The Most Underrated PG of All Time, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the PG you think is the most underrated!

Updated on May 7, 2024 06:59

Evaluating the skills and impact of point guards in basketball often slips into discussions dominated by the most famous names. Yet, there are numerous players who have quietly shaped games and influenced outcomes without receiving the spotlight they deserve. Recognizing these talents not only brings them the accolades they missed but also enriches our understanding of the game's history. By casting a vote on this list, you contribute to a broader appreciation of these athletes. Your involvement helps adjust the narrative to include those whose contributions might otherwise be overlooked. This process not only celebrates lesser-known players but also offers a comprehensive view of the sport's diverse talents over the years.

What Is the Most Underrated PG of All Time?

1

43
votes
TonyTheTiger · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tim Hardaway

Hardaway was a five-time All-Star and a member of the All-NBA First Team in 1997. He was often overshadowed by other point guards of his era, but his career averages of 17.7 points and 8.2 assists per game are impressive.
Tim Hardaway in other rankings
- Position 6 of 10 in Most famous Miami Heat player
2

24
votes
Rose White · CC BY-SA 2.0

Mark Jackson

Jackson was an excellent playmaker and a solid scorer, averaging 9.6 assists and 12.9 points per game over his career. He was also a good defender, making the All-Defensive Second Team in 1989. Despite his accomplishments, he is often overlooked in discussions of the best point guards of all time.
Mark Jackson in other rankings
- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular MJ
3

29
votes
Dianna Miller · CC BY 1.0

Kevin Johnson

NBA

Johnson was a three-time All-NBA selection and a four-time All-Star. He was known for his speed and athleticism, and averaged 17.9 points and 9.1 assists per game over his career. Despite his impressive resume, he is often forgotten when discussing the best point guards of the 1990s.
Kevin Johnson is widely regarded as one of the most underrated point guards of all time in the NBA. He played the majority of his career with the Phoenix Suns from 1988 to 2000 and was known for his exceptional speed, quickness, and ability to drive to the basket. Despite his talents, Johnson's contributions tend to be overlooked in discussions of all-time great point guards.

Speed: Exceptional

Quickness: Highly agile

Driving Ability: Excellent

Scoring: Versatile and consistent

Passing: Accurate and creative
Kevin Johnson in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous person in Sacramento
4

9
votes
Acdixon (talk • contribs • count) · Public domain

Rod Strickland

Strickland was a talented scorer and playmaker, averaging 13.2 points and 7.3 assists per game over his career. He was also a good defender, leading the league in steals per game in 1997. Despite his skills, he is often overlooked in discussions of the best point guards of his era.
Rod Strickland is widely regarded as one of the most underrated point guards (PG) of all time in the NBA (National Basketball Association). Despite his exceptional skills and contributions on the court, he often flew under the radar compared to other prominent PGs of his era.

Career Points: 14,644

Career Assists: 7,987

Career Steals: 1,674

Career Field Goal Percentage: 47.8%

Career Free Throw Percentage: 66.1%
5

15
votes
Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

Terry Porter

Porter was a key player on the Portland Trail Blazers teams of the early 1990s, helping them reach the NBA Finals twice. He was a good scorer and passer, averaging 14.9 points and 5.6 assists per game over his career. Despite his contributions to winning teams, he is often forgotten when discussing the best point guards of his era.
Terry Porter is considered one of the most underrated point guards in the history of the NBA. He had a successful career playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat. Porter was known for his leadership, scoring ability, and defensive skills.

Scoring Average: He averaged 12.2 points per game throughout his 17-year career.

Assists: He dished out an average of 5.6 assists per game.

Steals: Porter recorded an average of 1.2 steals per game.

Three-Point Shooting: He shot an impressive 38.5% from beyond the arc.

All-Star Appearances: Porter was selected to the NBA All-Star Game twice (1991 and 1993).
6

16
votes
File:Andre Miller with teammates.jpg: Keith Allison derivative work: Chrishmt0423 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Andre Miller

Miller was a reliable playmaker and scorer, averaging 12.5 points and 6.5 assists per game over his career. He was also known for his durability, missing only four games in his first 13 seasons in the NBA. Despite his consistency, he is often overlooked when discussing the best point guards of his era.
Andre Miller is a retired professional basketball player who played as a point guard. He is widely regarded as one of the most underrated point guards of all time. Known for his high basketball IQ, exceptional passing ability, and crafty moves, Miller was a consistent playmaker throughout his career.

