Is the Traditional Point Guard Becoming Obsolete?
The role of the point guard has long been one of basketball’s most storied and essential positions- the floor general who controls tempo, directs traffic, and sets up teammates for success. However, modern basketball trends, with their emphasis on spacing, three-point shooting, and positional versatility, have shifted how teams value and utilize their lead guards. Legendary coach Rick Pitino recently weighed in on the topic, expressing concern that the “true” pass-first, non-scoring point guard is slowly disappearing from the game. The role of the traditional point guard is gradually being reduced with every passing day. Hall-of-Fame coach Rick Pitino has dominated the transfer portal after winning the Big East this past season and has recently punctuated this position shift bluntly: “There are no point guards anymore. If you find it, you’d probably describe it as a guy who can’t shoot… Chris Paul’s probably the last one… The point guard is totally done in basketball. The days of John Stockton are long gone.”
The Rise of Scoring Guards
Over the last decade, the NBA and college basketball have trended toward guards who can score as effectively as they can facilitate. This evolution is partly driven by analytics, which reward efficiency from beyond the arc and prioritize spacing. The result has been a decline in guards whose primary role is orchestrating an offense without being a major scoring threat. Instead of relying on a pass-first floor general, teams increasingly prefer combo guards who can break down defenses and create their shots. While the position is evolving, several players still embody the traditional point guard style. In the NBA, Tyus Jones stands out as a modern example of a guard who thrives on running an offense, making smart decisions, and rarely turning the ball over — yet he is not primarily known for his perimeter shooting. In college basketball, Elliot Cadeau at Michigan has been praised for his elite passing vision and court awareness, serving as the engine for his team without dominating the scoring column. These players echo the approach of past floor generals like Jason Kidd or Rajon Rondo, whose value came from their ability to elevate teammates rather than light up the scoreboard themselves.
Changing Development at the Grassroots Level
One reason for the shift in point guard archetypes lies in player development. From AAU programs to high school gyms, young guards are now encouraged to extend their range early and emphasize scoring ability. With the three-point shot becoming such a central weapon in basketball, pure facilitators are often overlooked in recruiting or labeled as limited offensively. Even those who start their careers as traditional point guards are pushed toward becoming more versatile scorers to fit the modern game. While the scoring-first model may dominate in today’s game, the traditional point guard is not entirely extinct. Players like Tyus Jones and Elliot Cadeau prove there is still value in floor generals who control the game without relying heavily on their shot. The challenge for the future will be whether these types of players can continue to carve out roles in an increasingly perimeter-oriented era or if the archetype will fade into basketball history.
