2029 Hall of Fame class could feature three elite 2010s guards
Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, and Kyle Lowry could headline the 2029 Hall of Fame class following their 2026 retirements. Representing a golden age for point guards, their combined resumes include an MVP trophy, legendary assist totals, and NBA titles, highlighting three distinct and dominant styles of play.
The 2029 Basketball Hall of Fame class could feature a remarkable reunion of three guards who helped define the NBA throughout the 2010s.
Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry all ended their playing careers in 2026. With the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame having reduced its waiting period to two full seasons out of the game, the trio could become eligible for the Class of 2029.
Westbrook became the latest of the three to walk away, announcing his retirement after 18 NBA seasons. The former Oklahoma City Thunder superstar leaves as the NBA’s all-time triple-double leader with 209, while ranking fifth in career assists and 14th in points.
His peak came during the 2016-17 season, when Westbrook won MVP after averaging a triple-double and setting the then-single-season record with 42 triple-doubles. He ultimately averaged a triple-double four times and finished his career with nine All-Star selections.
Paul’s resume could make him another obvious first-ballot candidate. The “Point God” retired in February after 21 seasons as a 12-time All-Star and finished second in NBA history in both assists and steals.
While Westbrook overwhelmed opponents with athleticism and relentless attacking, Paul became one of his generation’s defining traditional point guards through his pick-and-roll mastery, playmaking, mid-range shooting and control of games.
He also reached the NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns in 2021, although a championship remained one of the few accomplishments missing from his career.
Lowry’s case is built around a different type of legacy. The six-time All-Star retired as a Toronto Raptor in July following 20 NBA seasons, with his defining achievement coming as the starting point guard of Toronto’s 2019 championship team. He was also an All-NBA selection and won Olympic gold with Team USA in 2016.
The three guards frequently occupied the same All-Star landscape during the 2010s. Westbrook and Paul were among the Western Conference’s premier guards, while Lowry became one of the East’s most consistent stars during his peak years in Toronto.
Their careers also reflected three very different interpretations of the point guard position: Paul’s precision and control, Westbrook’s historic statistical production and explosiveness, and Lowry’s combination of leadership, defense and winning basketball.
If all three are selected when they first become eligible, the 2029 Hall of Fame ceremony could become a celebration of one of the deepest point-guard eras in NBA history.
Credit: Basket News