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 200 pounds

Career span: 1999-2016

Teams Played For: Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves

NBA All-Star Appearances: 1
7

15
votes
Mookie Blaylock

Blaylock was a great defender, making the All-Defensive First Team twice and the All-Defensive Second Team four times. He was also a good scorer and playmaker, averaging 13.5 points and 6.7 assists per game over his career. Despite his defensive prowess, he is often forgotten when discussing the best point guards of the 1990s.
Mookie Blaylock is a former American professional basketball player who played as a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during the 1990s. Despite his exceptional skills and contributions to his teams, he is often overlooked and regarded as one of the most underrated point guards of all time.

Height: 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters)

Weight: 180 pounds (82 kilograms)

Teams Played For: New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors

NBA All-Defensive Teams: 2-time NBA All-Defensive First Team (1994, 1995)

Steals Leader: 2-time NBA steals leader (1996, 1998)
8

4
votes
Tsung-han Yu · CC BY 2.0

Avery Johnson

Avery Johnson

Johnson was a solid playmaker and scorer, averaging 8.4 assists and 8.4 points per game over his career. He was also a good leader, helping the San Antonio Spurs win the NBA championship in 1999. Despite his accomplishments, he is often overlooked in discussions of the best point guards of his era.
Avery Johnson is widely regarded as one of the most underrated point guards of all time. Known for his exceptional court vision, leadership, and ability to control the pace of the game, Johnson's impact often went underappreciated. His unique playing style and effectiveness earned him the nickname 'The Little General'.

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 175 pounds

Born: March 25, 1965

Teams Played For: Seattle SuperSonics, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and New Jersey Nets

NBA Championships: 1 (with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999)
Avery Johnson in other rankings
- Position 6 of 10 in Most famous person from Gary, Indiana
9

5
votes
Derek Harper

Harper was a good scorer and playmaker, averaging 13.8 points and 5.9 assists per game over his career. He was also a good defender, making the All-Defensive Second Team in 1987. Despite his skills, he is often forgotten when discussing the best point guards of his era.
Derek Harper is considered one of the most underrated point guards of all time. Known for his exceptional defense and leadership skills, Harper played in the NBA for 16 seasons from 1983 to 1999. He is often overshadowed by other prominent players of his era, but his contributions to the game are highly regarded by basketball enthusiasts.

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

Weight: 195 lbs (88 kg)

NBA Teams: Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers

Career Points: 16,006

Assists: 6,577
10

6
votes
Neil Grabowsky / Montclair Film Festival · CC BY 2.0

Kenny Anderson

Kenny Anderson

Anderson was a talented scorer and playmaker, averaging 12.6 points and 6.1 assists per game over his career. He was also known for his speed and quickness, making him a difficult player to defend. Despite his skills, he is often overlooked in discussions of the best point guards of his era.
Kenny Anderson is widely regarded as one of the most underrated point guards in basketball history. He had an illustrious career that spanned over a decade, playing for multiple NBA teams and even winning a European championship. Despite his impressive skills and achievements, Anderson's impact on the game often goes unnoticed or underappreciated.

Height: 6 feet 1 inch

Weight: 168 pounds

Position: Point Guard

NBA Draft Year: 1991

Teams Played For: New Jersey Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, LA Clippers

Missing your favorite PG?

Graphs

Discussion

Ranking factors for underrated PG

Stats

How did their statistics compare to other point guards during their era? Were they consistently a top performer statistically?
Awards and Achievements

Did they win any awards or achieve any significant accomplishments? Were they recognized by their peers or the media for their skills and contributions to the game?
Impact on Team Success

Did they help their team achieve success, such as leading them to the playoffs or a championship? Did they elevate their teammates' play?
Legacy

How are they remembered in basketball history? Did they have a lasting impact on the game? Are they still discussed and respected by fans and analysts alike?
Context

What was the era they played in like? Were there other great point guards playing at the same time? Were they overshadowed by other players or teams?

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most underrated PG of all time. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or page is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2503 views
166 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each page once every 24 hours. The rank of each page is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most underrated pg of all time

When it comes to discussing the greatest point guards of all time, names like Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, and John Stockton often dominate the conversation. However, there are plenty of other talented PGs who may not get the recognition they deserve. These underrated players may not have the same championship rings or record-breaking stats, but their contributions to the game cannot be overlooked. In this article, we'll explore some of the most underrated point guards of all time and shed light on their impressive careers.