NBA: The Best Point Guards for the 2016-17 season

5. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard is the NBA’s most underappreciated guard. It’s a shame. He’s a phenomenal talent who’s continually being snubbed–i.e. the 2016 All-Star Game and Olympic team. In the league’s history, according to Basketball-Reference, just three players have averaged 25 points and six assists for a year and weren’t selected to the ASG: Tiny Archibald, 1971-72; Michael Adams, 1990-91; Damian Lillard 2015-16.

The total package is there, and few PGs can dominate a game like Lillard, and the perpetual chip that he carries on his shoulder seems to heighten his game. In four games against the record-setting Warriors, Lillard averaged 36.5 points in less than 34 minutes, including 51 in a 32-point blowout victory. That spilled over into the playoffs when he averaged more than 31 despite losing in five games–all of that while being guarded, primarily, by Klay Thompson, a premier wing defender. Simply put, he’s a gamer.

With the ball in his hands, he’s quick, and the dribbles are crisp. And he uses that to break defenders down and go to the basket or step back for three; let’s not forget how much Portland’s offense needed him night in and night out. His efficiency took a bit of a dip this year, but the increased usage played a huge part in that.

Next: No. 4