I posted this in a few other boards but I thought Id post it here for those who have seen both of these guys play.... If you were to pick one guy who would you take? Who is the better player, who is the better point guard, who has more talent and WHY? KEVIN JOHNSON Averaged 17.9ppg 9.1apg 3.30rpg 1.47spg .491FG% .305-3pt% .841FT%@34.1mpg 3.07TOpg in 11 seasons (the last two were minimal and he was basically a role player, while his rookie season he backed up Mark Price for a while--so stats are slightly misleading) Also had injury problems from 93-97. Best Season (his 4th) 1990-91 - 22.2ppg 10.1apg 3.5rpg 2.12spg .516FG% @36mpg 3.49TOpg Career Highlights Has led the Suns in assists seven times (1988-89 to 1991-92, 1993-94, 1995-96 and 1996-97) in free-throw percentage five times (1988-89, 1993-94, 1995-96 to 1997-98 ), in scoring in 1996-97 and in field-goal percentage in 1995-96 Named NBA Player of the Month for April, 1997, averaging 23.2 ppg, on .524 field-goal shooting, and 9.7 apg to lead the Suns to a 7-3 record Notched his 13th career triple-double, with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds, against the Golden State Warriors on 3/17/97 Became the sixth player in NBA history to total 11,500 points, 6,000 assists, 2,000 rebounds and 1,000 steals against the Portland Trail Blazers on 2/11/97 Holds the Suns franchise records for most assists in a game (25, against the San Antonio Spurs on 4/6/94) and most steals in a game (10, against the Washington Bullets on 12/9/93) Made his first NBA All-Star Game start in 1991, also appearing in 1990 and 1994, and has averaged 4.3 ppg and 4.3 apg in 17.0 mpg Named to the All-NBA Second Team four times (1988-89 to 1990-91 and 1993-94) and to the All-NBA Third Team in 1991-92 Appeared in the 1993 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls Established an NBA Finals record for most minutes in a game, with 62 in triple-overtime, against the Chicago Bulls in in Game 3 of the 1993 NBA Finals Has appeared in 96 career NBA Playoffs games, averaging 20.8 ppg, 9.5 apg, 3.5 rpg and 1.34 spg Was named the winner of the 1990-91 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award Won the 1988-89 NBA Most Improved Player Award, averaging 20.4 ppg and 12.2 apg Named NBA Rookie of the Month in April, 1988 STEPHON MARBURY Averaged 20.5ppg 8.2apg 3.00rpg 1.21spg .431FG% .315-3pt% .780FT%@38.2mpg 3.27TOpg in 8 seasons Best Season: 2002-03 Season - 22.3ppg 8.1apg 3.2rpg 1.33spg .439FG% .301-3pt%@40.0mpg 3.27TOpg Career Highlights 2002-03 All-NBA Third Team Two-time NBA All-Star (2001, '03) Along with Oscar Robertson, is the only player in NBA history with career averages of 20 points (20.5) and 8.0 assists (8.2) and Robertson had 25.7 ppg, 9.5 apg Was the only player in the NBA ranked in top 12 in points (12, 22.3) and assists (4th, 8.1) in 2002-03 With his 22.3 points average in 2002-03 he is the the first Suns player with back-to-back 20-point seasons since Charles Barkley (23.2 in 1995-96, 23.0 in 1994-95) Made his second All-Star appearance in 2003 and had four points and six assists in 15 minutes Finished his first season with Phoenix and became the first Sun to average 20 points in a season since 1996-97 when Kevin Johnson had 20.2 points Scored 12 points in the 2001 All-Star Game, including two three-pointers in the final 53 seconds as the East overcame a 21-point deficit Scoring average increased in each of his first five NBA seasons and his shooting percentage also increased in his first six seasons Was the only player to rank in the top 10 in points (23.9, 10th) and assists (7.6, 8th) in 2000-01 Scored career-high 50 points vs. Lakers on Feb. 13, 2001 shooting 17-29 from the field, including 4-8 from three-point range, along with 12 assists in 47 minutes Posted first career triple-double with 33 points, 12 assists and a career-high 11 rebounds vs. Chicago on Jan. 20, 2001 Named NBA Player of the Week for Nov. 6- Nov. 12, 2000 after averaging 34.7 points and 9.0 assists 1999-2000 All-NBA Third Team Along with the Sonics' Gary Payton, was the only NBA player to rank in the top 15 in points and assists in 1999-2000 (fifth with 22.2 points, 13th with 8.4 assists) and the top 10 in points and assists in 1998-99 (eighth with 21.3 points, third with 8.9 assists) Posted a team-high 26 points and a career-high 20 assists in a 120-98 victory over the Indiana Pacers on April 25, 1999 Hit a Timberwolves franchise record eight three-pointers in 11 attempts, totaling a game-high 35 points, seven assists and four rebounds, against Seattle on Dec. 23, 1997 Has appeared in 14 NBA Playoff games, averaging 18.9 points, 6.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game Named to the 1996-97 NBA All-Rookie First Team after leading all rookies with 7.8 assists a game Selected to play in the Schick Rookie Game during the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland but did not play due to a deep right thigh bruise Named NBA Rookie of the Month for January 1997, averaging 16.9 points, 8.1 assists and 1.10 steals per game Named Third Team All-America by the AP after his first and only season at Georgia Tech Was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference First Team and ACC Rookie of the Year
Reluctantly, I have to go with Marbury...simply because he has remained healthy throughout his career thus far. Not to mention that he hasn’t even reached his potential. He had his best year in 2002-2003 playing alongside the ROY who can’t even shoot a 10 footer yet. I shudder the thought what Marbury will do when he has a legit big man alongside of him. KJ was a tremendous PG and never had the negative press that Marbury has received, but as much as I hate to say it, we haven’t seen the best of Marbury yet. Marbury will get his before it is all said and done.
