In all seriousness, the guy is #7 all-time in APG, you know (and there's a massive drop-off after #7). Then you have to consider that Isiah turned the ball over a lot more than KJ did, which makes me feel like KJ is really #6 in spirit. I think his reputation as a scorer hurt his reputation as a great passer.
This is a hard one because it is so hard to measure. Magic, Stockton, Bird, Isiah to me were all guys who made the correct pass. They also made the pass that lead to the assist pass so all of those guys are up there. After that I wouldn't know where to start. Pistol Pete was flashy from what little I know of him but was certainly gifted. Kidd has eyes in the back of his head and Nash isn't too shabby either. Tough one but I would have to go with Magic as the guy. I am old enough to have seen him from day one and he had it all. Size, speed (yeah he had speed up and down the floor) and court vision that is as good or better than any player I have seen. He could make the flashy, no look pass or the simple pass. He could also see how a play would unfold before it happened.
Flashiest Passers (no-looks, cross-courts, etc.): 1. Magic 2. Bird 3. Kidd Best Passers (best at finding the open man/high percentage shot) 1. Stockton 2. Kevin Johnson 3. Kidd In my mind, Magic and Bird get a few points taken away from them because they played with some of the best teams EVER. A lot of Magic's assists are because he was passing to Kareem, Worthy, Green, et. al. and they were some of the best finishers ever. Same with Bird: McHale, Parrish, DJ, etc. They were gonna get their points, whether Bird made the pass or not. Stockton, on the other had Malone and...who else? Hornacek? Ostertag? As much as I hate the Jazz, if I'm picking an all-time team, Stockton is my PG. Same with KJ: he had Barkley and...who else? He made that offense work, and as he faded, so too did the Suns. Kidd is, IMHO, the best mix of the two: able to make players better with the unexpected pass and/or getting the ball to the best scoring option. If he had just a little better offensive game, he'd be numero uno.
We're talking about the best in NBA History! If we were talking top 10, maybe Mark Jackson would have been mentioned. I agree KJ is an underrated player. I've said that for many years. Just don't think he cracks that group is all.
I don't disagree with most of the names listed, Bird, Magic, Kidd and etc.., but it doesn't seem like many are putting Nash up among the top. In terms of running an offense I would put Nash a bit above Kidd.
Nobody mentioned Yinka Dare, arguesbly the greatest. Also our 04-05 back up was quite the dimer in his heyday
You shouldn't be voting for Stockton - he's the classic example of why a high assist number doesn't (neccessarily) equate to being the best passer. If you go by assist numbers, then we should judge the best dunker by the most number of dunks! Stockton ran a halfcourt set the featured a pick'n'roll with Karla Malone, and 'bail out options' on the wings. A LOT of assists would come from executing the pick and roll, and chucking the ball into Karl's hands and watching him drain the 17 footer. Now MAYBE we want to say that only a good passer can make that pass - and I do wonder how many other PGs out there could have been so disciplined to run the same set night in and night out - BUT I think of guys who can 'thread the needle' on a consistent basis as the 'best passer'. Sabonis was amazing. Magic was great too, although he stacked some assist numbers heading the break and picking up the right guy for the finish! Bird had the half court vision to always put the ball in the hands of the open guy. Isaiah Thomas always managed to get the job done too. Tough one to judge - but I always enjoyed watching Sabonis pass and then sitting back and marvelling at how he did it! Shame he didn't come over a few years earlier!
Thats hilarious. For those who aren't aware... I think it took Dare (1st pick overall I believe) like 20 months to record an assist.
Caucasian? http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/4-assists/ A dunk is a finishing move. Ball through the rim = objective achieved. A guy can create or pass the off to 50 open looks. But if the recipients of the pass miss 47 times its just 3 "assists". A dunk's just easier to guage but half of these guys (Tyson Chandler) wouldnt get 2/3 their dunks without good passers.
wilt chamberlain, he lead the leagues in total assist, the year after people criticized him for not passing the ball.
Very surprising that no one has mentioned jason williams thus far. No one thinks he should be discussed?
