Getty Image / Harry How
Earlier this week, a big debate in the basketball world was reignited.
Where does Steph Curry belong in the conversation of the greatest players in NBA history?
The other day, he was asked if he is the greatest point guard of all time. He revealed that in the debate between him and Magic Johnson, he’d choose himself.
It turns out that another legend of the game disagrees with his assessment.
On today’s episode of First Take, Stepehn A Smith shared a text message he had received from Michael Jordan, who believes that Magic Johnson is the actual greatest point guard of all time.
"I beg to differ on greatest point guard of all-time. Magic Johnson is easily the best PG of all-time. Steph Curry is very close, but not in front of Magic."
Michael Jordan's text to Stephen A. Smith, which he read live on First Take this morning 😲pic.twitter.com/BhdJj6FARp
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 23, 2023
“Good morning, sir,” Smith said. “Although greatest of anything is always a debate, I beg to differ on greatest point guard of all time, with what you said. Magic Johnson is easily the best point guard of all time. Steph Curry is very close, but not in front of Magic. You must define ‘point guard’ to really have a serious debate. Steph Curry is by far the best shooter of all time. Yes, his movement has created many shots for his teammates. He’s a career 43 percent three-point shooter.
But Magic Johnson invented the triple-double. Not true invented, but makes it more noticeable in terms of the impact on the game. It’s a point guard stat to be honest. Magic was the best. We can go on, but I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I know you get the point. By the way, Magic has five NBA championships.”
It’s an interesting debate as it really does seem to just come down to a person’s preferred style of play at this point.
It’s also a debate that still has time to change as Steph Curry is still one of the best players in the NBA right now and could potentially catch Magic with a 5th ring of his own before the end of his career.
Now that we know how Michael Jordan feels about the greatest point guard debate, maybe we’ll hear him chime in on the debate about his own status in the pantheon of NBA greatness one of these days.