Stephen Curry isn’t reluctant to stake his claim as one of the best point guards in NBA history. The Warriors star put himself in elite company during a recent appearance on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast.
“It’s me and Magic (Johnson), is that the conversation? Obviously, I have to answer that way,” Curry said in response to a question from Arenas. “Magic’s resume is ridiculous. So the fact that we’re having that conversation, that’s the place I never thought I’d be in.”
Both players are obviously on the short list of legendary point guards. They amassed a wealth of titles and individual honors throughout their careers, and both significantly changed the way the game is played.
Curry is a four-time champion, a two-time scoring leader, a nine-time All-Star and a two-time MVP who was the first player in league history to win the award in a unanimous vote. He has 21,712 career points, 5,740 assists and a record 3,390 three-pointers, and at age 35 he still has time to add to those numbers.
Johnson was among the most dynamic players of the 1980s and the catalyst for the “Showtime” Lakers. He was an All-Star in 10 of his first 11 seasons, missing only because of injury, before HIV forced him into his first retirement in 1991. He won five titles, three MVP awards and three Finals MVP honors. With 17,707 career points and 10,141 assists, Johnson was voted onto the league’s 50th and 75th anniversary teams.
While Curry and Johnson are strong candidates, there are plenty of others to consider:
- In the 1960s and early ’70s, Oscar Robertson was routinely putting up triple-doubles before it was celebrated as a stat. The 1964 MVP spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Royals before winning his only NBA title with the Bucks in 1971. He was an All-Star in his first 12 NBA seasons, being named MVP of the game three times, and was a nine-time first-team All-NBA selection.
- Lakers star Jerry West was a contemporary of Robertson’s and his rival as the best guard in the game at the time. West was an All-Star in all 14 of his NBA seasons and was an All-NBA selection 12 times. He was named Finals MVP in 1969 even though the Lakers lost the series, then won his only championship in 1972.
- John Stockton is the NBA’s career leader in assists with 15,806 and led the league in that category for nine straight seasons. The 10-time All-Star is also the league’s all-time steals champ with 3,265 and was named to the All-Defensive Team five times. He spent his entire 19-year career with the Jazz and remained productive through age 40.
- Isiah Thomas led the “Bad Boy” Pistons to titles in 1989 and 1990 at a time when the Lakers and Celtics were dominating the league. The 12-time All-Star was named Finals MVP in 1990 and twice captured All-Star MVP honors.
- Chris Paul is the only active point guard with a resume similar to Curry’s, although without a similar level of playoff success. A 12-time All-Star, Paul led the NBA in assists five times and in steals six times. He’s an 11-time All-NBA and nine-time All-Defensive Team selection.
- Steve Nash is a two-time MVP who also revolutionized the game with his accomplishments in Phoenix. An eight-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection, he reached the 50-40-90 club as a shooter four times in his career.
There are many more to consider, such as Bob Cousy, Walt Frazier, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Nate Archibald, Pete Maravich and others, and we could go on much longer about their place in the history of the league. But we want to get your opinion. Who’s really the best point guard that has ever played? Please leave your response in the space below.
Magic, Curry, Stockton, Oscar, Thomas, West, Frazier, tiny Nate, K Irving. I consider Pete a SG, Nash, Kidd etc etc etc
Pete after West. West, Oscar and Pete could play SG too
Please ……. only one
Magic ……….
Curry is not even a PG. He’s one of best guards ever. Not even top ten in my book. I’d say he’s a top 20 player all time.
Basketball is a team sport. Basketball is a 2way sport. Managing a game. Managing an offense. Are what makes a PG great. Two things Curry doesn’t really do.
Big O was a 2way player. If West had the 3PT shot, OMG.
Great points Al but allow me to say this, Curry’s shooting is so phenomenal that you don’t want him to run the point and initiate the offense. You’d rather have him come off screens and shoot the ball.
Though he is a capable passer with fantastic handles and quick enough to run the point and unselfish, you’d rather have Draymond Green be your point guard and Steph shoot the ball. I call it good coaching. But you make good points and I agree.
Yea I agree. So don’t call him a PG. He’s really more a SG-combo guard. Warriors offense doesn’t need a true PG. And Curry works it great. He is a good passer, 6.5 ast career. His shooting is what makes him great. And he’s improved in every area of his game. I guess you can say. He’s taken combo guard. To a new level.
