Getting Started
So yesterday I was arguing with my buddy at the bar about who’s the GOAT point guard. He kept screaming “Steph changed basketball!” while I kept yelling “Magic was a 6’9″ freak!” Woke up with a headache and decided to actually compare them properly.
Digging Up the Old Stuff
First I grabbed my dusty basketball almanac – yeah I still have physical books. Flipped straight to Magic’s stats from the 80s Showtime Lakers. His assist numbers made my eyes pop:
- Averaged like 11 assists for his CAREER?
- That one game with 24 dimes against the Suns?
Then I pulled up Steph’s stats on my phone while eating cold pizza. Different beast entirely:
- Over 3,000 threes? What kinda nonsense is that?
- Scoring titles vs Magic’s passing clinic
Watching the Tape
Dragged my laptop to the couch and binged old Magic highlights. That no-look pass against the Celtics in ’84 still looks fake. Man moved like a quarterback in sneakers. Then switched to Steph’s 2016 season – my neighbors probably heard me yelling “HOW?!” when he hit that game-winner against OKC from the parking lot.
Noticed something cool though – Magic made EVERYONE look better just by being on court. Steph? Whole defenses lose their minds chasing him around screens.
The Messy Comparison Part
Tried making charts but got marker all over my table. Jotted down these points instead:
- Size vs Range: Magic bullied smaller guards, Steph abuses big men’s feet
- Playmaking: Magic’s passing was art, Steph’s gravity creates open shots
- Eras: Could Magic shoot 3s today? Would Steph survive 80s hand-checking?
Spilled coffee on my notes at this point. Classic me.
Final Thoughts
After wasting my whole Sunday on this, here’s the messy truth: you can’t pick one. Magic was this once-in-a-lifetime point-center hybrid. Steph broke basketball math with his shooting. Both won multiple chips as franchise guys. Both made casual fans fall in love with the game.
Guess what I’m taking back to the bar? They’re different flavors of greatness. Like choosing between chocolate cake and pizza – depends what you’re hungry for. Now where’s my aspirin?
