You can never have enough good playmakers on your team. Multiple ball-handlers can really help the flow of the offense, find passing lanes, and help every player on the court get it going and find their rhythm.
Moreover, having a guy that’s able to facilitate for others besides your point guard is going to be a huge advantage for every team, as opposing defenders don’t really know where or how to stop you.
Gladly for some coaches, there’s a handful of players known for their ability to create, even though they’re not actually supposed to. Today, we’re going to let you know about the league’s top 10 best playmakers that aren’t guards:
10. Khris Middleton – 4.3 APG
Khris Middleton has really made great strides this season in all aspects of his game, especially on his ability to create for others, handing out as much as 4.3 assists per game for Mike Budenholzer’s team.
Obviously, having Giannis Antetokounmpo on your team is really going to help you find some passing lanes, and the Bucks’ new-found ability to knock-down three-pointers has also worked in Middleton’s favor in this regard.
9. Marc Gasol – 4.4 APG
Marc Gasol has always been a very intelligent player that knows how to make the most of his positioning and playmaking ability, and that’s one of the main reasons why the Raptors were so high on him.
Gasol is a much better passer than his older brother Pau, and those 4.4 dimes per game really come handy when you have a couple of scoring threats like Pascal Siakam and Kawhi Leonard beside you.
8. Blake Griffin – 5.4 APG
Blake Griffin entered the league known for his dunks and athleticism, but he’s really put a lot of work on his game to become an all-around player. He developed a jump shot, started knocking down his free-throws, and improved as a passer.
The Detroit Pistons didn’t have a true point guard in Reggie Jackson and the offense went through Blake Griffin’s hands for most of the season, as you can tell by his 5.4 assists per game.
7. Joe Ingles – 5.7 APG
Joe Ingles can do a little bit of everything, yet people keep sleeping on him. He can stretch the floor, knock down three-pointers consistently, and is also a very underrated wing stopper despite his lack of athleticism.
But, what makes Ingles so valuable is his ability to facilitate for others at the small forward position, especially when Ricky Rubio’s getting a breather and Donovan Mitchell is running the point.
6. Kevin Durant – 5.9 APG
Kevin Durant is a shooting guard trapped in a center’s body, so perhaps he shouldn’t even be included in this list. He’s great at everything and has grown to become the best player in the world right now.
Durant has vastly improved as a rim protector and overall defender and is already one of the best scorers in the world. However, his passing is incredibly underrated, despite handing out almost 6 assists per game.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 5.9 APG
Giannis Antetokounmpo just keeps on improving on a yearly basis, and that should really terrify the rest of the league, as he’ll continue to work to become the best player in the planet in no time.
The Greek Freak is used to leading his team in all major stats and his court vision is arguably the most underrated part of his game. Once he develops a three-point shot, he’ll be the best on earth.
4. Luka Doncic – 6.0 APG
Luka Doncic was one of the most impressive rookies we’ve ever seen, mostly because everybody was expecting him to struggle early on against NBA defenders, something that obviously didn’t happen.
Doncic put defenders on skates with great ease, but also made everybody around him better with his playmaking abilities, handing out 6.0 assists per game and becoming the second younger player to record a triple-double.
3. Draymond Green – 6.9 APG
Draymond Green is so valuable for the Golden State Warriors for two reasons: His defense and his playmaking, yet nobody seems to talk about the latter, even though he’s used to leading the team in that regard.
Green’s ability to run the offense helps Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson get a lot of wide-open looks from beyond the arc, even though his haters say he’s nothing more than a system player.
2. Nikola Jokic – 7.3 APG
Nikola Jokic is already one of the best three passing big men in the history of the league, next to Arvydas Sabonis, and Bill Walton, in no particular order, and not just because of the 7.3 assists he hands out on a nightly basis.
Jokic is a walking triple-double threat and has been the primary ball-handler for the point guard-less Denver Nuggets, even leading the playoffs in touches per game. He’s efficient, strong, and a crafty scorer.
1. LeBron James – 8.3 APG
Obviously, LeBron James is at the top of our list once again, as he’s always been known for his top-tier playmaking ability, and his desire to lead the offense. Also, he’s one of the smartest players ever.
James has eyes on the back of his head and always seems to know where his teammates and rivals are supposed to be. He’s got the highest basketball IQ in the league and outstanding court vision, and that’s why he’s a terrific playmaker.
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