Magic Johnson and Steph Curry headline Shaquille O’Neal’s teammate’s Top 5 point guards list

While talking to Draymond Green on his show, former NBA player, Penny Hardway, disclosed his top five-point guards of all time.

Magic Johnson and Steph Curry headline Shaquille O’Neal’s teammate’s Top 5 point guards list

Penny Hardway revealed his Top 5 PGs of all time

The first-round draft pick of the 1993 class, Penny Hardaway, has come a long way in his basketball career. Currently, he holds the head coach position at the University of Memphis. From being an All-Star in the NBA to mentoring a college basketball team in his hometown, it is indeed a feel-good, full-circle story.

Penny Hardaway recently made a guest appearance on Draymond Green’s podcast. During the segment, Green posed a question to Hardaway, asking him to name his top five point guards of all timer, a very typical question players ask each other. To name only five point guards from a league filled with so much talent isn’t an easy feat. However, Hardaway gave it a try nonetheless.

I’m starting with Magic [Johnson] ’cause that’s my guy. I’m putting Steph [Curry] in there for sure. I wanna throw my boy GP [Gary Payton] in there because he played both sides of it—I’m going GP. You gotta put J [Jason] Kidd in there. It gets real tough. I got so many guys, man, like… it’s so many great ones, bro. I gotta pick one more, though. Oh, I know I’m in that five. I’ll just say ‘and me,’ that’s where I’mma leave it.

Penny Hardaway said on the Draymond Green Show
YouTube video

Even a four-time All-Star like Penny Hardaway found it difficult to name only five great point guards from a league that has had so many. Both hosts, Draymond Green and former Warriors point guard Baron Davis, tried to help Penny finish his top five when he got stuck at just four.

FS Video

Chris Paul and Steve Nash are some of the great point guards of the last twenty years who missed out on the list. Eventually, he went with himself and the players he was close to. It remains to be seen if the some of the current guards like Luka Doncic, Trae Young or Ja Morant one day has a legacy to have a top five point guard ranking.

RELATED
JJ Redick calls out media for failing to celebrate NBA amidst ratings downfall
JJ Redick

Penny Hardaway’s list leaves out some notable point guards of the 20th century

While Penny Hardway’s list —featuring Magic Johnson, Steph Curry, Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, and himself—showcases undeniable greatness, it also omits several iconic figures who have redefined the point guard position across generations.

One striking omission is Isiah Thomas, the leader of the Detroit Pistons’ “Bad Boys.” Another notable absence is John Stockton, the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and steals. Additionally, the immortalized logo of the NBA himself, Jerry West, is missing.

RELATED
“Lot of f***ing 3s being shot!” LeBron James makes stance clear on NBA downfall
LeBron James has been struggling with turnovers and fatigue as Los Angeles Lakers lose four out of five

With so much talent to choose from, it’s nearly impossible to craft a definitive list. These rankings are often highly subjective, as players tend to prioritize those they admire or have personal ties with rather than attempting an objective evaluation. Still, leaving out some of the most iconic point guards of all time inevitably sparks discussion and debate about how reliable these “top five” or “top ten” lists truly are.