Lance Stephenson Boldly Lists Luka Doncic As A Top 5 All-Time Point Guard
· Yahoo Sports
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is widely considered one of the NBA’s best players. After winning the scoring title in the 2025-26 season, Doncic firmly established himself as one of the best scorers. But where does he rank as a playmaker in all-time conversations?
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The NBA has seen its fair share of great point guards. As one of the most vital positions on the floor, the NBA’s list of great point guards features an extensive collection of the league’s most creative and intelligent players, with some even redefining the rules of the game.
During a recent appearance on “3’s and Ones,” former NBA player Lance Stephenson was asked to share his list of the top five point guards in NBA history. While some of Stephenson’s answers seem justified, one in particular stood out, as he shared:
“Isiah Thomas. This is not in order. Magic Johnson. Jason Kidd. Stephen Curry. That’s four? I got Luka.”
For the most part, the first four names mentioned on his list were players that the panel agreed with, and given their accomplishments, the selections seem justified. Still, the mention of Luka Doncic in Stephenson’s top five turned some heads, with former NBA player Michael Beasley even referring to it as a “hot take.”
Interestingly, American rapper and songwriter Russ shared a comment to justify Luka Doncic’s mention as a hot take, stating:
“Right now, it is. But I agree, if he stays at this pace, Luka is top-five ever. Yeah, for sure.”
Given Luka Doncic’s potential, it is easy to see why he could be in the top five if he continues on this path. But does he deserve a spot already? Probably not.
While Doncic is phenomenal and boasts the talent to be an all-time great, at 27, the Lakers’ superstar still has a long way to go before he can etch his name in the annals of history.
In many ways, by mentioning Luka Doncic, Lance Stephenson has overlooked several all-time greats. Among these, two who retired relatively recently deserve a shoutout: Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul.
Russell Westbrook is widely regarded as one of the most explosive NBA players of all time. Along with his blistering speed and jumping ability, Westbrook possessed spectacular rebounding and playmaking instincts.
In his prime, Westbrook was nothing short of unstoppable. Having averaged a triple-double for an entire season on four different occasions (three consecutive years at one point), Westbrook’s ability to impact the game on the floor and on the stat sheet cemented his legacy as one of the most dominant point guards in NBA history.
While Westbrook dominated with his physical tools and athleticism, Chris Paul approached his role as a floor general differently. Aside from being one of the most skilled players in the game, Paul’s court craft and basketball IQ set him apart as one of the league’s best point guards.
Paul is credited with the second-most assists in NBA history (12,552). With five assist titles and a career average of 9.2 assists per game over 21 seasons, Chris Paul truly lives up to the moniker “Point God.”
Needless to say, Westbrook and Paul are but two examples among many, since a two-time MVP like Steve Nash is equally deserving of a spot on this top-five list. In this regard, Stephenson’s list could be considered incomplete.
However, this doesn’t mean Luka Doncic will never be on this list. As mentioned earlier, Doncic possesses the talent to surpass the aforementioned players. But currently, the superstar still has much to accomplish.
Still, Luka Doncic’s shot at greatness is likely to come sooner than expected, with the guard entering the 2026-27 season with massive expectations riding on his shoulders. As the undisputed face of the Los Angeles Lakers following LeBron James‘ departure, Doncic has an opportunity not only to prove naysayers wrong but also to cement his legacy alongside the greats by leading L.A. to a championship.