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Magic is considered the best PG in nba history but West and Oscar are probably 2nd and 3rd on most lists.

In a comparison of all three factors should be:

*Individual Performance - Includes stats and overall impact, which includes both offensively and defensively. Also includes impact to team success.

*Team strength - Basically defined as talent level of teams throughout their careers, which affected their individual success, for good or bad, and that affected team success including wins in regular season and playoffs, including championships.



Offense - For scoring, Magic could've scored more but was the least of the three. Oscar and West were among the best scorers in their era, season after season. Both were probably bit better shooters than Magic, West the best of the three.

Passing is quite difficult to evaluate. Magic has the higher assist number but had more talent on his teams, Kareem being a top 3 player ever when Magic began his career. Oscar, for the lower talent on his teams, got a very high amount of assists. It is plausible to say that Oscar was the best passer of the three but Magic's playmaking obviously lead to championships which many factor largely.

I think West was the best of the three offensively, having an incredible scoring average and very good assists average as well, though averages don't show everything. Magic being the flashier passer, while being amazingly effective, may be considered the best offensively of the three but it's very close.


Defensively - This looks clearly West. Don't know much about Oscar's defense but it was never heralded. Magic was decent and had his moments but certainly wasn't that good. Can be said that West would be a great defender in any era. Even late in his career West was defending well, which is a testament to his effort and desire.


Teams - Oscar has an argument that if he was in West's place on the Lakers he'd have won as much. He did win one championship with very young Kareem. West could've won many championships, but that guy Russell didn't want to share much. Winning one at the end of his career with old Chamberlain gave him that ring. Magic obviously is one of the most winningest players ever but much of that was due to team strength. Having Kareem and a truck load of former stars and young developing stars factors largely. Don't think Magic wins more in Oscars and West's places and both Oscar and West likely win as much in Magic's place.


Overall - It's close between all three. Magic's effect on winning is irresistible but he is the least in scoring and probably defensively. I think West comes out on top and his lack of championships doesn't do him justice, same for Oscar.

I think Oscar and West were better than Magic. Magic just had a better situation. All roughly the same level.


Jerry West would be considered a greater player if he had won more rings or played more recently for no other reason than people overrate scorers. He pretty much fits perfectly for what the mainstream media likes.

HeartBreakKid wrote:I think Oscar and West were better than Magic. Magic just had a better situation. All roughly the same level.


Jerry West would be considered a greater player if he had won more rings or played more recently for no other reason than people overrate scorers. He pretty much fits perfectly for what the mainstream media likes.

I think those are fair points to some degree. I think they are on a similar level. It does almost without a doubt hurt both Oscar's and West's legacies that they played so long ago(really anything before the 80's gets viewed as the nba's dark ages by the general public/media) and being overshadowed so much by the Celtic dynasty. Magic also gets bonus point for having a likeable personality and how key his rivalry with Bird was to the nba's rise during that time. Winning does count for something though.

Cavsfansince84 wrote:

HeartBreakKid wrote:I think Oscar and West were better than Magic. Magic just had a better situation. All roughly the same level.


Jerry West would be considered a greater player if he had won more rings or played more recently for no other reason than people overrate scorers. He pretty much fits perfectly for what the mainstream media likes.

I think those are fair points to some degree. I think they are on a similar level. It does almost without a doubt hurt both Oscar's and West's legacies that they played so long ago(really anything before the 80's gets viewed as the nba's dark ages by the general public/media) and being overshadowed so much by the Celtic dynasty. Magic also gets bonus point for having a likeable personality and how key his rivalry with Bird was to the nba's rise during that time. Winning does count for something though.

They're amongst the greatest players of all time, it's fair to say they all play winning basketball.

It's strange how there seems to be a rather elementary theory out there that the best players win more titles than other players. If you are good enough to win two titles, why wouldn't you be good enough to win six, unless your prime was only two years? This is how most fans think but I don't think it makes a lot of sense.

HeartBreakKid wrote:
They're amongst the greatest players of all time, it's fair to say they all play winning basketball.

It's strange how there seems to be a rather elementary theory out there that the best players win more titles than other players. If you are good enough to win two titles, why wouldn't you be good enough to win six, unless your prime was only two years? This is how most fans think but I don't think it makes a lot of sense.

That's fair to ask but lots of things can factor into how a guy plays from year to year. There's growth which comes in different ways. Sometimes chemistry issues come up after a team wins one or two. Sometimes guys wear down playing deep into the playoffs every year. I don't look at it all from just one way but I think winning does matter.

Probably the best way to compare all three is to say; How good would West and Robertson have been in place of Magic on the Lakers teams?

With all that talent either West or Robertson could've won as much if not more and possibly won more more mvps.

I'm far from sure either of the others win as much with Kareem. Kareem was in a shell, self-isolating as much as is possible in such a team sport after the horrific massacre of Muslims staying at his house. Magic brought him out of his shell and got him to buy in to the team defense and locker room. Oscar's personality could be quite harsh and demanding, which worked for a younger, less scarred Kareem but might not have for LA Kareem. West was a Southern white which would have made it more difficult for Kareem to relate to. So, those particular circumstances may not have worked for either.

Another factor which doesn't get brought up is health. Both Magic and Oscar enjoyed excellent health, at least until the HIV issue that ended Magic's prime. West was hurt far more often. Also, both Magic and Oscar led regular best in the league offenses, West not so much. West certainly has a large defensive edge on either though.

I have them Magic, West, Oscar personally.