The 15 Greatest White Point Guards in NBA History

The star white point guard is an endangered species, ladies and gentlemen. Steve Nash is the last one left. Well, maybe you can count Ricky Rubio, but he's a Spaniard (we kid, relax), and we all know how Americans feel about foreigners. Anyway, not too long ago guys like John Stockton and Mark Price were perennial All-Stars in the '90s. Then "White Chocolate" aka Jason Williams came along with his playground style and took the league by storm. So from Bob Cousy to Scott Skiles, check out the 15 Greatest White Point Guards in NBA History.

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Team(s): Pacers ('72-'77, '80-'82), Suns ('77-'80), Blazers ('82-'83), Kansas City Kings ('83-'85)
Accolades: 1x All-Star, 4x All-Defense
Stats: 6.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 4.5 APG

As a fantasy basketball player, Don Buse was barely worth a draft pick. But he's in the same company as Chris Paul, John Stockton, and Slick Watts as the only guys to lead the league in assists per game and steals per game in the same season. While you scoff at his paltry offensive numbers, understand that he's largely responsible for the overstuffed stat lines of Suns teammates Paul Westphal and Walter Davis.

Team(s): Bucks ('86-'87) Pacers ('87-'89), Magic ('89-'94), Washington Bullets ('94-'95), 76ers ('95-'96)
Accolades: NBA Most Improved (1991)
Stats: 11.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 6.5 APG

While at Michigan State, Scott Skiles was arrested for cocaine possession, drunk driving, and did a brief stint in jail for violating the terms of his parole. He also scored more points than any Spartan player ever, so all was forgiven by the time Milwaukee drafted him in the first round. While with Orlando in 1990, Skiles averaged 17.2 PPG and amassed 30 assists in a single game, an NBA record that still stands.

Team(s): Kings ('98-'01), Grizzlies ('01-'05, '10-'11), Heat ('05-'08), Magic ('09-'11)
Accolades: NBA champion (2006)
Stats: 10.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.2 SPG

Jason Williams was drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 1998 Draft and, with the help of Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic, set the foundation for a Kings franchise that made eight consecutive playoff appearances. At the height of "And 1 Streetball" mania, Williams' affinity for no look passes and dizzying crossovers made him one of the league's most popular players. While with Miami, Williams averaged 12 points and five assists in the 2006 NBA Finals, helping Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal capture the Heat's first title in franchise history.

Team(s): Celtics ('81-'89), Kings ('88-'90), Blazers ('90-'92), Suns ('92-'95)
Accolades: 1x All-Star, 2x NBA champion
Stats: 11.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.1 SPG

If you're a child of the '80s, then Danny Ainge is a bloated guide post for dating yourself. During the NBA's golden era, he was the volatile backcourt bad boy who once punched a seven-foot-one Tree Rollins, famously tussled with Michael Jordan, and purposely rifled an inbouds pass off of Mario Elie's face. Now, as GM of the Celtics, he looks like a shift manager at Staples, which means you're getting pretty damn old.

Team(s): Stags, Warriors, Pistons, Celtics
Accolades: 5x All-Star, NBA Champion (1957), Hall of Fame
Stats: 8.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.5 APG

Andy Phillip made his name in college as the leader of the Illinois Fighting Illini "Whiz Kids" and also by becoming the first NBA player to record 500 assists in a season. He also made the first five NBA All-Star games. Back in his day, Phillip was mentioned in the same breath as Cousy and McGuire as one of the best passers in the game. Late in his career, the genius that was Red Auerbach picked up "Handy Andy" to back up Cousy, and Phillip helped Boston win their first title in 1957.

Team(s): Knicks ('50-'57), Pistons ('58-'60)
Accolades: 7x All-Star, Hall of Fame
Stats: 8.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.7 APG

Although "Tricky" Dick's numbers aren't anything to write home about, he was one of the NBA's first superstars. He was always amongst the leaders in assists and still ranks third in dishes in Knicks franchise history. McGuire's Hall of Fame play with New York helped them make three consecutive Finals appearances ('51-'53) and is the reason Melo can't wear No. 15.

Team(s): Knicks ('56-'64), St. Louis Hawks ('64-'70)
Accolades: 6x All-Star
Stats: 17.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.0 APG

As a product of the Bronx and star at Iona, Richie Guerin was instantly the most beloved Knick when he joined the team in 1956. His team was complete shit (one playoff appearance during his tenure in New York), but Guerin still made six consecutive All-Star games, set a Madison Square Garden record with 21 assists in a single game, and left the team as the franchises's second all-time leading scorer.

Team(s): Knicks ('54-'56, '62-'63), Pistons ('56-'62), Baltimore Bullets ('63-'64)
Accolades: 5x All-Star, 1x All-NBA 1st Team
Stats: 14.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.7 APG

Back when players wore belts in their shorts and featured the bounce pass exclusively, Gene Shue was credited with inventing the "spin move." His flair for Elvis Presley-like razzle-dazzle made him one of the league's best guards but, presumably, offended the sensibilities of 1950's America with his aggressive hip gyrations. While with the Pistons, Shue went to five consecutive All-Star games and, in averaging 22.8 PPG, was named All-NBA in 1960.

