re: Stockton vs. Isiah

Posted on 1/14/16 at 11:20 am to 5thTiger

Posted by longwayfromLA

NYC

Member since Nov 2007

3331 posts

Posted on 1/14/16 at 11:20 am to 5thTiger

quote:
Stockton is the greatest point guard ever. Period. One of the most underrated players because he never won a title, mostly because of Jordan, the GOAT.

Isiah won two titles, defeating Jordan's Bulls on the way to winning both

quote:
Assists record by OVER 3700. He literally had 25% more than the 2nd best assist total EVER. That is INSANE

This is true. Point for Stockton

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Steals record by 500. Incredible.

Yeah, this was more about him playing for a long more than anything. If you look at his steals per game he's in the back half of the Top 10. Also steals are an unreliable measure of defensive prowess. The guy who is tied with Stockton 8th place all time in steals per game is the famously defense averse Allen Iverson.

quote:
Only missed 22 games in a 19 year career

This is impressive but he wasn't even a point guard in half of those years. In 19 years he made 10 All Star teams, in 12 years Isiah made 11.

quote:
No doubt in my mind, greatest PG ever.

I'm going to assume you're for some reason classifying Magic at another position

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Posted by 5thTiger

Member since Nov 2014

7996 posts

Posted on 1/14/16 at 11:37 am to longwayfromLA

quote:
I'm going to assume you're for some reason classifying Magic at another position

A tall person bring the ball up the court does not make a point guard. He was a pre-Lebron. Remember when people were trying to claim Lebron was a PG? I don't think anyone today would call lebron a PG, they are a very similar type of player to me.

I guess the most accurate term would be point foward....so your SF/PF range.

Stockton had a much tougher draw than Isaiah, playing in a tougher West. Isaiah's two championships came at the only time they could be won. 1989-1990. Magic and Bird were on the way out...and Michael was on the way in, but hadn't figured out how to win in the East (0 championships at those points). Stockton's Finals appearances came against the greatest NBA teams ever.

Durability is an overlooked aspect. If you don't take in career longevity/injuries, people like Sam Bowie could be considered among the GOAT's. But it does figure in.

All-time records are a testament to a players skill AND durability. You have to have both.