A point guard surely has a lot of duties, but one of the most important aspects of their game definitely has to be to find the way to get all players involved, share touches, find the open guy and make them be the best version of themselves.
Some point guards aren’t that smart and just run the offense and plays other people run for them, while others have the ability to improvise and seem to always know where their teammates are going to be on the floor.
Chris Paul and Steve Nash are one of the best point guards in the history of the game, not just because of how incredibly crafty playmakers both are, but because of their ability to bring the most out of their teammates. Today, we’re going to let you know about 6 players that became great offensive factors because of them.
6. Clint Capela – Chris Paul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqOkMHuN2U4
Clint Capela was always considered to be a unidimensional player, a rough defensive minded young man that was ages away from contributing in the offensive end of the world, while some even doubted that he was ever going to become a reliable scorer.
Needless to say, those doubters were wrong, as Chris Paul has made him a better version of DeAndre Jordan, an elite roll man and a terrific lob finisher, shooting a league-leading 65% from the floor.
5. Michael Finley – Steve Nash
Michael Finley’s prime didn’t last for long, but when he peaked, he became one of the league’s most prolific scorer at the shooting guard spot, especially during his time with the Dallas Mavericks next to Dirk Nowitzki and obviously, Steve Nash.
Finley was already a double-digit scorer all throughout his career, but Nash got the best of him as a three-point threat, with defenders doubling Dirk on the elbow and Steve finding him after his signature circling below the rim. Fed by Nash, he never averaged under 18 points per game.
4. David West – Chris Paul
David West was a nonexistent offensive factor for the sluggish New Orleans Hornets during his first couple of seasons in the Association, averaging just under 4 points during his rookie season and 6.2 points in the next one.
Chris Paul’s arrival to the league in 2005 obviously changed a lot, including West’s game. West would go on to average 17.1, 183, 20.6, 21, 19 and 18.9 points per game next to CP3, becoming a master of the mid-range.
3. Shawn Marion – Steve Nash
Shawn Marion was definitely at his best during the Steve Nash’ era in Phoenix, becoming a very important offensive factor despite having one of the ugliest and more unorthodox shooting mechanics this league has ever seen.
Nash’s drives opened up a lot of space for him to attack the rim, while he also becomes a very consistent shooter from three-point land thanks to Steve’s skip passes, although he would never become an NBA Champion until he joined the Dallas Mavericks.
2. DeAndre Jordan – Chris Paul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naT6UkYLEZU
DeAndre Jordan was a late 2nd round pick and never looked like much more of a role player, having a nonexistent offensive game and lacking positioning at times, that was; of course, before Chris Paul’s arrival to the Clippers in 2011.
Next to Paul, Jordan became a true threat in the pick and roll, and a huge offensive factor and one of the most accurate scorers in the league thanks to CP3’s lobs, not to mention his surge as one of the league’s defensive anchors.
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1. Amar’e Stoudemire – Steve Nash
Amar’e Stoudemire was always Phoenix’ cornerstone and was set to be the main focus of their offense, mostly because how skilled and dominant he was on the low post, but it wasn’t until 2004 that we started seeing the best of STAT.
Stoudemire was already a star in the making, but after scoring roughly 20 points per game the previous season, STAT would go on to average a career-high 26 points fed down low by Captain Canada; on his very first season as the Phoenix Suns starting point guard, and the first year of a tandem that would rule the West for years.
