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Typically, there are a lot of choices when it comes to picking which player is the best to have played a certain position. Debates span decades and even the slightest damage to a legacy can pull someone out of discussions. The one for best NBA point guard of all-time, however, is not the most contentious. Stephen Curry, who dominated with the Golden State Warriors, is surely a top contender and he knows there is only a single person who can rival him — Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson.
Warriors' Curry names Lakers' Johnson as his sole 'best NBA Point Guard of All-Time' rival
When looked at head-to-head, there are not a lot of point guards who have altered the game in a way that lasts decades. Stephen Curry, for instance, was the reason for why squads gave a bigger emphasis in defending and playing through the perimeter. This got the Golden State Warriors three championships in the 2010s, a ring over the Boston Celtics in 2022, and they still expect to go on title runs in the coming years.
Other point guards may have uplifted franchises or broken historically difficult NBA records but it is a rare feat to change how the sport is played. Curry acknowledges that he is up there but he was humble enough to acknowledge that Magic Johnson, who played with the Lakers in the 1980s-1990s, rivals him in terms of impact.
"Yes. I have to be. It’s me and Magic that’s in the conversation. Magic’s resume is ridiculous. So that fact that we’re even having this conversation is a place I never thought I’d be in," Curry said during a conversation with Gilbert Arenas.
True enough, Johnson was the catalyst for taller guys developing guard skills in the NBA. The Lakers saw him play every role from shooting guard to center when they needed him most but he revolutionized the point guard position like no other. He bodied smaller guards to drive off the perimeter, set screens for his shooters, had flashy passes to ignite a crowd pop, and even posted up or rebounded when it was necessary.
Arguably, Johnson is the reason for why the point guard position no longer remains available for people who are below six-foot-five. Curry, on the other hand, is why people can shoot from anywhere without having to worry about banging bodies on the way to the rim.
Both the Warriors legend and Lakers great have a case for being the best NBA point guard of all-time. It will all just depend on what a fan values more about their floor general and the type of basketball they enjoy watching.
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