Has Harden become not only the best SG but also the best PG in the world? USA basketball, I would imagine they would put out: Davis Lebron Durant Curry Harden With Leonard as the 6th man The rest of the roster a selection between Cousins Ebiid Thompson George Irving Westbrook Wall Green Butler Paul Griffin Thomas
That's currently playing? But yeah, he needs to prove himself as a PG in the playoffs to get that distinction.
Kinda odd that you ask if Harden is the best PG in the WORLD then go on to list the top players from only the US. I don't think Embiid would play for team USA either.
What will it take for people to even recognize Harden as a PG? Rose who is a considered a PG, but 60% of the time he's a jack ass with the ball. Kyrie is considered a PG and is 10x the iso player Harden is. IT is considered a PG, and is statistically the worst defender on earth and hardly passes. Right now Harden is viewed as a SG playing PG not a PG. I don't get why.
Meh, terms like PG, SG, PF are pretty outdated and should probably just be done away with. I just think of Harden as a hybrid guard whose capable of playing the 1 or the 2 spot and is a better defender when guarding the opposing teams 4 spot as opposed to the 1 or 2. He's not a pure PG in the old fashion sense, in fact there are very few pure PG's left in the league now. I think guys like Chris Paul, Mike Conley and Tony Parker are the last of the samurai there. Most of the younger guys are all hybrid types who just carry the label of PG because they play at the 1 spot.
Harden could be the best PG in the NBA if you want to call him that. I don't care. All I know is that Jerry Lin is the best PG in the WORLD.
As for point guard, Chris Paul would be first. A guard that has a high assist to turnover ratio, play great individual defense, can go both hands equally strong, can take over the game when necessary. Harden is a shooting guard masquerading as a point. Harden would be my first pick as a shooting guard.