American media ranks the top 20 point guards in history: Magic Johnson tops Curry, while Paul is 6th and Doncic is 19th.

On July 24th, Beijing time, the well-known American media Hoops Hype updated its list of the top 79 basketball stars in history and began updating the top 20 rankings for each position. The first to be released was the list of the top 20 point guards in history. Magic Johnson surpasses Curry to take the top spot, Paul ranks 6th, and Doncic is in 19th place.

The specific rankings are as follows—

Positions 1-5: 1. Magic Johnson, 2. Curry, 3. Oscar Robertson, 4. Jerry West, 5. Isiah Thomas;

Positions 6-10: 6. Paul, 7. Stockton, 8. Nash, 9. Cousy, 10. Kidd;

Positions 11-15: 11. Payton, 12. Westbrook, 13. Lillard, 14. Frazier, 15. Archibald;

Positions 16-20: 16. Maravich, 17. Parker, 18. Irving, 19. Doncic, 20. Wilkins

Here is a brief analysis of the top-ranked Magic Johnson and the currently active stars on the list—

1. "Magic" Johnson

Top honors: 5-time NBA champion, 3-time Finals MVP, 3-time regular season MVP, 9-time NBA First Team, 12-time All-Star, 1 Olympic gold medal

Regular season stats ranking: 7th in assists, 23rd in steals, 88th in scoring, 154th in rebounds, 403rd in blocks

As the consensus best point guard in NBA history, Magic Johnson is a leading figure of one of the greatest teams ever. He combines a flashy playing style with dazzling performances on the court, often delivering spectacular passes in fast breaks. Many of his passing techniques, even if attempted by others, are hard to match in success rate. Magic is also known for his ability to shine in big moments, frequently contributing iconic performances in crucial games. Coupled with his charismatic personality, he is considered one of the most complete superstars in league history.

2. Curry

Top honors: 4-time NBA champion, 1-time Finals MVP, 2-time regular season MVP, 1-time Conference Finals MVP, 4-time NBA First Team, 11-time All-Star, 1 Olympic gold medal, 2 World Cup gold medals

Regular season stats ranking: 24th in scoring, 29th in assists, 43rd in steals, 301st in rebounds

Curry has transformed the way basketball is played—now, nearly every player on the court aspires to shoot three-pointers, and teams require players to have three-point shooting skills to keep up with modern offensive pace. Not only is Curry a shooting master, but his playmaking ability is also underrated. This future Hall of Famer from Davidson College has long been regarded as the greatest shooter of all time, with a significant lead over his peers.

The 2024-25 season is another outstanding personal season for Curry, as he has once again been selected for the All-Star game (and won the All-Star MVP) and the All-NBA team. Although team success may be hard to sustain, as long as he can maintain this level for a while, his claim to be the "greatest point guard in history" will become even more convincing.

6. Paul

Top honors: 11-time All-NBA, 12-time All-Star, 7-time NBA All-Defensive First Team, 2 Olympic gold medals

Regular season stats ranking: 2nd in steals and assists, 36th in scoring, 196th in rebounds

"Point God" Paul is one of the most reliable floor generals in NBA history, often likened to a "head coach" on the court—he positions teammates optimally, dismantles opponents with pick-and-roll tactics, and can score at a high level when needed. His mid-range shooting touch is exceptional, giving him outstanding scoring ability.

The only regret in Paul's legendary career is the lack of an NBA championship ring, but regardless of whether he fulfills that dream, he will undoubtedly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Furthermore, when considering "pound-for-pound" strength, he is also one of the greatest players in basketball history.

12. Westbrook

Top honors: 1-time regular season MVP, 9-time All-NBA, 9-time All-Star, 1 Olympic gold medal, 1 World Cup gold medal

Regular season stats ranking: 8th in assists, 16th in steals, 20th in scoring, 65th in rebounds, 363rd in blocks

Westbrook is one of the most energetic players in NBA history, bringing intensity to every minute he spends on the court—often battling bigger opponents for rebounds and sprinting down the court for dunks in fast breaks. Of course, like almost all players, age has affected this former "triple-double machine": as his athleticism and energy have declined, his on-court efficiency is no longer at peak levels.

Even so, Westbrook is undoubtedly still one of the greatest players in NBA history. At his peak, his statistical performances were "video game-like." Perhaps when his career comes to an end, people will look back on this journey with greater appreciation.

13. Lillard

Top honors: 7-time All-NBA, 9-time All-Star, 1 NBA Cup champion, 1 Olympic gold medal

Regular season stats ranking: 37th in scoring, 41st in assists, 256th in steals, 448th in rebounds

Unless Lillard can achieve an extraordinary recovery from his Achilles injury (which is exceedingly rare at his age), it is unlikely he will continue to climb in this ranking, which is quite unfortunate. Nevertheless, Lillard remains one of the best "scoring-first" point guards in history, possessing elite shooting skills and a history filled with clutch performances. However, he still lacks top-tier team achievements, and his time to chase a championship is running out.

18. Irving

Top honors: 1-time NBA champion, 3-time All-NBA, 9-time All-Star, 1 Olympic gold medal, 1 World Cup gold medal, 1 World Cup MVP

Regular season stats ranking: 76th in scoring, 100th in assists, 175th in steals, 453rd in blocks

Irving may be the most skilled ball-handler in NBA history, with his game-winning shot in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals forever etched in memory—it was this crucial shot that helped the Cavaliers secure their first championship. As one of the most skilled finishers around the rim, Irving is nearly unstoppable when driving to the basket. Although he often finds himself in controversies, his talent remains irresistibly appealing to fans and team management alike.

19. Doncic

Top honors: 1-time Western Conference Finals MVP, 5-time All-NBA First Team, 5-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, 1 European Championship gold medal, 1 EuroLeague title, 1 EuroLeague MVP

Regular season stats ranking: 156th in assists, 237th in scoring, 439th in rebounds

Last season, he averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Midway through this season, the Mavericks traded this Slovenian star to the Lakers, and this trade is considered one of the most shocking trades in NBA history—the value of the trade assets was even less than what the Knicks paid to acquire Bridges.

At just 26 years old, Doncic already has a wealth of experience in his professional career: from playing for Real Madrid and the Slovenian national team to the NBA, he has accumulated far more experience than his peers. Don't forget, Doncic made his debut for Real Madrid at the age of 16—that was in 2015, a decade ago, so from this perspective, he is not an ordinary 26-year-old NBA player.

Doncic is already a highly talented player, but so far, he has not been able to maintain his best physical condition throughout his NBA career. If he can improve this aspect, this 26-year-old star is likely to rise significantly in this ranking over the next few years.