If we're defining finishing as converting a basket when two or fewer steps from the basket, Shaq was probably the best in history. That said, Young Charles was one of the most unstoppable finishers in league history. Led the league in TS% four years in a row. From '88-91 he averaged 26.7ppg and shot 58.4% from the field. LeBron might be the only other guy in his class in terms of being a one-man fast break.
If Stockton did not play for the jazz, I doubt Malone would have played one all star game. Stockton made him look real good. Case in point Shandon, Russel, EIsley, Carr, Harping, etc did not have good careers outside of the Jazz. Stockton made all of them play better.
1-on-1? Barkley...he could handle the ball much better and was faster...not saying that he was a better player, but we all know 1-on-1 is completely different from 5-on-5
Tough cover for Malone. I don't think he had the foot Speed to stick Barkley on the perimeter. Barkley was a legit 4 but I think he was the first 3/4 "tweener". He had a decent sf skillset as well as as strength and athleticism to play the PF nightly.
Barkley. As mentioned Malone had Stockton passing to him. If we're being objective, Malone probably had the best pure point guard in NBA history setting him up.
This is simply not true. I don't think Malone makes the HOF without Stockton as his PG but he's still an all-star without Stockton. No doubt Stockton set him up quite a bit but a lot of Malone's early years were post ups, and it doesn't take the best PG in the game to throw a pass to a post up player. I would also say that the system the Jazz ran just as much as Stockton is what made those role players better in Utah than anywhere else, although Antoine Carr was a 20 ppg scorer with the Kings.
