There was never really any suspense about who would take the #1 spot.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson is the greatest point guard in NBA history.
Stephen Curry revolutionized the position. Oscar Robertson showed how complete a point guard could be. Isiah Thomas led the Bad Boys to championships. John Stockton became the NBA’s all-time assists leader.
But at the top of the mountain stands Magic.
At 6-foot-9, Magic played basketball in a way the league had never seen before. He had the size of a forward, the vision of an all-time great point guard and an ability to turn almost any possession into a scoring opportunity.
And he did not just put up numbers.
He won. A lot.
Showtime
Magic was the engine behind the Showtime Lakers, one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history.
With Magic pushing the basketball in transition, Los Angeles became must-watch television. No-look passes, full-court outlets, fast breaks and highlight plays became part of the identity of an entire era of Lakers basketball.
Alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and a loaded Lakers roster, Magic reached the NBA Finals nine times in 12 seasons and won five championships.
But Magic proved almost immediately that he was not simply along for the ride.
As a 20-year-old rookie, Magic was forced to start at center in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals after Kareem was ruled out with an ankle injury.
Magic responded with one of the greatest performances in Finals history:
42 points. 15 rebounds. 7 assists.
The Lakers won the championship, and Magic became the youngest Finals MVP in NBA history.
That was how his career started.
The Ultimate Floor General
Magic’s greatest gift was his ability to control an entire basketball game.
He could score when necessary, rebound with bigger players and use his size to create mismatches, but passing was where he became truly special.
Magic averaged 11.2 assists per game for his career, the highest career assists-per-game average in NBA history.
He could make passes other players would not even attempt, and he made everyone around him more dangerous.
Magic eventually finished his career with five NBA championships, three MVP awards, three Finals MVPs, 12 All-Star selections and 10 All-NBA selections.
He accomplished all of that despite his career being cut dramatically short.
The Greatest Point Guard Ever
Magic only played 13 NBA seasons, including his brief comeback in 1996.
Just imagine what his résumé might have looked like with another five or six full seasons.
But he did not need them to establish his place in basketball history.
Magic had the individual greatness. He had the championships. He had the statistics. He had the unforgettable moments. And he became the face of one of the greatest dynasties the sport has ever seen.
Stephen Curry made this debate closer than it had been in decades.
But for me, the crown still belongs to Magic.
The greatest point guard in NBA history.
#1: Magic Johnson.
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