That’s really the point – pardon the pun. When you picture a great PG the many amazing things Steph does don’t come to mind. Best shooter ever – yes, most explosive offensive player, perhaps, a true PG not so much.
If West were playing in the 3 point era he’d have a 3 point shot.
You ever notice that not one current or former nba ever says, “Curry is not even a point guard”???
Its always the REAL experts on social media that can tell you real truth about a player, coach, etc…
I haven’t seen one article written by a legitimate source that says Curry shouldn’t be in the point guard conversation or category. Curry has been a point guard his whole life, for every team he’s played for.
Just because he’s (arguably) the best shooter ever doesn’t mean he doesn’t play the point.
Was Magic not a pg because he posted up on the block? Or because he rebounded? Or because he was 6’9?
Anybody remember Andre Roberson (OKC)? He played the same position as Klay Thompson and Ray Allen. Did he play the “2”, the Shooting Guard position the same way as the two I just mentioned? So, does that mean he wasn’t a two-guard?
“Big Dog” Robinson and Chris Webber were the same height/weight/PF position… and played nothing alike.
Curry is an “unconventional” point guard who doesn’t play the position the “traditional” way.
Magic was 6’9, posted up, and rebounded… nothing about that was conventional/traditional of the point guard position.
Why does Curry have to play like Cousy or Stockton to be a true point guard when Magic didn’t play like Cousy or Stockton?
But he did – AND did other things. Actually many former players respond to this question – they just say it’s magic. Obviously no one is going to criticize Steph – he’s one of the greatest players of all time. No one debates that.
tuck2… if you re-read my comment(s), nowhere have I said anything about which one was better… only that they’re both point guards.
“Actually many former players respond to this question – they just say it’s Magic.” Well, that’s against the narrative of my comment. I didn’t/never said Magic wasn’t better… I just said Curry IS, indeed, a point guard.
“Obviously no one is going to criticize Steph…”
Calling someone a point guard, a 2-guard, a small forward, a Stretch-4, etc… has never been criticism. At least, not that I’ve ever heard.
***For the record, imo, Steph Curry is the 2nd best POINT GUARD in history…
behind Magic.
The question is best PG ever ……
Curry is not in that conversation. Has nothing to do with styles. Now best guard ever. You can argue he is top 5.
Again, current and former NBA players, coaches, writers, etc… say Curry is a point guard.
Only Social Media experts call him something else.
Can he play off the ball? Absolutely!
Can he shoot/score? Absolutely!
Did Isiah Thomas play off the ball? Absolutely, when Dumars initiated offense.
Could Isiah shoot/score? Absolutely… those are the most iconic moments in his career.
Was Isiah a “combo guard”? Well, on social media he’s a true point guard – even tho he did many of the things that “exclude” Curry from being a social media point guard.
Magic, Curry, and Isiah all played the same position. None of the 3 played it the same way.
You may need social media to explain things. Or worse yourself. I’ve been around longer than social media existed. And could care less what trends there are. Playing ball is Real. It’s in front of your eyes. We get it.
And some of us can explain it. Cause we played it, play it. And follow it.
Isiah was a PG cause he ran the offense. Isiah was a PG cause he knew how to manage a game. The reason I don’t put Westbrook in the conversation. Cause he wasn’t really good at any of those things. Like Curry who doesn’t do and doesn’t need to do any of those two things. Being a scoring PG. Like the Big O, Magic, Isiah, Clyde, Nash. Only makes you a better PG cause you are not just a passer. Or a guy who runs the team. Like Rondo, Payton.
Seems to me you don’t understand what a PG really does. No one in todays game was or is better than CP3. It’s not just assists. It’s managing a game and the offense to win. The Big O is CP3 only at 6’ 5”. Imagine that if you can. Only reason I pick Magic over the Big O. Is cause of the chips. Curry is more a SG. You should see what he scores when Warriors win. What percentage of shots he puts up for his team to win. Magic could have avg 25 a gm easy. But his team needed him to run the team and be a true PG. Magic would rather go to 9 Finals than put up stats. Curry has to put stats for his team to win.
“Curry has to put up stats to win.”