Team(s): Cavs ('86-'95), Washington Bullets ('96-'96), Warriors ('96-'97), Magic ('97-'98)
Accolades: 4x All-Star, 1x All-NBA 1st Team, 2x Three-Point Shootout champion
Stats: 15.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.2 SPG

As a slow, short white guy, Mark Price's ability to slash to the hoop and knockdown contested three-pointers made him one of the league's most inexplicable stars. There were better athletes, but he had an unmatched ability to split the double team and ended his career shooting better than 90 percent from the free-throw line. He's Cleveland's all-time leading three-point shooter, assists leader, and is second to LeBron James in steals. Price epitomized the late '80s/early '90s Cavs that, while not excessively talented, hustled their way to eight playoff appearances in nine seasons.

Team(s): Rochester Royals ('45-'55)
Accolades: 4x All-Star, 3x All-NBA 1st Team, NBA Champion (1951), Hall of Fame
Stats: 14.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.8 APG

Long before the three-point line and shoe deals, Bob Davies and Bobby Wanzer made up the first truly great backcourt in NBA history. Anchoring the Rochester Royals (today's Sacramento Kings), the "Harrisburg Houdini" led the Royals to an NBL title in 1946 and an NBA championship in 1951. His 13.5 PPG playoff average (without the benefit of a shot clock mind you!) is better than his present day contemporaries Mario Chalmers and Raymond Felton.

Team(s): Minneapolis Lakers ('49-'56), Knicks ('56-'57), St. Louis Hawks ('56-'60)
Accolades: 7x All-Star, 5x NBA Champion, Hall of Fame
Stats: 9.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.2 APG

Alongside George Mikan, Slater Martin led a lockdown Minneapolis Lakers defense that rattled off four consecutive NBA titles between 1950-1954. At 5'10" and with a flair for the bounce pass, Martin was a prototype for the modern day floor general. Oh, also peep the excessive amount of hair gel he used while playing. Dude was as stylish with the Pomade as he was with the rock.

Team(s): Suns ('96-'98, '04-'12), Mavericks ('98-'04), Lakers ('12-Present)
Accolades: 2x MVP, 8x All-Star, 3x All-NBA
Stats: 14.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.6 APG

Steve Nash joins Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson as the only guards in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP awards. Let's start there. With an Iverson-like ability to score, unparalleled ball handling skills, and as one of the NBA's best passers, Nash is the kind of point guard you create for yourself in a video game, only not as pathetic because he's real and you, well, are in your 30s and still play X-Box.

Team(s): Celtics ('50-'63), Cincinnati Royals ('69-'70)
Accolades: MVP (1957), 13x All-Star, 10x All-NBA 1st Team, 6x NBA champion, Hall of Fame
Stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 7.5 APG

Before you old basketball heads storm the Complex office demanding that Bob Cousy be recognized as this list's numero uno, remember that he peaked in 1955. We get that it's hard to compare eras, but big guys were six-foot-three and half the league had polio. So give us a fucking break.

Anyway, the "Houdini of the Hardwood" led the league in assists eight straight years (1953-1960). He, along with Bill Russell, were the centerpieces of a Celtics dynasty that won six championships in seven seasons. And he was named league MVP in 1957. Not bad for a guy who was reluctantly given a $9,000 salary when he joined the team in 1950.

Team(s): Lakers ('61-'74)
Accolades: 14x All-Star, 1x Finals MVP, 10x All-NBA 1st Team, 1x Champion
Stats: 27.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.7 APG

"The Logo" played both guard positions. But he mainly ran the point on those star-studded Laker squads, sharing the backcourt with primetime scorer Gail Goodrich. West's jump shot is still widely regarded as the purest the game has seen and it's a shame his game pre-dated the three-point line. He led the purple and gold to nine Finals appearances and is the only human to win a Finals MVP in a losing effort. He's not too bad as a front office executive either.

Team(s): Utah Jazz ('84-'03)
Accolades: 10x All-Star, 2x All-NBA 1st Team, Hall of Fame
Stats: 13.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 10.5 APG, 2.2 SPG

With liberating short-shorts and an elegantly crafted side part, John Stockton had the freedom and confidence to average a double-double over the course of his career. Alongside Karl Malone, Stockton led the Jazz to 20 straight postseason appearances. That's right. Over the course of his career, Stockton missed the playoffs exactly zero times and, rather cheerlessly, has exactly zero championships to show for it.

If not for some guy named Michael Jordan, the Jazz could have had a dynasty. But, as it stands, he'll have to settle for being the greatest white point guard in NBA history, a worthwhile tribute at any rate. And don't forget that he's the all-time leader in assists and steals.