NBA Greatest Point Guard
Feb 23, 2009 | 01:01 AM
#22
Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 502
If you were one of the captains choosing sides of a mythical pickup game, would you really choose Stockton in his prime over Magic in his prime (especially knowing that Stockton would have to guard Magic)? And if Stockton and Magic were playing a 1 on 1 game, who would you choose?
Stockton was a great PG, but there's a considerable amount of agreement that he also was blessed to play for a home scorer that was pretty lenient with the category of assists. A lot of Malone's jumpers where he got a pass from Stockton, set his feet, made a few pump fakes, then knocked down a 15 footer were counted as assists when they should not have been.
Factor in the tangible advantages that Magic had (most notably rebounds) and the intangibles he brought (personality and force of will), and you'd have to take Magic over Stockton.
Personally, if I were that mythical captain choosing sides, I'd take Isiah Thomas off the board before I took Stockton. Stockton wouldn't be able to defend Isiah, and Isiah would guard the crap out of Stockton just to prove he should've been on the '92 Dream Team.......
Stockton was a great PG, but there's a considerable amount of agreement that he also was blessed to play for a home scorer that was pretty lenient with the category of assists. A lot of Malone's jumpers where he got a pass from Stockton, set his feet, made a few pump fakes, then knocked down a 15 footer were counted as assists when they should not have been.
Factor in the tangible advantages that Magic had (most notably rebounds) and the intangibles he brought (personality and force of will), and you'd have to take Magic over Stockton.
Personally, if I were that mythical captain choosing sides, I'd take Isiah Thomas off the board before I took Stockton. Stockton wouldn't be able to defend Isiah, and Isiah would guard the crap out of Stockton just to prove he should've been on the '92 Dream Team.......
Feb 23, 2009 | 01:29 AM
#23
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,528
From: Los Angeles, CA
With all due respect gentlemen - ARE YOU GUYS TOTALLY NUTS!
John Stockton is WITHOUT QUESTION the best point guard in NBA history. He owns every record that matters to a point gaurd including assists and steals. And don't give me any bullshit about how "if Magic hadn't gotten HIV he would have . . . " Durability is part of the game - whether the injury comes on the court or off of it.
These stats simply end the discussion.
Games Played: 1504 of a possible 1526 (3rd on NBA's All-time List)
Games Started: 1300
Most Seasons Playing Every Game: 17 (all 82 16 times, all 50 in 1998-99 [THIS IS MIND BOGGLING!)
Minutes Played: 47,764 (5th on NBA's All-time List)
Consecutive Games Played: 609 (2/13/1990 - 4/20/1997, 8th best All-time; 442 straight at time of retirement)
Points
Career Points: 19711 (29th best all-time)
Career Average: 13.1
Career High Average: 17.24 (1989-90)
Career High Points: 34 (@ Sacramento 3/17/90)
Career Field Goal Percentage: .515
Assists
Career Assists: 15,806 (NBA All-time Leader)
Most Assists, Season: 1,164 (1990-91, NBA Record)
Most Assists, Game: 28 v. San Antonio (1/15/91)
Most Seasons W/ 1000+ Assists: 7 (NBA Record) Note: Only 9 such seasons have occured, 7 belong to Stockton
Average Per Game, Career: 10.5
Highest Season Average: 14.5 (NBA Record, 1989-90)
Most Seasons Leading The League In Assists: 9 (1987-88 through 1995-96, NBA Record)
Consecutive Seasons Leading the League In Assists: 9 (1987-88 through 1995-96, NBA Record)
Number of 20+ Assist Games: 34
Steals
Career Steals: 3265 (NBA All-time leader)
Career High, season: 308
Career High, game: 9 (v. Houston, 2/12/1991)
Career Average: 2.17
Season High Average: 3.21 (led league in 1988-89 and 1991-92 [2.98]
Some of his handiwork:
YouTube - Vintage John Stockton Video
John Stockton is WITHOUT QUESTION the best point guard in NBA history. He owns every record that matters to a point gaurd including assists and steals. And don't give me any bullshit about how "if Magic hadn't gotten HIV he would have . . . " Durability is part of the game - whether the injury comes on the court or off of it.
