to pounce on the opportunity.REUTERSRussell Westbrook might be even faster than John Wall. He's a whirling dervish who is enjoying his best year yet as a pro. Along with Kevin Durant, he's part of a Oklahoma City Thunder core that might be the NBA's next dynasty.Russell took a leap this season and his stat-lines show it. Furthermore, he's going to want to hit the ground running and make this an All-Star Weekend to remember since he wasn't voted in as a starter for the Western Conference. He's going to come into this event and attempt to show the fans they voted for the wrong guy, and it won't be surprising if he's right.REUTERSDerrick Rose has also taken a leap, but his leap as taken him from best young point guard in the league to possibly best point guard overall—and arguably one of the best players in the league—and his team has shown remarkable improvement as well. He won this event as a rookie and is known for being one of the most competitive players in the NBA. But coming off a huge national TV game against the Spurs where he scored a career-high 42, and set to start in the main game for the first time, might Rose be saving himself to put on a show for the national TV audience on Sunday? He's proven that he's one of the league's best point guards already, why wouldn't he focus on proving he was one of the league's best players in the big game?REUTERSStrides made by other players aside, Chris Paul is still the best point guard in the NBA. Just look at his effect on the Hornets. The team struggles to score but plays great defense, and if it weren't for Paul, they would be in even more trouble.Paul missed a big chunk of last season, but he's back in his grove this year. What better time to declare he's back then? Look for him to quietly dominate this challenge and then show everyone that the best point guard in the league title is still his to lose during the All-Star Game.REUTERS
