Can't beat your 5s! Chris Mullin was a helluva passer as a forward. Magic, Big O def; Pistol Pete? Good one.
Even in Magic's twilight years, like 89-92 and his comeback season in 96. You have really seen any point guards that could take over a game, like Magic could, especially on passing ability along. But, he could score and make clutch plays. I think people sleep on him, when it comes to GOAT arguments.
Magic had the skill to be in the top 3 conversation, and he had the size and speed. When you watch Nash, he did some great things to create angles, move the defense, etc. Magic had to do so much less of that because of his size, and that enabled him to use so much more of his natural abilities.
Mo like Man Darino. Love doing that with names and his is the among the best!! I loved to watch Sabonis pass the ball..
One pass and one play yet 25+ some odd teams over the span of nearly 2 decades couldn’t stop something so basic. I don’t think Stockton was as good as Magic either but if anything Magic is the one with inflated numbers considering his HOF riddled supporting cast he got to play with. For multiple seasons throughout his career he got to play with 4 other guys that ended up in the Hall. I hate the Jazz. Naturally. So it’s hard to give them credit but it’s due. Stockton/Malone was a nasty duo.
Wow - I expected to see more J-Kidd love - maybe it was because he was a Mav and Houston fans hate the Mavs but Kidd was really a passing savant. Magic was a better player I think, and I don't think Kidd is a particularly likable guy in general but I really thought he was the best passer I have ever seen. He would use crazy english to get the ball in tough spots - off the floor or even off the backboard. Check out his Nets days with Vince Carter, Kenyon Martin, and Richard Jefferson - he was getting guys easy buckets all game. Check out #41 in this video or even #40 for an example of him using english to get it to his teammate.
You bring up a good point about Nash - he was certainly one of those guys who would get to weird places on the court just to move defenders in a certain way to create passing angles. I feel like he was the master at that. Going to revise my ranking for best pure passers then: 1. Jason Kidd 2. Magic 3. Steve Nash 4. White Chocolate ....keep in mind those are NOT the best PGs of all time. I think Magic, Chris Paul, and Stockton belong in the Top 3 and obviously White Chocolate is nowhere near that conversation but he was a great passer if maybe a little too risky/a little less smart of a basketball player.
Maravich was better known for his shooting, but here are a few fun videos... driving Red Auerbach crazy, but the between the leg and wrist passes were deadly... Fun watching Maravich playing in all star games. Some were passes were subtle so they are easy to miss in the video, but he also made the flashy passes too...
Just depends what you're looking for. All these guys are incredible. Nash did more with less. He didn't have Kidd's (or Magic's) speed, size, or athleticism compared to his peers--but he still did what he did. I loved Nash's ambidextrous passing ability moreso than Kidd's, though it's probably splitting hairs. Also a big fan of Nash using his body as a screen while he passed to enable the passing lane or the shot in a creative way. Just different skills. Same way Stockton was more straightforward and pinpoint compared to the rest of these guys. That's a skill too. Just depends what you're looking for with "best passer".
Magic for me, but Cousy has to be up there. He was the first guy to really do it. I’m on a phone, so posting videos are beyond me right now, but go look at some of his stuff. Considering the era, it was amazing. Definitely Top 5.