You seriously tried to make a point with that statement??? Sheesh
I may have to delete my account.
No more even needs to be said after that statement, Knickerbocker.
Wowwww…
Curry
Has
To
Put
Up
Stats
To
Win.
Yeah… I’m in the wrong social forum.
There’s no clear cut “best”, only various opinions according to one’s own understanding and perspective.
Consider the phenomenon of LeBron James who’s built like Karl Malone yet plays almost the shooting guard or small forward position. Unfathomable his skill set and ability to handle the ball create for others and involve his teammates the way he does.
So carry that forward to Magic Johnson and he is even a greater Marvel because at the same size of 6-9 and strong, Magic was not just a guard or small forward, but a lead guard who played the perfect point guard position without flaw.
He did everything a 6-1 guy could do, plus used the advantages of his size and strength. Magic Johnson is without question the best point guard to ever play the game of basketball.
Stockton #1
Tenacious defense, can shoot steal, pass. Tough as nails and durable as they come. Could have easily avg over 20th if he wanted to and prob 30 in todays NBA
Very underrated !! Quality person did it the right way. Absolutely top five pg’s and maybe the best pure point guard of all time. Like magic and Curry for Stockton it sure helped to have Karl Malone, a shot blocking Center for a lot of his career, and a great coach who knew how to use him.
Quality person? Stockton? Have you heard about the type of person he is since retirement? Entitled and he was a dirty player.
He played PF and wasn’t a huge shot blocker. That was eaton
That’s who I meant. Mark eaton. I put a comma after Karl malone. It was the three things. Malone, Eaton, and Jerry Sloan. Helped stockton. Sorry it was sort of unclear.
Stockton was good, he was my favorite player and the guy I emulated in middle and high school hoops growing up in late ’80s early ’90s but Magic and Curry are in another level.
Could do it all but win a title hey ….
Because of Jordan, like so many others can say hey
I’d love to see a prime Gary Payton playing prime Steph 1 on 1. I don’t know that Steph wins that game
Gary Payton is one of those guys who was very good and an all-star. But he didn’t separate himself enough to be in this conversation. Went to the finals once I think. I put him in there with Nash kidd Kevin Johnson. Guys that were real good but top five all-time greats not quite. A guy who’s trademark is defense is not going to score as highly, literally, on the all-time ranking even though Payton averaged 20 plus several seasons.
As to your point about guarding Steph Curry, not much to see there. Curry’s handles and fakes and ability to go to the hole to keep Defenders honest make him practically unguardable. I mean, Gary Payton’s defense was outstanding, but there’s only so much you can do when a guy shoots from 28 ft.
Payton won the NBA championship in 2006 as a key bench play and sometimes starter for the Heat.
If Payton had the same exact defensive skillset, but was 6’8, he’d give Curry some trouble.
At 6’3? Nah…
Gary was great but I don’t think he does much on Curry. 90% of Stephs offence is about running off screen after screen after screen to get the slightest bit of space. Then he will either shoot the 3 or will beat you off the dribble as you try to close him out. Gary’s amazing but there’s no way he just avoids 5 screens back to back to back every possession. In which case he does Curry is still putting it up even if he contest the shot and it’s likely going in.
Gary is more of a 1 on 1 direct defender and Steph doesn’t take you on like.
Only real way to defend him is being tall, long and extremely fit, avoid the screens, try contest, try tip passes and poke a lose handle every now and then. Stephs still going to get his regardless really it’s about stopping the system
You realize Payton’s defense completely fell off the moment freedom of movement rules were implemented right
Magic is the best point guard of all time. But I’ll say this, he had a pretty good team around him. One of the best centers to ever play the game, James Worthy was incredible, some pretty good defensive players and other guys who could score. He had role players to take care of him and do the Dirty Work and a coach that let him play the way he wanted. Five rings while going up against Larry Birds era is pretty strong.
But like Magic, Steph changed the game and even he had a strong team around him also. Pretty lucky to have Klay Thompson guard the other team’s best guard and Kevin Durant came along to help win two. Perhaps if Curry gets a fifth ring to match Earvin he gets a little closer to the incomparable Magic Johnson?
