As the NBA continues to evolve, the game becomes positionless. Twenty-five years ago, the league had designated positions. Point guards initiated the offense, and centers played down low.
However, the game has changed. Centers like Nikola Jokic can handle PG duties. With that, the need for a classic PG has slowly faded over time. On the No Fouls Given Podcast, Hall of Famer Paul Pierce discussed how classic point guards are becoming irrelevant. Pierce said the classic PG “no longer exists” in the modern NBA.
The No Fouls Given podcast discussed how pass-first PGs are becoming extinct in the NBA
Is the classic point guard position dead 🧐
Full episode | https://t.co/qZDZRzVIdn pic.twitter.com/7k1oBz3CZJ
— No Fouls Given (@NFGShow) December 1, 2025
Paul Pierce is one of three co-hosts on the No Fouls Given Podcast. It also features three-time NBA champion Danny Green and Wosny “Big Wos” Lambre. Recently, the trio discussed the death of the classic PG in the NBA. Pierce started his career with the Celtics in 1998-99. At the time, the league still had designated positions. Point guards were meant to initiate the offense for their team. Additionally, they’d often be used as secondary and tertiary scorers.
His career ended in 2016-17 with the LA Clippers. Paul Pierce saw the league evolve into positionless basketball. He was part of both eras. On the No Fouls Given podcast, Pierce mentioned how the classic PG “no longer exists” in the modern NBA. One example he gave was the all-star ballot. In the past, players were voted in by posistion.
Paul Pierce compares SGA to Michael Jordan
“You can’t stop him. He’s starting to give me that Jordan presence. He gonna get 30. We had Kobe, LeBron, KD, and they’ll have big nights, but this dude is consistent 30s”
(Via @NFGShow, h/t @NBA__Courtside)pic.twitter.com/kBWQmcCZE8
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) December 1, 2025
Now, the all-star ballot says guard and forward. Additionally, he said the modern PG is now a shooting guard playing the point guard position. His two examples of active players who fit that description are Steph Curry and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Curry has been listed as a PG his entire career, yet he is always leading the Warriors in scoring.
The same could be said for OKC’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Paul Pierce said this is the way the game has evolved. Positionless basketball is what the best teams are doing to be successful. We’ve seen teams like the Rockets and Thunder take on that approach. Pierce also argued that teams do not run any sets in 2025-26. He said teams are just running pick-and-rolls, while also looking for one-on-one matchups.
