New York City has long been the Mecca of basketball and while other states like California, New Jersey and Illinois have more than caught up, one thing that will always belong to New York is the point guard position.
Forged on the blacktop of the neighborhood playgrounds, New York City point guards play the game with a different level of swagger, creativity, flair and showmanship.
Their stories are being brought to life in "NYC Point Gods," a new Showtime documentary produced by Kevin Durant.
From the high-octane Stephon Marbury to the showtime Rafer Alston, The Sporting News breaks down the best point gods to come out of the Big Apple.
While some had long NBA careers, others owe their legacy to the playground and their high school and college exploits. In creating this list, we factored in everything, including their impact on the city.
Ranking the best New York City point guards
1. Kenny Anderson, Queens
Anderson was a star at Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, finishing his high school career as the state's all-time leading scorer and three all-state selections.
Anderson became a fan favorite for his explosive game as a scoring point guard. He played two seasons at Georgia Tech before being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets.
He played 14 seasons in the NBA, earning one All-Star selection.
2. Stephon Marbury, Brooklyn
Brooklyn's Finest.
Marbury will forever be a New York legend. From the playground to Lincoln High School, he oozed NYC swagger with his crossovers and no-look dimes.
Named a McDonald's All-American and New York City’s Mr. Basketball in 1995, Marbury followed in Anderson's footsteps to Georgia Tech before being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 4 pick in the loaded 1996 NBA Draft, the second point guard taken after Allen Iverson.
Across his 13-year career, Marbury averaged 19.3 points and 7.6 assists per game.
3. Bob Cousy, Queens
Cousy led Andrew Jackson High School to the Queens division championship as the city's leading scorer before playing collegiately at Holy Cross where he won the NCAA Championship in 1947.
His NBA resume speaks for itself:
- Six-time NBA champion with the Celtics
- NBA Most Valuable Player (1957)
- 13-time NBA All-Star
- Two-time All-Star MVP
- 10 All-NBA First Team selections
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1971)
- Named to NBA 25th, 35th, 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams
4. Mark Jackson, Brooklyn
Jackson led Bishop Loughlin Memorial to a state championship in 1985, going on to play for St. John's where he became the school's all-time assist leader.
He was drafted by his hometown Knicks in 1987, winning Rookie of the Year honors. Playing 17 seasons in the NBA, Jackson sits fifth in NBA history on the all-time assists list.
5. Kenny Smith, Queens
Smith was a star at Archbishop Molloy and was named a McDonald's All-American in 1983.
Smith played four years at North Carolina before being drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the No. 6 pick in the 1987 NBA Draft.
He went on to play for six teams in the NBA and won two championships with the Houston Rockets.
6. Sebastian Telfair, Brooklyn
The second coming of Marbury, his cousin "Bassy" forged a legendary legacy at Lincoln High School, winning three PSAL championships and finishing as the school's all-time leading scorer until Lance Stephenson broke his record in 2009.
A finalist for the 2004 Naismith Award, Telfair jumped straight to the league from high school, selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the No. 13 pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.
In the wise words of Telfair: "If you ain't from New York, you from the country."
7. Rafer Alston aka 'Skip to My Lou,' Queens
"Cause when I spit, you'll hear more ooh's than a Skip to My Lou move at the Rucker" - Lloyd Banks.
Alston's legend grew on the NYC playgrounds, with his dizzying dribble moves bordering on wizardry, drawing crowds whenever he played.
A foundation of the And-1 Mixtape Tour, Alston is the only New York streetball player to make it from the playground to the league. He played for six teams across 11 seasons, including a run to the NBA Finals with the Orlando Magic in 2009.
8. Lenny Wilkens, Brooklyn
Wilkens played for Boys High School in Brooklyn before attending Providence College where he was a two-time All-American. He was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in 1960 with the No. 6 overall pick.
Wilkens went on to earn nine All-Star appearances, led the NBA in assists in 1970 and was named MVP of the All-Star Game in 1971.
9. Rod Strickland, Bronx
Arguably one of the best ball handlers in NBA history and one of the most under-appreciated players of the 90s, Strickland was as cold as they come.
Strickland was a star for the famed New York Gauchos and Truman High School before transferring to Oak Hill Academy as a senior.
He played 17 seasons in the NBA and led the league in assists in 1998, which earned him a spot on the All-NBA Second Team
10. Nate Archibald, Bronx
Archibald earned all-city honors at DeWitt Clinton in 1966, going on to play three seasons at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Archibald was selected by the Cincinnati Royals with the No. 19 pick in the 1970 NBA Draft. A six-time All-Star, Archibald led the NBA in points (34.0) and assists (11.4) in 1973.
He won an NBA championship in 1981 with the Celtics, earned three All-NBA First Team selections and two All-NBA Second Team selections, was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary teams, and was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991.
Honorable Mention
Kemba Walker, Bronx
A star at Rice High School in Harlem and for the NYC Gauchos AAU squad, Walker arguably deserves a place in the top 10 given his NBA accomplishments.
A four-time NBA All-Star, Walker led the University of Connecticut to the NCAA championship, delivering one of the illest game-winners Madison Square Garden has seen along the way.
God Shammgod, Manhattan
When you have a move named after you, you deserve mention.
Shammgod played high school basketball at La Salle Academy alongside Ron Artest, where he was named a McDonald's All-American in 1995. He played college ball at Providence College.
Lance Stephenson, Brooklyn
Born Ready!
You're official when you get a nickname on the blacktop. From lighting up the playgrounds as a 15-year-old, Stephenson led Lincoln High School to four-straight PSAL championships, earning him All-American honors.
Stephenson would go on to finish as the school's all-time leading scorer, breaking Telfair's record for points in NY state.
Pearl Washington
A playground legend, Washington was the No. 1 ranked player in 1983, starring for Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn.
A three-time All-Big East First Team member, Washington was drafted by the New Jersey Nets with the No. 13 pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, playing just three seasons in the NBA.
