There has been a lot of debate lately regarding whether Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson or Golden State Warriors three-point shooting champion Stephen Curry is the greatest point guard of all time.
While comparing different eras is challenging due to various immeasurable factors, this article attempts to break it down by looking at the quantifiable data. Here are the respective cases for Magic and Curry and a side-by-side comparison of both players’ historic careers.
The case for Magic Johnson
A towering figure with a 6-foot-9 frame that defied traditional point guard norms, Magic’s impact on the game is evident. As a well-rounded point guard who contributed in multiple facets of the game, Magic had extraordinary career stats: 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game on 52/30/85 shooting splits. He had terrific positional size, ballhandling, speed, and one of the best court visions in NBA history.
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To add to Michael Jordan’s point – the most prominent case for Magic Johnson is his unique playmaking ability for his size. Magic’s 11.2 assists per game is the highest in NBA history, eclipsing even the legendary John Stockton’s 10.5. Despite a shortened 13-year career, Magic’s 10,141 assists secure him a place as the sixth-highest of all time, a testament to his exceptional court vision and basketball IQ.
While defense was not his defining attribute, Magic’s defense was respectable, in large part due to his positional size. He showcased his versatility by leading the league in steals twice, leveraging his imposing 6-foot-9 stature to become a switchable defender and play the passing lanes.
In his 1979-80 rookie season, Magic helped lead the Lakers to the NBA Finals, which Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had yet to achieve before Magic’s arrival.
During that first year, Magic averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game, and he was already recognized as an NBA All-Star. He was also named NBA Finals MVP – the only rookie to ever win the award.
Magic’s versatility came to the fore as he played different positions throughout the Finals. Notably, in Game 6, he stepped in for Abdul-Jabbar as the center and put up an incredible performance with 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. This standout display is among the best individual game performances in the history of the NBA.
His rookie season Game 6 Finals performance is only one of many examples of Magic’s contributions to adding to the Lakers franchise legacy. His impact led to the Lakers making an incredible nine NBA Finals in 12 years.