Lowest reasonable ranking for Magic Johnson?

Matt15 · Post #1 » by **Matt15** » Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:51 pm

I’ve been seeing Magic ranked lower on some lists lately, what is lowest reasonable all time ranking for Magic Johnson?

dygaction · Post #2 » by **dygaction** » Thu Jun 22, 2023 10:56 pm

Too decorated and too flashy to be out of my top 10, but he is losing to Curry on my all-time-starting-5 team due to Curry's range and the versatility of LeBron.

eminence · Post #3 » by **eminence** » Thu Jun 22, 2023 11:00 pm

I think one can have a pretty wide range on Magic (I have him 10th). If you appreciate his early prime and (reasonably imo) give him some extra longevity for his unique first retirement I think you can get him into back half of the top 5 range. If you don't give any longevity and are low on him generally I can see closer to 15th.

HeartBreakKid · Post #4 » by **HeartBreakKid** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 1:24 am

I have him in the top 15 but I think the gap between him and most of the top 20 guys is pretty solid. Same tier as my #10 guy (Big O).

It would be difficult to have him out the top 15 but I think if you cared a lot about longevity I could see an argument.

Cavsfansince84 · Post #5 » by **Cavsfansince84** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 2:03 am

Roughly 12-14. I don't think there's a single criteria or metric that he is so bad in compared to other top 20 guys that he could be lower then that. Generally speaking it's sort of possible to ding him for some of the playoff series in the 81-84 period and maybe for having a semi short prime and lack of outside shooting early on. Seeing both Magic and Bird outside the top 8 or even top 10 is becoming more and more common though. I think those of us who grew up on them will probably always have them slightly higher than those who didn't.

KobesScarf · Post #6 » by **KobesScarf** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 4:03 am

Around 12 or 13

70sFan · Post #7 » by **70sFan** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 5:51 am

I think you can go as low as 15th if you are way lower on his peak than me.

Woodsanity · Post #8 » by **Woodsanity** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 4:36 pm

Can't see him lower than 15.

rk2023 · Post #9 » by **rk2023** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:27 pm

If you're much higher on defensive / two-way value and lower on how much volume playmaking catalyzes an offense (while simultaneously having a longevity-driven approach), I think the low-end of the Top 15 would make sense in theory. Anything below that is nonsensical imo.

ceoofkobefans · Post #10 » by **ceoofkobefans** » Mon Jul 10, 2023 4:31 am

Lowest reasonable ranking for Magic is probably 14 but that’s REALLY hard for me to see. Lowest I generally put him is 12