Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors

 

Ahead of the NBA playoff game against the Sacramento Kings, Steph Curry showcased a remarkable resurgence in what can only be described as a tumultuous season for the defending NBA Champions. With an average of 29.4 points per game, ranking fourth among guards and seventh in the league, Curry exhibited his third-highest career field goal percentage at 49.3%, placing him sixth among his fellow floor generals. His True Shooting Percentage leads the league at .656, and his renowned three-point shooting remains impressive, hitting 42.7% beyond the arc, ranking seventh in the NBA. Notably, Curry became the first player to achieve 10,000 career points from three-pointers. Despite injuries leading to the fourth-lowest games played in his 14-year career, the nine-time All-Star managed to deliver two 50-point games, totaling 12 in his career, ranking ninth all-time and tying Wilt Chamberlain for the seventh most 50-pointers after the age of 30.

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

 

Donovan “Spida” Mitchell made headlines with a career-high, franchise-high, and season-tying-high 71 points against the Chicago Bulls, solidifying his position as one of the best young guards in the NBA. In his first year with the Cavaliers, the six-year guard achieved career highs in points (28.3), three-point shooting (38.6%), three-pointers made (3.6, third best in the league), and field goal percentage (48.4%). Among guards, these stats rank him fifth (points per game), seventh (three-pointers), and tenth (field goal shooting), with an impressive fourth in individual points (1,922). Mitchell not only excels in scoring but also significantly elevates the Cavaliers’ performance when on the court. The four-time All-Star ranks tenth among guards in steals, thirteenth overall in the league, and sixth in guard play in the plus/minus category.

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

 

Damian Lillard, aka “Dame Time,” achieved an otherworldly performance against the Houston Rockets, recording a career-high, franchise-high, and season-tying-high 71 points. At the age of 32, Lillard showcased his status as one of the best point guards in professional basketball. This marked his 15th 50-plus game, the sixth most in league history. Scoring 71 points made him the oldest player to achieve such a feat, tying for the eighth-most points scored in a game and joining the elite group of players to drop that many buckets, including 13 threes, one shy of the league record. Despite a challenging year for the Portland Trail Blazers, missing the playoffs for the second straight season, the 11-year veteran set career marks in points (32.2, third in the NBA), field goal percentage (46.3, ranked in the top-20), and three-pointers made (4.2 per game, second in the league). Among his guard peers, he ranks second in points per game, second in True Shooting Percentage (.645), 11th in three-pointers, and third in free throws.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

 

In his fifth year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a breakout season, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first 40-win season since 2019-20, coincidentally SGA’s first year with OKC. Despite missing the chance to secure the eighth seed in the Play-in Tournament, Thunder fans are ecstatic about the Toronto-born star’s performance. With an average of 31.4 points per game, ranking third among guards, first among shooting guards, and fourth in the entire NBA, SGA became the first Oklahoma City player since Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to average 30 or more in a season for the franchise. He showcased efficiency, shooting a career-best 51% from the field, ranking sixth in the league and number one in the two-guard position. Additionally, he ranks fourth among point guards in true shooting percentage, fifth in steals among guards, and delivered season highlights, including a walk-off buzzer-beating 35-point game against the Portland Trail Blazers in December and a career-high 44 points twice.

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

 

In the Dallas Mavericks’ fan multiverse, owner Mark Cuban would have given Jalen Brunson the $55 million extension he was eligible to receive last season. There would be no Kyrie Irving trade, thus no late-season flameout this season, and Luka Doncic would have secured his first MVP—because there hasn’t been a Most Valuable Player on a losing team since “The Logo” Jerry West in 1969.