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.
The case for Stephen Curry
So far in his Hall of Fame career, Curry has averaged 24.6 points, 6.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game on 48/43/91 shooting splits.
Curry is so hard to scheme against defensively. He’s one of the league’s best ballhandlers and is an underrated athlete in agility and endurance. He can get by his defender consistently and is a great finisher with excellent touch. When he doesn’t have the ball, Curry is just as dangerous. Being the best three-point shooter of all time is well-known.
But an underrated aspect of Curry’s game is how he fits perfectly in the Warriors and Steve Kerr’s offensive system. He’s one of the best players ever at moving without the ball. The offensive efficiency you get from Curry significantly impacts playing winning basketball. The analytics have shown that layups and threes are the most efficient shots, and Curry is a cheat code in both aspects.
Curry’s unmatched ball-handling skills, agility, and finishing make him an offensive enigma that’s difficult to strategize against. His extraordinary ability to excel with and without the ball and his historic three-point shooting redefine offensive efficiency and shift the game’s dynamics.
He’s a generational player in terms of someone who changes the way we view the game. Curry is a perfect star to play alongside other talented players if you’re building a championship team. It’s impossible to leave Curry out on the perimeter to help out, which was especially evident when the Warriors had Kevin Durant. Curry’s ball handling, playmaking, basketball IQ, and historic shooting give him a great chance to be considered the game’s best point guard.
A paradigm-shifting player, Curry transforms the game with his unparalleled approach. His strategic fit within the Warriors’ system and his role in the rise of modern analytics-driven basketball amplify his status. He’s not just a player; he’s a generational game-changer who elevates teammates, demands defensive attention, and makes a compelling case as the best point guard ever.
Side-by-side Johnson vs. Curry comparisons
Magic Johnson’s NBA accolades:
- Five-time NBA Champion
- Three-time NBA Finals MVP
- Three-time NBA MVP
- 12-time NBA All-Star
- Nine-time All-NBA First Team
- All-NBA Second Team
- Four-time NBA assists leader
- Two-time NBA steals leader
Stephen Curry’s NBA accolades
- Four-time NBA Champion
- NBA Finals MVP
- Two-time NBA MVP
- Nine-time NBA All-Star
- Four-time All-NBA First Team
- Four-time All-NBA Second Team
- All-NBA Third Team
- Two-time NBA scoring champion
- NBA steals leader
- Most threes all time (3,390)
- Most threes in a single season (402 in 2015-16 season)
Side-by-side comparison
- Ball handling = Curry
- Passing = Magic
- Scoring = Curry
- Shooting = Curry
- Rebounding = Magic
- Defense = Magic
- Accolades = Magic
In the case of comparing players like Magic Johnson and Stephen Curry, it’s essential to recognize their unique strengths and contributions to the game. Curry’s unparalleled shooting and scoring ability have revolutionized basketball, while Magic’s playmaking and versatility set new standards for his era. Both players have left an indelible mark on the sport and point guard position in their own ways.
Ultimately, basketball player evaluation is a complex task that involves considering a wide range of factors and perspectives, not to mention the different eras. It’s important to acknowledge the limitations of any single evaluation method and approach the topic with an open mind and appreciation for the diverse skills and talents players bring to the game.
The answer: Magic Johnson
The case for Magic’s greatness is built on three strong points:
- His remarkable statistical career peak
- His impact on championship success in Los Angeles
- And most importantly, his ability to make his teammates better perfectly aligns with what a true point guard should do.
Curry also makes his teammates better, but not to the same extent as Magic, who is arguably the best in NBA history to do so. Johnson’s size, athleticism, and playmaking ability are precisely what you look for in a point guard, especially in the modern positionless basketball era.
Because of his size, Curry frequently gets hunted on the defensive end and is involved in many pick-and-roll situations. Magic’s versatility and ability to anticipate plays ahead of time is uncanny, similar to Curry’s historic shooting ability.
It’s subjective based on what you prefer in building a team – elite shooting, ball handling, and finishing, or playmaking, size, and speed. Suppose you’re building a team of superstars to have them play against the Monstars. In that case, Curry might be the better choice because he’s a better complementary piece amongst other superstars due to his shooting ability.
However, as a go-to superstar player relied on heavily to lead his team to a championship, the choice is Magic.
It’s also worth noting that Curry is still 35 and has multiple years to improve his case. It’s a discussion worth having and revisiting when Curry’s Hall of Fame career is all said and done.
Regardless of your preference amongst these legendary point guards, credit has to be given to Stephen Curry for putting himself in the conversation with Magic Johson as the best point guard ever to play the game.