Where does Goran Dragic rank among today’s point guards?

While Miami Heat veteran Goran Dragic may not be a part of the elite group of point guards, he ranks higher than some might think.

We’re in the thick of the golden era for point guards. Traditionally primary ballhandlers have become the primary scorers for their teams rather than the facilitator. From Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook to emerging talents like D’Angelo Russell and Markelle Fultz, the point guard position has never seen talent quite like this.

All of this begs the question: Where does Goran Dragic rank among the league’s best?

To properly understand Dragic’s place amongst his peers, it’s important to fully understand the role of the point guard in today’s NBA and just how these players have redefined the position.

Curry, was we know, has emerged as one of the greatest shooters of all time, bringing the ball up the floor for the Warriors with the threat to pull up at any point beyond the half court line. What makes his lethal jumper even more dangerous is his incredibly gifted passing ability. Curry controls the offense with his constant scoring threat, forcing the defense to react. If they bite, he’ll find one of Golden State’s numerous other capable scorers for an easy basket. If not, he’ll create his own shot with his dazzling dribble and quick release.

While Curry is the gold standard, the same mentality applies to the position’s elite like reigning MVP Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul, John Wall and Isaiah Thomas (along with many others).

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Dragic is certainly far more traditional when compared to the top tier of point guards. Sure, he has shown flashes of filling up the scoring column (seven games of 30+ points) but doesn’t produce with the type of consistency or sheer volume to be comparable to someone like Curry or Westbrook. The top tier also affect winning in an unprecedented way, boasting astronomical offensive ratings and win shares.

There’s little doubt that while extremely valuable to the Miami Heat, Dragic doesn’t belong in that elite conversation of point guards. But how does he stack up against the next crop? Players like Damian Lillard, Mike Conley, Kemba Walker, Ricky Rubio and Kyle Lowry, for example.

Out of this group, a host of names often associated with the second level of point guards, Dragic certainly holds his own. He has the shooting efficiency of Conley (with a better overall field goal percentage) and while Lillard, Walker and Thomas come in at far higher usage and play more like the Curry and Westbrook mold, Dragic grades out as a more consistent player.

One of the main areas that makes Dragic such an interesting choice when ranking point guards is his defensive acumen and his importance to the Miami Heat’s winning ways. There is a case to be made for him being one of the very best defensive point guards in the league, notching more defensive win shares than Wall, Teague, Lillard and Irving (and as many steals per game as Irving) while holding defenders to a worse shooting percentage than Eric Bledsoe, Lowry, Conley, Lillard, Rubio and Irving.

While Dragic doesn’t deliver the eye-popping offensive stats, defense still counts for something and having your first line of defense be of that quality is a big reason why the Heat find themselves at the top of most defensive rankings every year. Dragic is disruptive and intelligent defensively, hounding the opposing ball-handler while funneling everyone to the shot-blocking of Hassan Whiteside.

Rarely do you see him lose his head defensively and, even if it doesn’t necessarily show up in the box score, his impact is felt throughout with the Heat letting their offense be fueled by their defense. For that, his stock is boosted immensely.

For all of the offensive ability, too often are the very best point guards limited on the other end of the floor which is where Dragic picks up some ground on weaker defenders like Thomas and Irving. He doesn’t have to be a box score-stuffer to be considered one of the top point guards in the league, but instead can make his mark with a more all-around game. After all, there is still room for the two-way, efficient traditional point guard (See: Paul, Chris).

Next: Re-living Goran Dragic's career year

Goran Dragic is firmly and respectably in that second tier of point guards. He isn’t Curry or Westbrook, but he’s one of the most consistent at the position in the league on both ends of the floor. More than that, he’s vital to the Heat winning which, above any ranking, is far more important.