RealGM

Let's say you have no idea who the rest of your team consist of, and you have to pick between 1987 Magic Johnson and 2016 Stephen Curry as your point guard, who would you choose?

Steph. Shooting is king in the NBA and he's the best shooter the game his seen.

Magic, because he makes it easier for the other 4 players.

Magic. Curry I can see having issues fitting in with particular rosters or players. Magic, like LeBron could play with any other stars or role players.

Both of them as my starting guards

Different times, why not compare players during equal times versus a player in the 70-80-90 to players today?

curry is the perfect pg for todays game

OKCfanSinceSGA wrote:Magic. Curry I can see having issues fitting in with particular rosters or players. Magic, like LeBron could play with any other stars or role players.

That’s interesting, because I think it’s the exact opposite.

I have Magic ahead of Curry all time because his accomplishments cannot be ignored, but Curry has arguably the most portable superstar game in history. Unlike most superstars, Steph is at his most dangerous off-ball— he’d be a way better hypothetical fit next to Jordan, Kobe, LeBron…really, most players.

WD wrote:Different times, why not compare players during equal times versus a player in the 70-80-90 to players today?

Exactly ... Magic might very well end up looking like Ben Simmons in this era or maybe Steph looks like Dell in Magic's, nobody can say, so the discussion will ultimately just spin in circles.

But if the question is the value of play-making .vs. shooting in a top-notch PG ... comparing Paul to Curry for instance wouldn't have any of those issues. They are good enough at other aspects of the game that they are not dragged down relative to this era.

Magic in pace and space era, along with heavy emphasis on heliocentric offense, would be unimaginably great. I know that Curry is extremely portable and his shooting opens up space for everybody, but Magic had no weaknesses offensively and his combination of size and passing makes him the ultimate walking missmatch in Doncic mold, but with higher BBIQ.

Both choices are understandable, but I'd take Magic even without taking into account injuries.

Steph Curry. I think he is the greatest point guard of all time and I'm not sorry.

Curry. He unlocks everything.

Sark wrote:Magic, because he makes it easier for the other 4 players.

Not true. Curry gets his teammates wide open shots just by being on the court with them.

both are amazing and i think curry is underrated for sure but it’s magic. that length is important

70sFan wrote:Magic in pace and space era, along with heavy emphasis on heliocentric offense, would be unimaginably great. I know that Curry is extremely portable and his shooting opens up space for everybody, but Magic had no weaknesses offensively and his combination of size and passing makes him the ultimate walking missmatch in Doncic mold, but with higher BBIQ.

Both choices are understandable, but I'd take Magic even without taking into account injuries.

I'd pick Magic in this comparison but wasn't Magic criticized for his jumpshot for a large portion of his career?

It feels weird not taking Magic but I'd take Curry for today's game. Magic couldn't shoot.

Edit: I've been corrected and Magic was a much better shooter than I realized by the end of his career. So I'm feeling less confident about my Curry pick now...

JonFromVA wrote:

WD wrote:Different times, why not compare players during equal times versus a player in the 70-80-90 to players today?

Exactly ... Magic might very well end up looking like Ben Simmons in this era or maybe Steph looks like Dell in Magic's, nobody can say, so the discussion will ultimately just spin in circles.

But if the question is the value of play-making .vs. shooting in a top-notch PG ... comparing Paul to Curry for instance wouldn't have any of those issues. They are good enough at other aspects of the game that they are not dragged down relative to this era.

Magics set shot was not the prettiest but look at his free throw shooting compared to Ben. It is not even close.

Isn't Curry more of a shooting guard? For example, when you show young kids video of exemplary point guards you show them Chris Paul, Magic, Nash, etc...

The is pretty easy, the greatest PG ever.

Magic and not close. Far better in the playoffs.

Magic's post game with modern spacing would average 15 apg and break all kinds of offensive records. Can you imagine Magic in a 5 out offense? He'd find everyone and he was an automatic scorer in the post best post game ever for a "guard"