Isiah Thomas rose to popularity during the 1980s as the franchise cornerstone of the Bad Boy 
Detroit Pistons. Though his teammates were more responsible for the team’s reputation, Thomas was known for being one of the most fearless and relentless scorers in the league.
A two-time NBA champion, Finals MVP, 12-time All-Star, and five-time All-NBA member, including three First Team selections, Thomas built a Hall of Famer resume that few players during his time could match. In fact, during the 80s, the point guard conversation began with him and Magic Johnson.
With that, it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about point guard greatness.
Thomas appeared on the All The Smoke podcast a few years ago and was asked to name his top five point guards of all time. For the purpose of this exercise, he didn’t include Magic Johnson or Oscar Robertson because he classifies them in a whole different stratosphere. To the Pistons legend, they were simply too big for the “small guys” like everyone else on this list.
Thomas joked that he would occupy all five spots. But ultimately, this is the list he went with of his top five “small” point guards of all time.
5
Jason Kidd
At number five, Thomas gave some love to Jason Kidd. Before patrolling the sidelines as a head coach, Kidd was one of the best floor generals in the NBA during his time.
A pass-first point guard, he was a true facilitator with a natural feel for the game. Kidd was never known for his scoring. But the 1994-95 Rookie of the Year impacted games in a variety of ways on both ends of the floor.
His well-rounded game resulted in 107 career triple-doubles, which ranks sixth all-time. The 10-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA member also led the league in assists five times and earned nine All-Defensive Team selections.
Perhaps most importantly, Kidd was a true winner and a ceiling-raiser. He elevated the New Jersey Nets and led them to back-to-back Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003 and later capped off his career by being a vital piece in the 
Dallas Mavericks‘ surprising road to their first-ever NBA championship in 2011.
4
Chris Paul
© Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Paul was a game manager in every sense of the word. Not a lot of players controlled a game like Paul did with his playmaking, leadership, and basketball IQ.
Though he has yet to win a championship, CP3 defined what it means to be a winner. Regardless of what team he played for, the veteran always elevated those around him.
One of the most highly-accomplished point guards in NBA history, Paul is a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA member, and a nine-time All-Defensive selection. He also led the NBA in assists five times and steals six times. To this day, he ranks second all-time in total career assists and steals, trailing another player whom Thomas included in his top five PGs of all time.
Unfortunately, ring culture in the NBA has somewhat dampened Paul’s legacy. But failing to win an NBA championship should not devalue the Hall of Fame career he has built over the past two decades.
3
John Stockton
John Stockton often gets overlooked when discussing the all-time greats. But like Wilt Chamberlain did, Isiah Thomas made sure to give the Utah Jazz legend his flowers.
In another interview, Thomas found it difficult to leave Stockton off his point guard Mount Rushmore given that the Utah Jazz guard is the NBA’s all-time leader for both assists and steals.
And while records are meant to be broken, the Pistons icon believes no one will ever touch these two marks. Stockton finished his career with 15,806 assists and 3,625 steals. For perspective, Chris Paul, who is second in both categories, is still over 3,000 assists and 500 assists behind Stockton.
Stockton’s brilliance as a passer and playmaker made him a household name in the 80s and 90s, especially alongside Karl Malone. Stockton and Malone became one of the best one-two punches in the NBA thanks to their devastating pick-and-roll connection.
Together, they turned the Jazz into perennial Western Conference contenders, making the NBA Finals twice in 1997 and 1998. Unfortunately, like the majority of teams in the 90s, they ran into Michael Jordan and the 
Chicago Bulls.
While Stockton never won an NBA championship, his place in history as one of the greatest floor generals of all time is firmly secure.
2
Stephen Curry
Thomas initially questioned whether they’re classifying Stephen Curry as a point guard. But ultimately, he gave credit where it was due, praising the 
Golden State Warriors superstar for the fear he brought to opposing defenses, especially with his long-distance shooting.
“It’s intimidating when the guy steps across half court and he can just let it go, and you’re standing down in your layup line doing your layup and this dude is shooting from half court. That’s intimidating. So it’s a psychological effect that he brings to the game.”
Steph Curry is more than just the best marksman of all time. He is also one of the greatest offensive forces the league has ever seen.
The second-generation superstar is largely responsible for revolutionizing the game of basketball to what it is today.
A four-time NBA champion, a two-time MVP, including the only unanimous winner in NBA history, and the all-time leader in three-pointers made, Curry has firmly cemented himself as one of the all-time greats.
With his resume and impact on basketball as a whole, many are even arguing that he is closing in on Magic Johnson for the title of greatest point guard ever.
1
Isiah Thomas
Thomas, of course, went with himself as number one. He argued that nobody in the history of the league has accomplished what he did at his size.
“Name me one guy my size who’s done what I’ve done.”
It’s hard to dispute the Hall of Famer’s claims. One of the most fearless and dynamic scorers in the NBA, he thrived in a league that was largely dominated by big men. Despite his small stature, Thomas won at the highest level and was the leader of a team that hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy in back-to-back years.
He went toe-to-toe with Magic Johnson, whom he regards as the standard for NBA point guards, multiple times in the Finals. Though they suffered heartbreak to the Lakers in their first Finals encounter in 1988, Thomas and the Pistons bounced back the year after and swept Los Angeles to win their first NBA championship.
Unfortunately, a torn achilles essentially cut the Hall of Famer’s career short. By age 32, he was already done with basketball. But despite his early retirement, Thomas more than solidified his place not just among the best point guards, but among the greatest players in NBA history.
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