Magic went to Nine Finals ….. 5 chips
Yes that Laker team had talent. You look at Sixers team with Doc. Probably most talented team. They went to 4 Finals and won One. Winning is not just about talent.
Like The Russell Celtics, The Warriors, The Bulls. That offense didn’t need a true PG. To be a great team (the system).
Like you said. Magic was bigger and stronger. And a real PG. No one like him.
I’d say Robertson or West.
Magic Johnson
John Stockton
Steph Curry
Jerry West
Oscar Robertson
Isaiah Thomas
..and then the rest.
Yeah Isaiah doesn’t belong in that conversation. His shooting was attrocious in compared to the rest here. Thomas was a great defensive guard but was perhaps the top of a 2nd tier of Guards. I ‘d most likely add Bob Cousy to that 1st tier and maybe Maravich. Otherwise a good group.
I’d take Stockton over Magic as best PG ever. I’d also argue that Oscar, West, and Zeke are better as a PG. But, Magic is overall better than both IMO. Does that make sense?
When I think best PG, Curry doesn’t even come to mind. He is the best shooter ever, champion, mvp, but hes more of a combo guard when you break down his game, a lot of running around off-ball Ray Allen or Kyle Korver style of play.
I have Curry Top-20 overall, but as far as me shoving him into the PG category, he isn’t a 2 way player.
He’s a point guard that can shoot – and his team game plans to his strengths – as they should.
But, he’s still a point guard.
Only because of his height. If he were a couple inches taller he’d be a 2 and no one would say a word otherwise.
Lmao… and this whole post/thread is about him and a 6’9 guy!
It would be much easier to just say BOTH of them are anomalies… that played the same position.
That’s the realest truth in this whole topic and debate.
Magic, Stockton, CP3 & Kidd are the top 4 ever!
Curry is very good, but light years behind them 4.
As a lifelong Pistons fan, I am partial to Isiah but the best ever is Magic Johnson.
People say that Curry isn’t a PG, yet the season before he truly was unleashed as a shooter he averaged 8.5 assists per game. A PG’s job is to initiate the offense and he does that for the Warriors. He initiates but he also happens to be the best option to take the shot.
I’d say that Magic was the best PG of all time but with the way he bends a defense and the gravity he has on offense I’d be hard pressed not to take Curry first if I was selecting a team of all time greats if the goal was to win as many games as possible.
Magic is clearly number 1.
I’d argue any top 5 list is invalid without Magic in it. He dominated an era of basketball. 5 time champ and 3 MVPs. Curry hasn’t meant those numbers yet and if you want to look at the whole picture defensively, Magic is far superior and playmaking wise he has twice as many assists.
Personally I have Magic as the 4th best player and Curry is borderline top 10. If he wanted to make this a real debate and try cement himself as the best then keep doing what your doing.
Last year he averaged just under 30-6-6 and now he’s 35 years old. Win another title or two, heck I don’t even think another MVP is out of the conversation. Ultimately I don’t see him doing that but it’s kinda what he needs
Also needs to average double digit assists the once to be in consideration…
Not really… it’s not his style. It’s like saying Magic needed to shoot over 40% from 3 atleast once
Big O
Magic
Stockton
Any order, top 3 is always those 3…
Can’t put Stockton above Isiah. Sorry!
It’s a tough choice that one… I always go Stockton because I saw more of his games and although Thomas has titles I think John elevated his team mates more…
Magic, Thomas, Stockton.
Isaiah Thomas could have destroyed anything Curry has done with the same rules, and emphasis on beyond the arc shooting.
Had a better handle, and was more durable, and tougher. Stockton didn’t shoot much, but was also a better game manager, and tougher than curry.
Fans got short-changed on a full Magic career, so I guess this is somewhat of a debate, but I don’t think LeBron James, or Curry, or any player from the 90’s – on has come close to Magic, Bird, Stockton, or Thomas.
Curry is a different, soft, coddled, shooting, modern, injury-rested, NBA star. Its not the same, or really very close if durability, and games missed is included.
The crazy thing is, when we talk about Isiah’s GREATEST MOMENTS… it’s him SCORING the ball.
Isn’t that blasphemy for a point guard?
Why is it for Curry?
When Isiah was going off and having his most ICONIC moments in basketball (at any level), it was him scoring, 1-on-5, Dumars initiating offense with Isiah coming off screens… but Isiah was still a point guard.
