The guy is a career 35% shooter from the floor. That's awful. In this day of age, if you're not at least some threat to score the ball as a guard, not even in a large volume, but in some way, then have no business being a starter in the league. And he doesn't belong as one. So yes, as a starting point guard he is garbage.
I think he's a great passer. Even his defense is overrated IMO. He's great at playing passing lanes that results in a lot of steals, which does factor into RPM by the way, which again makes the stat skewed. Does his defense make a significant enough of a difference to make up for the fact he's a 100% liability on offense? No.
Does that sound like someone that's good. David, I think you factor defense WAY too much frankly in your rankings too.
There's no defensive point guard on the planet that's good enough to stop guys like CP3, Curry, Kyrie, etc...
EDIT: Speaking of DRPM; why is it that point guards have the lowest plus-minus? Because I think the answer is obvious, they make the least amount of impact defensively on the floor. The numbers back it up, go look at it.
This is not same as evaluating centers/power forwards, or even wing players, which IMO have a much greater impact defensively than a point guard can ever have. Another reason why I think its irrelevant when comparing point guards. Hell, as long he's an adequate defender, that's all that matters.
So think about it Kevin Love is a 2.11 plus defender. That's better than every point guard in the league other than Chris Paul. And ranks 12th in the stat among power forwards.
Also given its based on number of points allowed per possession. Obviously Rubio's ability to get steals plays part of this equation, but also the unit he plays with too, given we can take away point guards, in no way shape and form, can control everyone who scores on the court. Is his big men good defenders, do they protect the rim well? Etc, etc... I rather evaluate DRPM more with big men, since they themselves clearly do impact the game a lot more defensively, regardless who is on the court with them most the time.
So Rubio is second in DRPM at his position? Who cares, it's pretty meaningless when we're evaluating value on that side of the court, which isn't that much. Being a 1.89 plus defender is not going to impact your team much on wins and losses.