Where would Peak Magic Johnson rank today?

[Matt15]

Where would Peak Magic rank overall in today's league?

[Djoker]

Either #1 or #2 behind Jokic. Don't think there's anyone else better than 1987 Magic which is IMO his peak.

[lessthanjake]

Top 3. I think he’d be a little bit behind Jokic. I think peak Magic is better than SGA in general, but if we were just looking at the current season then I’m not sure even peak Magic would actually be better than SGA has been. So he could be #3, depending on whether one thinks SGA’s form so far this year accurately reflects his true level now or is just a bit of a positive anomaly. Peak Magic is definitely above anyone else though.

[Special_Puppy]

Top 2

[One_and_Done]

Hard to say. Top 3 feels right, but I'd probably need to really think about it. His lack of 3pt shooting certainly isn't ideal. At least his role as the guy who always has the ball makes it a little less bad.

[D.Brasco]

Top 3. Jokic would still provide more value defense wise and by the nature of being a true center who can run an offense and provide h8igh scoring.

[One_and_Done]

I mean, if defenders sag off Magic and dare him to shoot the 3, what exactly is his counter?

[lessthanjake]

I mean, if defenders sag off Magic and dare him to shoot the 3, what exactly is his counter?

His counter is to generate offense the way he typically did—which was directing the offense through the post in the half court and being incredible in transition.

Also, considering that Magic became a pretty decent three-point shooter once he actually started shooting them (35% from three in his last four years in the NBA—the only years he shot them at any volume) and was a great FT shooter, I find it somewhat difficult to believe he wouldn’t be a pretty good three-point shooter in this era.

Overall, I think his offensive game in this era would probably look pretty similar to Jokic’s overall. Working a lot out of the post with incredible passing, great in transition, and with an ability to make threes off of a set shot. Obviously they’d be a bit different. For instance, Jokic is more of a scoring threat in the post, but Magic is even better at running the break. But I think the type of offense they’d run would actually be fairly similar. To me, Jokic is just a bit better because he’s a superior scoring threat (in significant part because of how ridiculous he is with that floater).

[TheGOATRises007]

Only behind Jokic for me.

I could see arguments for Magic over Jokic with more 3pt snipers adding further value to his GOAT playmaking(imo).

[EmpireFalls]

Could Magic be a good switchable defender in today’s game? Obviously he’s not gonna be first team All-Defense in any era but he was big, strong, quick, smart. Or would he be closer to Luka level? I feel like you’d have to take a rosy view of his defense to truly make the case for #1 overall over Jokic - and alternatively, a dim view to have him lower than top 3.

[lessthanjake]

Could Magic be a good switchable defender in today’s game? Obviously he’s not gonna be first team All-Defense in any era but he was big, strong, quick, smart. Or would he be closer to Luka level? I feel like you’d have to take a rosy view of his defense to truly make the case for #1 overall over Jokic - and alternatively, a dim view to have him lower than top 3.

I think, on defense, he’d have trouble moving in all the space of today’s era, kind of like Luka. But he’d force more turnovers and probably just give a bit more effort than Luka, so he’d end up closer to neutral than Luka.

[70sFan]

I don't see anyone other than Jokic and Shai touching peak Magic and I think he'd have a strong case for number one, depending on the postseason performance.

I mean, if defenders sag off Magic and dare him to shoot the 3, what exactly is his counter?

Is this a serious question?

[TheGOATRises007]

I don't see anyone other than Jokic and Shai touching peak Magic and I think he'd have a strong case for number one, depending on the postseason performance.

I mean, if defenders sag off Magic and dare him to shoot the 3, what exactly is his counter?

Is this a serious question?

You know you shouldn't bother engaging with the OP considering his view on past legends.

[One_and_Done]

I don't see anyone other than Jokic and Shai touching peak Magic and I think he'd have a strong case for number one, depending on the postseason performance.

I mean, if defenders sag off Magic and dare him to shoot the 3, what exactly is his counter?

Is this a serious question?

You know you shouldn't bother engaging with the OP considering his view on past legends.

It's troubling that people don't see Magic's lack of 3pt shooting as an issue. My impulsive response was to say he'd probably be top 3, but that lack of 3pt shooting is a serious concern. It bears further consideration. Magic has ways to compensate, and I'm not saying it's a fatal flaw, but just sweeping it aside like it doesn't matter is dishonest. There are exactly zero star guards who can't shoot 3s.

[70sFan]

I don't see anyone other than Jokic and Shai touching peak Magic and I think he'd have a strong case for number one, depending on the postseason performance.


Is this a serious question?

You know you shouldn't bother engaging with the OP considering his view on past legends.

It's troubling that people don't see Magic's lack of 3pt shooting as an issue. My impulsive response was to say he'd probably be top 3, but that lack of 3pt shooting is a serious concern. It bears further consideration. Magic has ways to compensate, and I'm not saying it's a fatal flaw, but just sweeping it aside like it doesn't matter is dishonest. There are exactly zero star guards who can't shoot 3s.

People already pointed out that Magic developed a three point shot even in an era when most people didn't do that. Magic's shooting touch is extremely good, he wouldn't have much problems to adjust.

I also have no clue how you can functionally compare Magic to "guards" when he's LeBron size.

[One_and_Done]

We all know Magic is a unique player.

The sample on Magic hitting 3s is small, and nobody guarded 3s back then, but if you think his shot translates then yeh it's fine. I'm not even sure his shot wouldn't translate; but if it didn't it would be a major problem, and that can't be swept aside. It merits much more discussion. I've never thought Magic's 3pt form looked great, but it's debatable I guess.

[70sFan]

We all know Magic is a unique player.

The sample on Magic hitting 3s is small, and nobody guarded 3s back then, but if you think his shot translates then yeh it's fine. I'm not even sure his shot wouldn't translate; but if it didn't it would be a major problem, and that can't be swept aside. It merits much more discussion. I've never thought Magic's 3pt form looked great, but it's debatable I guess.

Magic form looks roughly as great as Jokic's, he just does what suited him and didn't care. You can do that when you have such a good shooting touch.

[Homer38]

The 3s was not important in the 1980s....But I am sure he would been fine in the long run if it was important.He was a very good free throw shooter.

If he would be average,like 35% and able to hit open 3s,he would be elite like crazy.I am confident he would be able to do that

For the question he would be the best or second best player in the league with Jokic.

[The-Power]

Seems like some people have him right there with Jokic; some behind Jokic; and some behind Jokic and right there with SGA.

With that in mind, how much better than Giannis and Luka – probably the ones next up for most people – is Magic in your eyes? Is it close, or is there a notable gap? Which were the last years LeBron and Curry had an argument (even if you personally would not make it) over peak Magic? 2021? 2022?

[capfan33]

Likely 1 or 2 depending on how SGA does in the playoffs. Think he’s better than jokic by a small but noticeable margin.