Somehow, Curry gets “penalized” for doing what Isiah also did.
Thomas, and Curry the same? No.
But Curry went one ridiculous step further and declared himself on level with Magic which is absurd, and so is any comparison to Thomas.
Dumars did not feed Thomas ,or vice versa.
Curry is a SG let’s keep that in mind.
And Klay has been the PG right
Those are the people who say Iverson was a point guard…
and Eric Snow, obviously, must’ve been the “2”.
Iverson played PG when he came in the league for a couple seasons until he moved to the off ball 2 guard and Eric Snow was the ball handler PG
Draymond is the pg in the team. TF are you talking about
Keep reaching, young fella.
I can tell you’re young by the way you just got emotional being corrected.
“TF”….. hahaha
Guys that could be taken out of their game sooooo easily on the court – they get emotional on social media threads smh
Is anyone else bothered by the fact that Curry doesn’t know he’s not a point guard?
He thinks his a PG but Draymond is the true PG in the team doing all the playmaking duty and putting guys in right spots
Put anyone commenting on this thread in Draymond’s spot and they get 6-8 assists per game.
Draymond isn’t the primary ballhandler but he usually receives the ball when the table has already been set… the court is so spaced out (because of Curry) – now he’s got driving lanes and shooters… he’d have to be absolutely horrible to not get 6-8 assists.
Pippen brought the ball upcourt and they called him a Point Forward.
Draymond doesn’t bring the ball upcourt anywhere near as much as Pippen did, yet you’re calling him a Point Guard?
Because of assists???
Jokic must be a point guard.
Until he has averaged double digit assists in a season I don’t think anyone will take this seriously..
Like the point guard Jokic?
Magic with Steph second. Third to Pistol Pete. Talent and entertainment.
It’s extra early but doncic should make this list too someday. Westbrook would be on it if he didn’t switch teams so much the last few seasons.
A PG is supposed to be the facilitator not a gunner.
Coming from you
What position was your namesake?
Point Guard
John Bagley had some nice moves.
West was a SG. He could play the PG.
Before the Big O and West. They were just considered guards. There was no 1 or 2 guard. Then came Bob Cousy. And the PG position was born. He showed what having a great lead guard. Can do for your offense. Then the Big O added scoring PG. And the position changed for ever.
I don’t like comparing. But greatest PGs, true PGs
Magic, Big O, Stockton, Isiah, CP3, Kidd, Nash, Clyde, Cousy, Archibald
John Stockton was the best pg. why? He had all the fundamentals. His game was sound fundamentally speaking.
Was he the flashiest? Nope
It comes down to defining objectives of the game and what one is expecting their pg to do and be.
Flashy pg would be magic.
Lethal shooting pg? Curry
All comes down to what you want to emphasis but John Stockton has all the fundamentals.
Can’t see any playing the game at such high levels and for so long. His steal and assists records speak for themselves. Virtually unbreakable!
On Hoops Rumors and social media posts and threads such as this one, Curry isn’t even point guard… he’s a two-guard – or a “combo”.
But no current or former NBA player says Curry isn’t a point guard.
Nor has any coach or GM. Or, excuse me, President of Basketball Operations.
They could cut the chase real quick in pg rankings or wherever/whenever simply by saying, “Magic or Curry? Curry isn’t even a point guard!”
The real experts are on social media, and more specifically, this thread!
Can’t call someone the “best ever” who doesn’t play defense.
Lebron is out too
You talking about Magic Johnson’s defense? He was too slow to guard anyone on the perimeter so they usually had him picking up the power forward on the other team.
Good enough to get by like a few other guys on this list.
Guarding power forwards but he was a “traditional” point guard lol.
See… so many are delusioned to think the point guard position has everything to do with passing, and nothing else. Again, if it did, the Jokic is a point guard.
And, I agree with you, Gary… Magic is the best pg of all time. I have Curry 2nd.
If Magic and Curry were both on “my” team, I’d have Curry at the 2 – same as the Lakers did with Norm Nixon. Not because Curry or Nixon lack anything as point guards, but because it’s easier to swing them than to put Magic off the ball. Moreso, Magic is not Magic without the ball.
