Sports

Speed Kills – The 10 Fastest Point Guards in the NBA

by Joe Hachem | December 15, 2009 at 11:05 am

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NBA fans everywhere love a lightning-quick point guard that can get the rock from one end of the court to the other, seemingly in the blink of an eye.

Whether these speedy ball-handlers finish of the fastbreak with a sweet dish to a cutting teammate or by taking the ball all the way to the rack themselves, there is nothing quite like a fleet-footed floor leader that knows how to initiate – and finish it off – a fastbreak in the blink of an eye.

While many of the fastest point guards in the game are easy to pick out, the only real definitive way to decide would be to have these respective players line up for a 60-meter race.

Since I don’t see that happening any time soon (although it would be a great way for the NBA to gain more exposure, with the proceeds going to charity or something) I have put together my list of which NBA point guards would win a foot-race against when matched up against their brethren.

In reverse order, here are my top 10 fastest point guard in the NBA.

10. Monta Ellis – Golden State Warriors
I’ve got a knowledgeable, basket-ball following brother – and he insisted that Ellis was one of the fastest point guards in the league. He also told me that if Ellis weren’t on my top 10 list here he’d hurt me – and at my advancing age, my brittle bones just can’t take a beating.

9. Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets
I think Paul is crafty more so than blazing fast, but the fact of the matter is that he can push the rock with almost any lead guard in the game. The all-star point guard uses a dazzling array moves to get into the paint and create havoc for opposing defenders.

8. T.J. Ford – Indiana Pacers
Ford at one time, Ford was undoubtedly the fastest point guard in the NBA. Even after suffering some serious injuries, Ford remains one of the fastest point guards on the planet.

7. Rajon Rondo – Boston Celtics
Rondo is just flat-out fast. The unconventional do-it-all point guard can be a virtual one-man fastbreak when he wants to be.

6. Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls
Rose is even faster than Rondo and his foot-speed is very surprising seeing as how he’s so muscular. The fantastic floor leaders has struggled a bit this season as he’s been forced to carry the Bulls offensively on too many occasions this season.

5. Tony Parker – San Antonio Spurs
I don’t know id Parker would necessarily beat some of the aforementioned point guards in a foot race, but all I know is that he may be the fastest point guard in the league from one free throw line to the other. Parker’s forays to the rim are nearly legendary at this point of his career.

4. Ty Lawson – Denver Nuggets
Lawson is just flat out fast. The former North Carolina star has made several eye-opening plays as a ‘change of pace’ point guard behind Chauncey Billups in Denver, already blazing past stunned opponents on several occasions during his rookie season.

3. Devin Harris – New Jersey Nets
The Nets may be a mess, but Harris, who has been mostly injured this season, is lightning fast no matter what New Jersey’s record says.

2. Leandro Barbosa – Phoenix Suns
Barbosa nickname ‘Te Brazilian Blur’ is absolutely perfect for the Phoenix Suns’ backup point guard. Sometimes, Barbosa’s jersey looks like a multi-colored blur on the TV screen as he whizzes from one end of the court to the other.

1. Aaron Brooks – Houston Rockets
Sure, one of the other guys on this list could theoretically be in the No. 1 spot, but the more I look at Brooks, the more I realize there isn’t a player in the league that can stay in front of him. The blossoming point guard is lightning-quick and my No.1 fastest player in the NBA.