Where does Steph Curry rank in the top-5 point guards in the West?

It’d be crazy to rank him #1 still...right?

Let’s be honest here, ranking the West’s elite guards in 2025 isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about understanding who controls the tempo consistently, who makes their teammates better when the margin for error disappears, and who carries the kind of gravitational pull that shifts entire defensive schemes.

So, after a couple of beers for yours truly, here’s my stab the conference’s guard royalty stands right now (apologies to the injured Kyrie Irving who just missed this list with injury).

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

The current reigning NBA Finals MVP and league MVP, Thunder’s conductor orchestrates chaos with surgical precision. SGA has evolved into that rare breed of scorer who doesn’t just put up numbers as empty calories. He dictates when and how his team gets those numbers. His scoring average hovers in the low-30s, but what separates him isn’t the volume; it’s the calculated aggression. Every drive feels inevitable, every pull-up jumper carries the weight of someone who knows exactly what he’s hunting.

AND YOU CAN’T TOUCH HIM OR ELSE IT’S A FOUL APPARENTLY.

What makes SGA terrifying for opposing coaches? He’s reached that LeBron-esque stage where he can simply decide to take over a quarter, and there’s very little you can do to stop it.

2. Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

Here’s where my Warriors bias crashes headfirst into cold, analytical reality—and somehow, both sides win.

Steph in Year 16 remains the most dangerous offensive weapon in basketball, even if the raw explosion has mellowed into something more surgical. That 24+ points per game doesn’t capture the full terror he unleashes. Curry’s gravity warps defenses in ways that make advanced metrics weep with joy. Teams still send help defenders scrambling 35 feet from the basket because they’ve seen what happens when you don’t.

The man revolutionized basketball, and he’s still out here casually redefining what “old” looks like for a superstar. When Curry’s rolling, the Warriors transform from a solid playoff team into appointment television.

3. Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Ant represents everything beautiful about basketball’s future. He’s got that rare combination of explosive athleticism and genuine basketball IQ that makes veterans nod in respect. Edwards doesn’t just score folks, he performs. Every poster dunk feels like a statement, every clutch three carries the swagger of someone who genuinely believes he belongs on this stage.

The Timberwolves have found something special in Edwards’ two-way development. He’s not just Minnesota’s leading scorer; he’s their emotional engine, the guy who sets the tone with his energy and backs it up with legitimate all-around production. He also pushed them to the Western Conference finals for the second straight season, showing that he’s turning into a tested playoff performer.

4. Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers)

Luka’s 2024-25 season unfolded like watching basketball brilliance navigate absolute chaos. Those season-long numbers—28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists—represent more than statistical excellence; they’re a masterclass in sustained greatness amid organizational upheaval. What makes these figures remarkable isn’t just the volume, but the 58.7% true shooting percentage that places him among the league’s most efficient high-usage creators. Can you imagine maintaining that level of production through a midseason trade that shook the basketball world?

February’s blockbuster trade—Luka for Anthony Davis—marked the first midseason swap between All-NBA players in league history. The basketball universe held its breath, wondering if genius could translate across organizational philosophies. The answer came with surgical precision: 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists across 28 Lakers games.² Watching Luka mesh with LeBron felt like witnessing two master tacticians discover they speak the same strategic language, transforming Los Angeles from playoff hopefuls into genuine contenders.

The postseason revealed both transcendent gifts and glaring vulnerabilities. Luka’s 30.2 playoff points per game showcased elite offensive production, but Charles Barkley’s brutal assessment of ”Luka can’t guard a chair”captured the defensive reality that haunted crucial moments. Championship teams demand complete players, and Luka’s conditioning concerns became painfully visible when games slowed down and every possession mattered.

5. James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers)

The Beard continues to prove that basketball IQ ages like fine wine. Harden averaged 22.8 points and 8.7 assists per game last season. Those numbers that tell only half the story of his continued excellence. What separates him in this veteran stage isn’t just the step-back three that still haunts defenders’ dreams; it’s his evolved understanding of when to hunt his own shot versus when to orchestrate for others.

At 8.7 assists per game, Harden remains one of the league’s premier playmakers, threading passes that create easy buckets and keeping the Clippers’ offense humming even when Kawhi Leonard need maintenance. His 35.2% three-point shooting keeps defenses honest, and that 87.4% free-throw percentage reminds everyone that some skills never fade.

The Clippers built their championship window around veterans who know how to maximize their remaining prime years. Harden embodies that philosophy perfectly.