Six-time NBA champion and sporting icon, Michael Jordan, is clear about who he believes to be the greatest point guard to ever play the game of basketball.
Notable names in the conversation for the top point guard of all time include renowned basketball legends, including Isiah Thomas, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Steve Nash, and Tony Parker. Additionally, NBA stars still competing on the court today, such as Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, and Russell Westbrook have all displayed dominance from the point guard position.
Curry, in particular, has earned mass plaudits from basketball fans and former players since lighting up the league, as the Golden State Warriors star is credited with revolutionising the sport due to his impressive three-point shooting capabilities. Since 2021, he has held the record for the most three-pointers made in NBA history, with his current tally sitting at 4058.
Alongside his incredible scoring exploits from beyond the arc, Curry has won four championships and was named the Finals MVP when the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals. The point guard also has two regular-season MVP awards to his name and is an 11x All-Star.
From Curry's influence on the current state of the NBA and his success from both an individual and team perspective, many would consider him the greatest ever point guard. The Warriors star even claimed so himself when appearing as a guest on Gilbert Arenas' podcast two years ago.
Michael Jordan Doesn't Agree With Steph Curry
MJ believes the greatest point guard isn't even a debate
Magic Johnson's Career Stats
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However, according to Jordan, the title of greatest point guard belongs to former Los Angeles Lakers superstar, Magic Johnson. The six-time Finals MVP felt the need to chime in on the much-talked-about topic after Curry's self-declaration to Arenas.
In a text message sent to ESPN's Stephen A Smith, Jordan commented: "Although the greatest of anything is always a debate, I beg to differ on the greatest point guard of all time. Magic Johnson is easily the best point guard of all time. Steph Curry is very close, but not in front of Magic."
Magic Johnson
Jordan's opinion stems from him thinking about the point guard position in totality as opposed to just the shot-making aspect. He explained: "Magic Johnson ‘invented’ the triple-double, which is more notable in terms of a point guard’s impact on the game. Steph has a career three-point shooting percentage of 43%, and yes, his movement creates opportunities for his teammates, but Magic’s ability to control the game and lead is unmatched."
The Chicago Bulls legend also pointed out that Johnson has one more NBA championship than Curry.
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Jordan and Johnson faced off against one another in the 1991 NBA Finals in what was the latter's last ever Finals appearance. The pair also played alongside one another for the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona as part of the 'Dream Team', alongside other notable basketball icons including Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, and Scottie Pippen. Team USA displayed complete dominance over the other nations and took home the gold medal with ease.
Jordan's comments about Johnson and Curry were among the rare occasions where he spoke out about basketball as the sporting great typically stays away from the media. However, that is set to change in the near future as it was recently announced he would be joining NBC Sports as a special contributor for the network's NBA coverage from next season.
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