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1. Who had the better one year peak?

2. Whose extended prime was better ?

3. Who ranks higher all time?

1993Playoffs wrote:1. Who had the better one year peak?

2. Whose extended prime was better ?

3. Who ranks higher all time?

1. Tossup, I usually lean slightly Garnett but i’m not certain on it. I’m at least mildly shocked that Kg didn’t even make top 10 in the peaks project.

2. Magic. Small gap, but i’m certain of it. It’s too hard to look past the plethora of elite and sometimes even goat caliber offenses ran by magic, and the fact he was clear best player on 3 championship teams. Kg probably could’ve done the latter, but it’s speculation at best.

3. Magic

Very interested.
KG had the better career, all time level longevity.
Magic peak for me was a bit better, but the better season was Garnett 2004.
They are very close for the 10th position in the all time list.

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Very close in the first two but I rank Magic higher because I just feel he had innate leadership and bbiq intangibles that KG didn't. Which isn't to say KG wasn't a competitor but I think Magic just was better at getting a team on the same page and leading them to where they needed to go. Not every guy who is super competitive knows how to do that.

Cavsfansince84 wrote:Very close in the first two but I rank Magic higher because I just feel he had innate leadership and bbiq intangibles that KG didn't. Which isn't to say KG wasn't a competitor but I think Magic just was better at getting a team on the same page and leading them to where they needed to go. Not every guy who is super competitive knows how to do that.

Its a slippery slope, theres such a gulf in the quality teammates these guys had, i feel if roles were reversed people would have similar talking points about KG such as "he's just a winner" etc

Bird and Duncan.

Now Magic and Garnett.

Greaaaaat

And what’s next, Yao and Kareem?

Garnett
Garnett
Garnett

Defense: Garnett
Rebounding: Garnett
Team Basketball: Garnett
Scoring: Magic
Passing: Magic

But scoring is close and Garnett has a huge advantage in defense and rebounding. I think Garnett is more of a team player as Magic was more ball dominant than Garnett and Garnett could play off the ball very well. Magic played on teams that were very good and much better than Garnett's teams so he won more championships.

1993Playoffs wrote:

Cavsfansince84 wrote:Very close in the first two but I rank Magic higher because I just feel he had innate leadership and bbiq intangibles that KG didn't. Which isn't to say KG wasn't a competitor but I think Magic just was better at getting a team on the same page and leading them to where they needed to go. Not every guy who is super competitive knows how to do that.

Its a slippery slope, theres such a gulf in the quality teammates these guys had, i feel if roles were reversed people would have similar talking points about KG such as "he's just a winner" etc

Which makes some sense but having followed the nba for quite a while and based on things I've read about Minnesota KG I just don't think he was a strong leader. Plus my own impressions of watching his teams.

EDIT: Wow! WHAT am I reading
Garnett better career than Magic? Magic’s peak only slightly better?

What are you guys on? Magic is the second best guard of all time. Garnett is the.... 10th best big of all time, at best.

Wilt Russell Kareem Shaq Hakeem Duncan Robinson Ewing and then maybe KG.

Garnett is so far behind these guys offensively, especially Magic, that his defense cannot close the gap. These “Compare one of my favorite players to a bonafide legend” threads are getting a bit ridiculous.

Magic Johnson - 3 MVP’s and 3 Finals MVPs. <—-These are 1 MVP away from Lebron Numbers.

Kevin Garnett - 1 MVP. 1 finals MVP.

This isn’t close. Magic is in the conversation for best offensive player of all time and understandably. Garnett has longetivity, and defense. That’s it.

1. Magic
2. Garnett, since magic didn't have an extended prime.
3. Magic

Clyde Frazier wrote:1. Magic
2. Garnett, since magic didn't have an extended prime.
3. Magic

At the same time though Magic stepped away the first time at the age of 32/33 which is when most primes end and his prime I would say started fairly young while KG's prime likely ended at the same age and also started fairly early. I think you could make the argument that both player's primes were around 10 years long.

Garnett got better peak and prime, for the all time list it's probably Magic, but it depends on how much you value longevity. You can see some arguments for KG at 3. as well.

Cavsfansince84 wrote:

Clyde Frazier wrote:1. Magic
2. Garnett, since magic didn't have an extended prime.
3. Magic

At the same time though Magic stepped away the first time at the age of 32/33 which is when most primes end and his prime I would say started fairly young while KG's prime likely ended at the same age and also started fairly early. I think you could make the argument that both player's primes were around 10 years long.

I consider "extended prime" to be in the middle of star and role player. Garnett had a good number of those seasons on the Celtics. Magic left the game as a superstar.

Clyde Frazier wrote:

Cavsfansince84 wrote:

Clyde Frazier wrote:1. Magic
2. Garnett, since magic didn't have an extended prime.
3. Magic

At the same time though Magic stepped away the first time at the age of 32/33 which is when most primes end and his prime I would say started fairly young while KG's prime likely ended at the same age and also started fairly early. I think you could make the argument that both player's primes were around 10 years long.

I consider "extended prime" to be the transition from star to role player. Garnett had a good number of those seasons on the Celtics. Magic left the game as a superstar.

I guess if that's what the op intends the phrase 'extended prime' to mean. He should probably specify what period of years he would say it would constitute for each player.

Cavsfansince84 wrote:

Clyde Frazier wrote:

Cavsfansince84 wrote:
At the same time though Magic stepped away the first time at the age of 32/33 which is when most primes end and his prime I would say started fairly young while KG's prime likely ended at the same age and also started fairly early. I think you could make the argument that both player's primes were around 10 years long.

I consider "extended prime" to be the transition from star to role player. Garnett had a good number of those seasons on the Celtics. Magic left the game as a superstar.

I guess if that's what the op intends the phrase 'extended prime' to mean. He should probably specify what period of years he would say it would constitute for each player.

I edited my post for clarity, but yeah they could.

KG had the better year, but I'd take Magic for a year if I could choose one
Magic for prime
Magic for all-time

KG
Magic
Magic

Think the idea of relative greatness gets lost some in comparing two players from different generations . Basketball style of play has changed so much over the generations.

IMO, Magic was much better than his peers than KG was better than his peers. Magic legit argument for best players in the 80s. Garnett fridge top 5 2000s player. I'll take the year Magic had for the 87 season over any peak KG season.

Amares wrote:Garnett got better peak and prime, for the all time list it's probably Magic, but it depends on how much you value longevity. You can see some arguments for KG at 3. as well.

If a player has a better peak and prime aren't they better overall?

I’d say KG is a more skilled basketball player.

Magic had a better career and mentality towards the playoffs.

If KG didnt regress so hard in the playoffs I’d say him but we’ve seen too many times where his offense drops.