[bloodshyParticipant]

I was just looking over stat lines of some of the NBA’s greatest pgs and was very impressed by the data.  Sometimes I forget how amazing the last generation was.  Nash is an amazing player and won two MVPs as a pg and has probably been the best pg of the last decade.  He’s a great player, one of the greatest passers we’ve ever seen, and a future hall of famer.

With that in mind, consider Magic’s and Stockton’s numbers during their best five years to Nash’s best year:

Magic: 21.5 ppg, 12.2 apg, 6.8 rpg, 1.7 spg.

Stockton: 16.4 ppg, 14 apg, 3 rpg, 3 spg.

Nash: 18.6 ppg, 11.6 apg, 3.5 rpg, .8 spg.

Magic and Stockton were both better than Nash offensively, but were also great defenders.  Going further, Nash has had seven seasons averaging more than 10 apg, going over 11 apg four times.  This is an impressive feat that no one in today’s NBA has matched. 

However, when you compare against Magic and Stockton…  Magic averaged double digit assists nine years in a row, including one year at 13.1 apg and six years over 12 apg.  Stockton had ten double digit assist years in a row, including eight years over 12 apg, five of which were over 13 apg, two over 14 apg with a top mark of 14.5 apg.  During that 10-year stretch, Stockton missed a total of three games.  When Stockton was inducted in the NBA Hall of Fame he said, "I was never the best player on any team I played for."

In my opinion Magic was the best point guard of all time, followed closely by Stockton.  Some will argue for Isaiah Thomas, Gary Payton or Steve Nash, but statistically, they’re all far back in Magic’s and Stockton’s rear views. 

[TheMOSTHATEDoneParticipant]

 I always wonder why past is better than present, i know there are numbers to back up both Magic and Stocktons best years.

But i have noticed some changes in these decade.

-More Iso Plays, this sometimes robs the PG.

-Hand check rule- Favors individual plays.

Wonder how many things have changed, please guys help me analize this 🙂

[bloodshyParticipant]

…was taking away the "illegal defense" rule that previously prevented zone defenses.  Zones make it much harder to feed a big inside unless you have outside shooters to stretch the zone.  Previously, the no-zone rule made the inside game work almost regardless of whether or not the team presented a 3-point threat.

[ChewyParticipant]

3 steals per game is just a mind blowing stat. Think about all the great defenders the NBA has seen and Stockton has more steals than ALL OF THEM. I agree Stockton is the 2nd best PG to ever play basketball and he is just one of many players whose careers don’t get the respect they deserves cuz Jordan hogged all the Rings in the 90’s.

[NJHooper95Participant]

I think J. Kidd is ahead of nash a better passer in his prime,  better defender, better rebounder. Second all-time in assist top 5 all-time in steals

Top 5 all-time in triple doubles

Nba Champion

Led NJ Nets to two finals appearances, they none before that

10 time all-star

Oh year nash use to set on the bench behind kidd in phoenix. Nash has had a great run the past few years in a high octane offense and he wasnt deserving of two mvps awards, not quite sure he should have one.

Kidd is under-appreciated- people dont understand how special he was unless you followed him through his days at Cal. This guy is definitely a top 3 pg of all-time. After Magic and Isiah you can argue kidd with anybody unless you count Oscar as a pg

[fliptonnParticipant]

If you’re having a conversation about the greatest PG’s of all time, love him or hate him (I hate him) you have to include Isiah Thomas. Not only was he the LEADER of a team that won multiple NBA Championships (Magic is the only other PG to do so) he also had some great individual accolades as a 13 time all-star, 2 time all-star mvp, Finals MVP, among other things.

Here are Isiah’s best year’s statistics:
21.2 ppg 13.9 apg 4.5 rpg 2.3 stl 

[r377Participant]

I think the longevity of Stockton makes him number 2. He was still producing right up until age 40 !!

 

[ConsiderableUpsideParticipant]

I agree Kidd doesnt get the respect he deserves, Nash should never be ahead of him.  I didnt think Nash deserved to win MVP either, but thats another topic lol.

Prolly my fav pg of the era, Im just not sure if he is quite top 3 though, there some other great pg’s..

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Not trying to say he was necessarily better or anything but Gary Payton deserves some cred as well. His best year 2000:

24.2 PPG, 8.9 APG, 6.5 RPG, 1.9 SPG and the best perimeter defender in the league at the time as well.

[Author]

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