Golden State Warriors' star player, Steph Curry, sparked a lively debate in August when he boldly proclaimed himself the greatest point guard in NBA history during Gilbert Arenas' podcast. This declaration didn't go unnoticed by basketball legends Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, both of whom offered their differing opinions, firmly placing Johnson at the top.
In a recent appearance on 95.7 The Game, Curry took no offense to the pushback from the Hall of Famers. He acknowledged that the difference in perspective stems from a "generational" gap. Curry also highlighted how these kinds of debates are what make sports discussions so engaging.
"It's also the unsolvable debate," Curry remarked. "That is why everyone asks those questions. That's why everybody loves to talk about them. I can say I'm the best, Magic can defend his position, and any other point guard can chime in. The beautiful thing about basketball and the eras. The way I answered the question at first, obviously with so much respect and admiration for what Magic did in his career. His resume is second to none."
Following Curry's initial remarks, Johnson went on "The Zach Gelb Show" on CBS Sports Radio to present the statistical case for himself.
"If he has more than five championships, if he's got more than three Finals MVPs and three league MVPs, then he's the greatest," Johnson asserted. "If he's got more than No. 1 in assists all-time in the Finals, No. 2 in double-doubles, No. 1 in triple-doubles all-time in the NBA playoffs, No. 4 in steals all-time in the playoffs. If he's got more than those numbers, then he's the best."
In a message to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, Jordan expressed that Johnson was "easily" the best point guard in NBA history. Jordan emphasized how Johnson consistently recorded double-doubles, which he believed gave him the edge over Curry.
"Steph Curry is by far the best shooter of all-time," Jordan stated. "Yes, his movement has created many shots for his teammates, he's a career 45-percent 3-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."
Curry still has ample time to further enhance his already impressive resume. Entering his 15th NBA season, he is poised to vie for his fifth NBA title, potentially tying Johnson in that regard.