Magic lead an alltime dynasty team to 5 championships but stockton was the better passer/defender/ and a more efficient scorer for a longer span of time. Who would you rather build a team around?
Magic, mostly because of his size. A 6'9'' PG creates many, many possible matchup nightmares. Magic was the best ever on the fastbreak, a better scorer, rebounded like a PF, and is a proven guy who won 5 rings. Outside of defense, Stockton really doesn't have any advantages in this arguement.
Magic, his leadership, intangibles and clutch play, negate Stockton's numbers in this case.Magic is in that rare group of players who were more than their posistion and made their teamates better. The numbers doesn't tell the entire story in his case as great as they are.there has never been a PG like him and most likely there never will be.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Jul 18 2007, 11:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Magic, he had rings</div> Give me a break, thats one thing that fans say that drives me absolutely nuts. No sh*t Johnson has rings, he played with some of the most dominant teams of all-time. Magic Johnson played with teams that had twice the talent that the Jazz had. John Stockton played with Karl Malone and a bunch of average role-players. You put Michael Cooper and James Worthy on the Jazz...Stockton would have rings too.
Magic Johnson, alongside being arguebely the greatest passer in NBA history he could score, rebound, and was virtually unstopabble in the fast break. The way Magic dominated the league starting from his rookie year was stunning. As Nitro said, he's got size which creates a matchup nightmare for all teams. Also, he's got a winning mentality like few others, this confident state of mind allowed him to excel through his NBA career winning 5 championships.
Magic, not for the reasons people stated, but for the simple fact that he was so versatile. He could adapt to any style his teammates play. He showed that suiting up as a center in a finals game. Magic specialized in adapting to whatever the game threw at him. Which is what made him a good passer. Though none of us watched him, I can safely say that when his defenders played him tight, he passed out of it, and when they played him loose, he could score easily. Which is what your missing in Pg's today. For example, TJ Ford can pass extremely well, one of the best in the NBA infact, but he cant shoot better than average, and cant post up other pg's eithier.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Jul 19 2007, 11:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Give me a break, thats one thing that fans say that drives me absolutely nuts. No sh*t Johnson has rings, he played with some of the most dominant teams of all-time. Magic Johnson played with teams that had twice the talent that the Jazz had. John Stockton played with Karl Malone and a bunch of average role-players. You put Michael Cooper and James Worthy on the Jazz...Stockton would have rings too.</div>Does it matter? Magic had rings, Stockton did not. Who cares what if? We have proven facts
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Jul 19 2007, 12:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Does it matter? Magic had rings, Stockton did not. Who cares what if? We have proven facts</div>That doesn't make sense. Although I do agree that Magic was better, under your psychology Slava Medvedenko is better than Reggie Miller.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Jul 19 2007, 12:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That doesn't make sense. Although I do agree that Magic was better, under your psychology Slava Medvedenko is better than Reggie Miller.</div> I mean when we're comparing players under similar skill levels and playing style. Similar players, comparable players
here's the big difference IMO.Stockton was consistent. He gave you one of the best PG's to ever run a team. He took shots when needed and fed the ball to players in posistion to succeed, played excellent defence on his man and in the passing lanes.Magic did all of that AND he had that extra gear to took over when it was needed and did whatever was required of him to win a game.Stockton just kept delivering what he always did. Nothing more, Nothing less.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Jul 19 2007, 11:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Does it matter? Magic had rings, Stockton did not. Who cares what if? We have proven facts</div> Championships are team accomplishments, we're comparing players.
I would pick Magic Johnson. Not because he had rings, cause without Jabbar who knows if he wouldve won those. But he was a 6'9 PG who was versitle and was able to score at multiple positions. It would be very easy to build around him because lets say you are in a draft and the best available player is a PG...you draft him and he turns out to be the best player in the draft, you could put Magic at the 2 or 3 and it will all be good. Lets say if you had Stockton, you probably wouldve never had drafted that PG, but if you did he would simplybe a backup cause Stockton nor that player drafted can play other positions.
