Lewenberg: Raptors Top Five: Best point guards With the Toronto Raptors celebrating their 20th anniversary season in 2014-15, Josh Lewenberg and TSN.ca take a look back at the franchise's first two decades with weekly Top Five lists, counting down the standout and signature players and moments in team history. Up next, the top five point guards.

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Raptors Top Five: Best point guards

With the Toronto Raptors celebrating their 20th anniversary season in 2014-15, Josh Lewenberg and TSN.ca take a look back at the franchise's first two decades with weekly Top Five lists, counting down the standout and signature players and moments in team history.

5. T.J. Ford (2006-08)

Raptor stats (2 seasons): 13.2 points, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 126 games played/97 started

One of the first orders of business for incoming general manager Bryan Colangelo, upon taking the helm prior to the 2006-07 campaign, was to shore up the point guard position. Although his initial gamble - the selection of Andrea Bargnani, first overall - will go down as a black mark on the former GM's resume, he would hit a home run just two days later, acquiring the speedy Ford from Milwaukee and selling high on then-rookie sensation Charlie Villanueva. Ford made an immediate impact, averaging 14.0 points and a personal-best 7.9 assists, helping to lead the franchise to its first division title in his debut year with the Raptors. Listed at a generous six-feet, Ford was a fearless player - it's what made him great and loads of fun to watch before it ultimately ended his career early. Not unlike his time in the league, Ford's Raptor tenure was short lived, derailed by serious neck and spinal injuries. He shares a common thread with others on this list in the way he fought through that adversity - refusing to compromise his style of play - but doesn't get the same recognition for it.

Did you know?: Ford assisted on 44.6 per cent of his teammate's field goals while on the floor as a member of the Raptors, the highest mark in franchise history.

4. Jose Calderon (2005-13)

Raptor stats (8 seasons): 10.0 points, 7.2 assists, 1.7 turnovers, 48 per cent FG, 39 percent 3P, 525 games played/323 started

More so than anyone else on this list, Calderon is the type of player that comes to mind when you think of the throw-back point guard, a dying breed in basketball. A truly selfless leader, the Spaniard remains a consummate professional and teammate, now with his third team in two years since being traded in the deal that netted the Raptors Rudy Gay. His NBA home will always be in Toronto, where he spent nearly a decade and grew into one of the more dependable floor generals in the league. When Calderon debuted in 2005 he could barely speak the language or knock down an open jumper (16 per cent from three-point range). Thanks in large part to the work he put in over the years that followed, he would go on to lead the NBA, shooting a ridiculous 46 per cent from long distance in 2012-13, his final season in Toronto. Routinely at the top of the association in assist-to-turnover ratio, Calderon's near-flawless instincts on the offensive end helped him overtake a number of flashier point guards in the rotation, including Ford, leading to the latter's departure. Underestimate him at your own peril. Defensive shortcomings aside, Calderon had a lasting impact on the franchise and won't soon by forgotten.

Did you know?: Calderon ranks third in Raptors history in win shares (an estimate of the number of wins contributed by a player) at 41.5, behind only Chris Bosh and Vince Carter. He's the Raptors' all-time leader in assists (3770)

3. Alvin Williams (1998-2006)

Raptor stats (8 seasons): 9.3 points, 4.3 assists, 1.4 turnovers, 417 games played/324 started

To clarify, while Williams remains one of, if not the most beloved Raptor of all time, he's here because of his on-court contributions and overall importance to the franchise. No, his numbers don't stand out, they're modest at best. That said, Boogie peaked at the right time and came into his own just as the Raptors reached their pinnacle - not a coincidence. An excellent defender and clutch shooter, Williams was the perfect sidekick to Carter in the backcourt. He broke out as a reserve in 2000-01, prompting his promotion and the midseason trade of Mark Jackson before hitting the biggest shot of his career - and possibly Raptors history - in the playoffs, a series-winning dagger at Madison Square Garden. The following season he played in all 82 games, averaging 11.8 points and 5.7 assists, helping lead Toronto to an unexpected playoff berth without the injured Carter to lean on. More than anything else, Williams is known for his toughness. That and his crucial role in the franchise's biggest moments make him deserving of this spot.

Did you know?: Williams has appeared in 18 playoff games for the Raptors, tied with Morris Peterson for most in team history.

2. Damon Stoudamire (1995-98)

Raptor stats (3 seasons): 19.6 points, 8.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 200 games played/200 started

An original Raptor, Stoudamire was also the franchise's first ever star, and a marketable one at that. He burst onto the scene as a rookie in 1995-96, the team's inaugural season, averaging 19.0 points and 9.3 assists. The lone bright spot during the organization's early years, Mighty Mouse intrigued a young fan base with his crafty, fast-paced style of play and was at the forefront of some signature moments, namely Toronto's unlikely victory over Michael Jordan and the 72-win Chicago Bulls. At 5-foot-10, Stoudamire could do the unimaginable. He was durable, lightning quick and like Williams - a player he was ultimately traded for - tough as nails. Alas, the relationship between player and franchise turned sour and Stoudamire's production proved to be unsustainable once he engineered his own exit and moved on from the Raptors. You could certainly argue he was nothing more than a good player putting up great numbers on a bad team, but that shouldn't tarnish his Raptors legacy. For the first two and a half years of their existence, the Raptors featured one of the most exciting young talents in the NBA, an ideal set-up for any infant franchise.

Did you know?: Stoudamire logged an average of 40.9 minutes per game in his rookie season, the seventh-highest among first-year players in NBA history. The six players ahead of him (Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, Walt Bellamy and Jerry Lucas) are all Hall of Famers. He's also the Raptors all-time leader in assists per game (8.8)

1. Kyle Lowry (2012-present)

Raptor stats (2 seasons): 15.0 points, 6.9 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 147 games played/131 started

Lowry's all-star caliber 2013-14 campaign will go down as one of the most impressive single-season performances by any player, at any position in the franchise's first 20 years. After a disappointing debut season in Toronto and a series of lost years in Houston and Memphis, the 28-year-old finally realized his immense potential, finding himself at the most crucial time for both player and team. With free agency looming, Lowry's maturation as a leader - on and off the court - lifted his team to new heights at a time in which many expected them to head in the opposite direction. By channeling his toughness and stubborn nature in the right direction, he established himself as the face of the franchise - now and for the foreseeable future - and one of the NBA's elite point guards. Perhaps his most meaningful contribution to the organization occurred this summer when he bucked the trend of runaway stars and committed to Toronto long-term. Lowry - a two-way terror at the position - has spearheaded a Raptors renaissance, rejuvenating a long-suffering fan base entering the team's 20th season.

Did you know?: Lowry set a franchise-record with 190 three-point field goals last season. His 11.7 win shares represented the third highest single-season mark in team history, behind only Carter.

Honourable mention: Mike James (2005-06), Rafer Alston (2002-03, 2004-05), Muggsy Bogues (1999-2001), Mark Jackson (2000-01)

Expert picks:

Jack Armstrong

1. Alvin Williams

2. Jose Calderon

3. Damon Stoudamire

4. Kyle Lowry

5. T.J. Ford

Leo Rautins

1. Kyle Lowry

2. Damon Stoudamire

3. Jose Calderon

4. Alvin Williams

5. Mark Jackson