This is in response to the best dunkers in NBA history. Everyone loves the dunk but its mostly an individual achievement as basketball is also a team game who is best passer?
So, you start a thread and don't offer up yours? Magic Johnson and Larry Bird (possibly giving the nod to Magic for being the better dribbler, making him better in the open court, but Bird so awesome in the half court) everyone else is fighting for third. And don't even start with any typical PGs (like Stockton/Kidd/Cousy), they can't see the court like the 6'9" great passers could. And the centers like Sabonis and Walton aren't mobile with the ball enough to freelance like Magic and Bird did. The centers need the team to run the routes correctly. Magic and Bird could make Matt Bullard look like he's cutting and running routes.
after magic and bird, if your criteria is is that the smaller guys couldn't be as effective, how about chris webber.
As much as height matters in the halfcourt set, so do mobility and handles on the break. You couldn't get Bird to run the middle of the break everytime due to less handles and less speed. I know he could run, but clearly not with the quicker PG's. And his handles were good, but not great. That's why I put Bird in 2nd with Stockton/Kidd. Maravich was good for his time certainly, but from all I've seen, I don't think he was quite the passer that these other guys are. Haven't seen enough footage of guys like Oscar and Cousy to make a judgment that's based on basketball (as opposed to stats)
outside of Magic and some of the other response, I'll say Chris Webber. Wilt Chamberlain. Aryvdas Sabonis Vlade Divac
everyone else is fighting for third. btw: being able to make the passes and being able to do it in-game is the difference. imo, Bird was as magical as Magic, and so are some other players. Magic was also the best dribbler ever (imo), giving him an advantage over Bird. But Bird was the best shooter ever, meaning he had more passes available to him in the half court than Magic team. thus, a tie...in my book. But I certainly won't argue with anyone who chooses Magic over Bird.
you did, but i thought your later thoughts on "don't even start w/PGs like Stockton" etc. were kinda indicating that you thought that height meant more than handles/speed in terms of in-game passing... so I disagreed.
Cousy was way ahead of his time. He did some remarkable things with a basketball. He belongs in the top five discussion. Magic is, of course, #1 for effectiveness. Maravich gets the slight edge for showmanship. Rick Barry was also a great passer.
Stockton & Magic. Bird was fantastic as well. Then you have guys like Sabonis, Webber, KJ, Kidd, Nash...
If height is such a determining factor then you could argue Reggie Theus (6'7) is up there with Bird. Over their careers they averaged 6.3 assists but Theus did it over a longer period of time so the edge would go to him. Plus, Theus wasn't as much of a scoring threat which meant he never benefited from easy assist opportunities out of double teams like Bird.
how the hell did KJ get thrown in there? Sabonis and Webber I can understand as big men, Kidd Nash clearly.. KJ??
New Orleans guard Chris Paul is in the middle of one of the most highly contested MVP races in years. He is currently averaging more than 21 points and 11 assists. Since the NBA-ABA merger, that has been accomplished six times, with the player posting those stats (Magic Johnson) being awarded the Maurice Podoloff Trophy three times. 21 Points, 11 Assists -- Single Season, Since NBA-ABA Merger Years Player MVP Finish 1989-90 Magic Johnson First 1989-90 Kevin Johnson N/A (received 0 votes) 1988-89 Magic Johnson First 1986-87 Magic Johnson First 1984-85 Isiah Thomas Ninth 1983-84 Isiah Thomas Fifth
Granted, I didn't watch KJ play that season. But I did see more than enough of him I think to know his game.. he's just not even close to the other guys mentioned in this thread as passers. Stats are helpful but not everything...and points aren't really that important for defining the greatest passer