These stats simply end the discussion.
Games Played: 1504 of a possible 1526 (3rd on NBA's All-time List)
Games Started: 1300
Most Seasons Playing Every Game: 17 (all 82 16 times, all 50 in 1998-99 [THIS IS MIND BOGGLING!)
Minutes Played: 47,764 (5th on NBA's All-time List)
Consecutive Games Played: 609 (2/13/1990 - 4/20/1997, 8th best All-time; 442 straight at time of retirement)
Points
Career Points: 19711 (29th best all-time)
Career Average: 13.1
Career High Average: 17.24 (1989-90)
Career High Points: 34 (@ Sacramento 3/17/90)
Career Field Goal Percentage: .515
Assists
Career Assists: 15,806 (NBA All-time Leader)
Most Assists, Season: 1,164 (1990-91, NBA Record)
Most Assists, Game: 28 v. San Antonio (1/15/91)
Most Seasons W/ 1000+ Assists: 7 (NBA Record) Note: Only 9 such seasons have occured, 7 belong to Stockton
Average Per Game, Career: 10.5
Highest Season Average: 14.5 (NBA Record, 1989-90)
Most Seasons Leading The League In Assists: 9 (1987-88 through 1995-96, NBA Record)
Consecutive Seasons Leading the League In Assists: 9 (1987-88 through 1995-96, NBA Record)
Number of 20+ Assist Games: 34
Steals
Career Steals: 3265 (NBA All-time leader)
Career High, season: 308
Career High, game: 9 (v. Houston, 2/12/1991)
Career Average: 2.17
Season High Average: 3.21 (led league in 1988-89 and 1991-92 [2.98]
Some of his handiwork:
YouTube - Vintage John Stockton Video
Feb 23, 2009 | 07:12 AM
#24
Thread Starter
| Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 362
I have to say this may be the easiest of any sports debate of all time. Not only did he redefine the position, no one has come close to replicating his game. Kobe and Lebron may at least "knock on" Jordan's door. Now if Jason Kidd could've been a better shooter and won 3-4 titles.....
Feb 23, 2009 | 12:26 PM
#25
Thor Liked My Watch
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,095
From: New Jersey
I have to say this may be the easiest of any sports debate of all time. Not only did he redefine the position, no one has come close to replicating his game. Kobe and Lebron may at least "knock on" Jordan's door. Now if Jason Kidd could've been a better shooter and won 3-4 titles.....
Agree with you complete however with Jason Kidd point, doesn't it further support the role of PG?
A PG's purpose on the court is to set people up, and make sure the ball gets in the right players hands at the right time. In that case it doesn't get any better than Jason Kidd. Don't compare Steve Nash to Jason Kidd please.
Feb 23, 2009 | 01:49 PM
#27
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,875
From: Orange County
Stockton was a great PG, but there's a considerable amount of agreement that he also was blessed to play for a home scorer that was pretty lenient with the category of assists. A lot of Malone's jumpers where he got a pass from Stockton, set his feet, made a few pump fakes, then knocked down a 15 footer were counted as assists when they should not have been.
You guys just have too much white guilt.
Feb 23, 2009 | 07:47 PM
#29
Thread Starter
| Teamspeed Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 362
Agree with you complete however with Jason Kidd point, doesn't it further support the role of PG?
A PG's purpose on the court is to set people up, and make sure the ball gets in the right players hands at the right time. In that case it doesn't get any better than Jason Kidd. Don't compare Steve Nash to Jason Kidd please.
A PG's purpose on the court is to set people up, and make sure the ball gets in the right players hands at the right time. In that case it doesn't get any better than Jason Kidd. Don't compare Steve Nash to Jason Kidd please.
