John Stockton

[Reckless]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myMvojT6zIc[/youtube]

[HammerDunk]

To sum up Stock in one word. Pure. Nothing more, nothing less.

[carrottop12]

That's the best Stockton Mix I've ever seen, actually lets you see what his game was like. Terrific going to the rim, superb finisher, amazing passer in traffic, the best transition 3 in NBA History.

The only thing separating Magic and Stockton was 9 inches.

[RIJazzMan]

Puts tears in my eyes. The music goes with it perfectly. Stockton in my eyes, was the best point guard ever to play... and yeah Magic a close second.

[The59Sound]

Not even an argument to me. Magic was a more versatile player, but not a better point guard. Stockton is probably the most intelligent (BB IQ and otherwise) that I've ever seen. Add to that how cagey he was, his stroke from outside, and his fearlessness setting screens, and there's nothing more I could ask for.

In my opinion, Stockton will always be clear and away better than Deron. Even if D-Will brings us three titles, it will (for me personally) always have an asterisk because the game is so different than and the competition so inferior to that of John's day.

[Ming Kong!]

Magic was a better player, lets not kid ourselves.

Magic's rookie season:

ROY
All-Star
Finals MVP

Any questions? In terms of PG, I think it's about even, but lets be honest, pick any team in the NBA, now you have your choice of PG, do you really take a prime Stockton over Magic? Magic is a top 5 player of all time, Stockton is top 25, there is a big difference.

[The59Sound]

As I said, Magic's a much more versatile player; he could pay all five positions. That's incredibly valuable. If one wants to say he's a better player because of that versatility, that's fine.

But if we're talking only about the point guard spot, it's Stockton by a country mile. Magic's assists per game topped out at 13.1. John averaged 13.6 or better 5 times, topping out at 14.5. And while Stockton had a reliable workhorse in Malone, Magic always had more weapons and competed in an up-tempo offense that gave him more opportunities for assists.

For instance, the 1989-1990 Lakers had 7,010 field goal attempts. The Jazz had, by comparison, 6,593. That year, Magic averaged 11.5 assists, while John averaged 14.5. It should be noted that Magic scored about 5 more points per game.

At the end of the day, if I was beginning a franchise and had the choice of bringing anyone in specifically to play the point guard position, I would choose John Stockton any day of the week.

[outerspacefella]

Magic was dominant covering multiple spots; he had out-of-this-world basketball ability to play 1-2-3-4. But Stockton was the better pure PG of the league (so many times I wished he were a little tiny bit more selfish...).

If you could play time machine and throw him out there in today's basketball, he would still be the toughest one and the best defender and playmaker.

[Ming Kong!]

At the end of the day, if I was beginning a franchise and had the choice of bringing anyone in specifically to play the point guard position, I would choose John Stockton any day of the week.

Magic Johnson in just 12 years (including comeback):

ROY
3 times MVP
3 times Finals MVP
9 consecutive All-NBA 1st team honors (1983-1991)
1 time All-NBA 2nd: 1982
11 All-Star games
2 time NBA All-Star game MVP
Best career APG in NBA History
5 time NBA Champion

How can you possibly choose Stockton, that's FAR too homer of you.

[The59Sound]

A laundry list of honors doesn't factor into my decision, nor should it.

With regard to the one statistical thing in your list, Stockton's Career APG is lower because his career was so much longer than Magic's. We can't penalize him for that.

I choose Stockton because he fits the style of play I would covet in beginning a team (extremely important), proved to be a better and more prolific set-up man regardless of the Jazz's fewer possessions, is the toughest and most durable player I've seen in my life, and had none of Magic's monumental ego. That's off the top of my head.

[Dozer!]

We need to save this vid for the next Stockton vs Nash or whatever comparison. In every one of those comparion there are always some jokers saying Stockton could not create his own shot or even get into the lane without a pick or screen. People seem to just remember his last few years.

[@ndrew]

I wouldn't take Stockton over Magic. Never. Sorry for that. But... Stockton is so underrated on the General board, it's not even funny, I'll better stay away from all this threads since people are don't really able to realize how great he was at PG spot.

[The59Sound]

We need to save this vid for the next Stockton vs Nash or whatever comparison. In every one of those comparion there are always some jokers saying Stockton could not create his own shot or even get into the lane without a pick or screen. People seem to just remember his last few years.

Even his last few years, he could create his own shot (though obviously not as easily, since his speed decreased). I recall the announcers marveling over it during the first-round series against Dallas (where, fittingly, he was matched up against Nash).

[Ziploc]

who the hell voted no?

[Ming Kong!]

who the hell voted no?

I didn't vote, but I would've voted hell no.

[MeestR]

didnt realize what kind of crossover he had. the crossover he put on jordan was pretty cool.

when i think of pointguards, john stockton is the first thing that comes to mind. when i think of all around players, not specializing in any one position, magic is in the conversation, but i think of jordan.

[Ziploc]

who the hell voted no?

I didn't vote, but I would've voted hell no.

ok well then who?

[azuresou1]

I just voted no, to think Stockton is better than Magic is ridiculous.

[Ziploc]

what ever, everyone is entitled to their opinion. But you are on the Jazz boards, and here... John Stockton is God.

[StocktonShorts]

There's no shame in coming in 2nd in the PG race to Magic Johnson.