In the NBA, the emergence of young guards like Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jalen Brunson has sparked a debate about their potential to join the league’s elite. Two years ago, Becky Hammon, then head coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, argued that small guards rarely lead teams to championships, citing historical examples like John Stockton, Allen Iverson, and Steve Nash, with Steph Curry as a notable exception. However, the landscape has shifted. The New York Knicks, led by Brunson, are in the Eastern Conference finals, facing the Indiana Pacers, led by Haliburton. This season marks the first time that all four conference finalists are led by guards. Historically, only 22 of the NBA’s 77 championship teams have been led by guards, with most titles won by all-time greats like Stephen Curry, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan. The current generation of guards, including Gilgeous-Alexander, who is this season’s MVP, and the young talents Haliburton and Edwards, are on trajectories that could place them among the greatest. Brunson, a former second-round pick, has proven his worth with consistent top-10 NBA player rankings and could be on a path similar to Hall of Famers like Dennis Johnson and Chauncey Billups. This playoff season has highlighted the potential of these guards to become all-time greats.