I have to go with KJ definitely. Before Barkley came along, his team had 4 straight 50 win seasons. KJ could absolutely take over a game with his scoring and passing. Marbury is a talent, but I just dont see that ability to take over and carry a team in the same way that KJ could. KJs problem was that he could never stay healthy. I loved watching him play though.
KJ had the sickest mid-range jumpshot, to go along with a nice handle. I said handle, don't get it confused with dribbling which those AND1 folks do. In this current league where no one can shoot and Tony Parker is looked upon as an up and coming star, he'd be a lot more valuable than he was in his prime during the 90's.
Id go with KJ, imo he is one of the most underrated players to every play. Marbury had one great season this past year if he keeps that up that maybe Id have to go marbury. But I remember the KJ of the early 90's he was flat out awsome. Anyboy remember his epic dunk over dream in the playoffs? amazing
KJ is one of the most underrated players mainly because of his injuries and it seemed like basketball wasn't his only desire. All of these youngsters like looking at teh dribbling machines they have today, but watching guys play the pg position in the 80's and early 90's were beautiful. KJ,Magic,Stockton,Price,Hardaway and guys like that were pg's who could score, but also drop 20 dimes on you. Back to KJ,his mid range game was so simple, yet so effective. Once he got you rocking on your heels, he would cross the ball through his legs once and either blow by you or drop that ft line 15 ft er on you . He used to kill the Rockets everytime they played. When the Rockets played KJ, all they wanted to do was stop him from getting like 30 and 10 asst. Most of the times though , he would do that and they Suns would still lose beacuse of the inside dominance of Hakeem. If people think Francis can't defend now, I would have like him to play against scoring /assisting pg like Hardaway,Price ,and KJ. If he has problems with non shooters like Williams and Parker, Tim and KJ would have him looking stupid.
I dont care much for the guy, buy you are way off base. If anything, he is underrated. He has the label of a selfish player, yet he drops more dimes than all but 2 players in the NBA. Not to mention he scores more points than all but 11 players in the NBA. He was an All-Star last season, voted in by the coaches, I think that speaks volumes about his game.
I voted for Marbury. KJ was the better team player and Marbury is the better individual talent. If I want to contend for a title, I would choose KJ. If I want a player who can dominant on any given night and get you some W's along the way, I would choose Marbury.
I would go with KJ for sure. Besides staying healthy, I can't think of anything that Steph can do better than him. KJ's ppg average is lower, but that's due to the seasons as Price's back-up and the last few of his career. Besides that, all of his numbers are better. Not to mention the huge disparity in fg%. To shoot 49% for your career at the guard spot is pretty good. Marbury is at around the 43% range. As Rockets fans, we should all know how good KJ was. Do you honetly think Marbury could drop 40, 10 games on the Rockets at will in the playoffs (including penetrating and scoring over or directly on Hakeem time and time again)? Do you think he could outplay Magic in a playoff series, like KJ did in 90? I dont.
KJ made Rod Strickland look slow. I didn't know his numbers were that good, to tell you the truth. Those are HOF type numbers.
For me the thing that sticks out is the 49.1% career field goal percentage while averaging 17 ppg and 9 apg. Tha'ts what you want yor pg to do, score, set up and make a high percentage of shots. KJ over Marbury...Easy.
The one thing that sticks our of my mind is that nasty dunk he put on Dream and the one shot that Dream swatted. KJ was the most underated PG of all time. The guy was a stud and only injuries prevented him from being one of the best of all time. KJ was a Steve Francis with basketball smarts.