Curry can dominate on or off the ball.
That doesn’t make him a “combo guard”.
Just makes him an extremely versatile point guard.
Like, uhhh… nevermind (wink!)
The beauty of having Micheal Cooper beside him
Nixon was more an offensive player where Cooper was the glue on defense
Nice post Gary
The beauty of having Nixon next to Cooper… who wasn’t much more on offense other than a lob guy, but Nixon helped carry the offensive load.
I completely agree with you on West, Cousy, Oscar and the past. Great insight. I like your list too, just switch Clyde and CP3 and Tiny and Cousy
Offensively, is Curry the PG? That role really goes to Draymond.
As far playing the actual PG role, I’m looking at Magic or Stockton
I pretty much don’t compare pre-ABA merger players with post. So starting in the late 70’s only this would be my list:
1. Magic Johnson
2. Stephen Curry
3. Isaiah Thomas
4. Chris Paul
5. Steve Nash
6. Jason Kidd
7. John Stockton
I love the ABA
Nash’s prime 5 years were just about as good as any Pgs ever I must add . Truly video game numbers
Not much else to add that somebody else hasn’t already said above
Magic. Sorry but Curry is a 2 not a 1
Huge Curry fan!!! Curry is right for a true point guard! Remember magic was like a draymond green x3 a 6’9 point forward. Curry needs 2 more rings to be considered the best all time player!!!!
The term “point guard” is more recent vintage than assumed. It has its origins in the college game during the 1970’s, although, at that time, it was never considered a position; more of a skill set/ style of play. I can’t recall it being used in reference to NBA players until the early 1980’s. Magic was instrumental in NBA-izing the term, establishing it as a position (one of the two guard positions) and setting forth the ideal skill set to play it (pass first, etc.).
So, viewing PG as a skill set, Magic is the best PG ever. He’s the template, how could he not be? But that doesn’t mean he was a better player than some other players who are (or were) listed as PGs or who are listed that way now retroactively. I don’t personally believe that Curry was a better player than Magic, but I wouldn’t argue with someone who did. I do believe that the Big O was a better player than Magic, and I doubt that anyone who saw both play would disagree.
I’ve Always wondered how Magic’s career would have went if he was drafted by another team
He landed the perfect setup ( city /system /owner / players ) to run with . Often times I feel his worth gets a touch overstated at the expense of guys like Nixon and Cooper and later on JW and Scott
On the other hand I think Bird would have hit the ground running on any team and his game wasn’t as dependent on his surrounding role players as much
Agreed. All around, Magic was not Bird’s equal as a player when they came into the league (perhaps not ever). That LAL team was perfect for Magic not just stylistically, but also qualitatively, as they were a contender regardless and had the MVP (Jabbar). It allowed him to win championships right along with Bird, before he was ready to lead a team to one.
A few years later, the league’s marketing required the history of the early 1980’s be rewritten a bit. Magic got the benefit of that.
Bob Cousy
Oscar Robertson
Jerry West
Magic Johnson
Steph Curry
Any one of these 5 is the correct answer. Cousy dominated more than any of the rest did but had a great team. The big O changed the position which opened the door for guys like Frazier and Maravich Jerry West was a deadly scorer without the 3 point shot. He’d have posted video game numbers with it. Magic again changed and led to guys like Reggie Theus and Ben Simmons playing there. Magic could have been a great scorer but was more interested in team scoring. Steph changed the game again. During the Spur’s/Lakers era the game had become a defensive slog. Teams like the Spurs, Pistons and Lakers generally had 5 or 6 tough guys protecting the rim and absorbing fouls . Then along came the Splash Brothers. Steph took 3 point shooting from a desperation move by teams playing catch up to a strategy that buried opponents who used it less. Curry didn’t rebound like the Big O but was more than adequate defensively. Those Warrior’s team’s defended the perimeter well and were as good on defense as offense. Obviously it took more than Steph to do that. Which of the 5 is the best ever? There is no definitive answer. Each was the best in their time. West and the Big O played at the same time but there is no daylight between them. They were equals. That said their team’s were always falling to Celtic team’s led by Cousy at first and later KC Jones. As good as Jones was he was not a scorer. He had great players who could win with or without him. So I see it as a 5 way tie.
Best response of the night