All-Time Greatest NBA Point Guards, Ranked

Defense wins rings, and Slater Martin had five of them. A key piece of the Minneapolis Lakers dynasty, Martin was one of the NBA’s earliest defensive-minded guards, routinely locking down scorers with intensity that belied his 5’10” frame. He made seven All-Star teams and won titles with both the Lakers and the St. Louis Hawks.

In the 1954 Finals, he dropped 21 points in the clincher, showing his scoring touch when needed. Martin wasn’t a stat machine, but he was a winner. He played tough, passed well, and gave his teams exactly what they needed—every night.