by Alex Hill

Created on: July 09, 2009   Last Updated: August 05, 2009

The best point guard of all time. Who is it? It is a tough question to answer, but according to ESPN's Daily Dime(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydi me-GreatestPointGuards) the top 10 point guards of all time, with Magic Johnson being number 1, are followed by: "The Big O" Oscar Robertson, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton, Bob Cousy, Walt Frazier, Jason Kidd, Tiny Archibald, Steve Nash, and is concluded with Gary Payton. But, is it fair to say that Magic Johnson is better than Oscar Robertson, after all, they did play in a different time period. But in my opinion yes, Magic Johnson (LA Lakers 1979-91, 1996) is the best point guard of all time - no question about it.

In a time of great point guards, Isiah Thomas among others, Johnson won FIVE championships in 9 years and was MVP in THREE of those championship games! Among other great achievements, Magic was 3-time league MVP, a 12-time All-Star, and is in the NBA Hall of Fame. Magic was great in the transition game, and his cool yet great passing game mesmerized NBA fans all around the world, not just Laker fans. But don't get confused. When needed, Magic could dominate a game with his scoring, as well as with his mentioned passing and ball-handling abilities. In his prime, Johnson could have been considered one of the top five players at ANY position and was the best point guard of his time - hands down.

The next closest point guard, according to the list, was Oscar Robertson. Although an outstanding point guard, and the best of his time, "The Big O's" stats do not compare to those of Magic Johnson's. Like Johnson, Robertson was a 12-time NBA All-Star, but that's where the comparison ends. Robertson won only one title - to Magic's five, only one league MVP - to Magic's three. However, in the 1961-62 season Oscar Robertson did the unthinkable, he averaged a triple double! But once again, Magic gave a legendary performance that out did Robertson. Just imagine, its game 6 of the NBA finals, your a rookie point guard in the NBA, and now you must play center! This is what Magic Johnson had to do in the 1980 NBA finals when Kareem-Abdul Jabbar was injured. No way they could win right? Wrong! Magic had an astonishing 42-point, 15-rebound, 7-assist game to clinch game 6 - and win the Championship! In one of the best performances of all time, Magic proved he was a point guard to reckoned with and the best of all-time. He proved, as well, that he was one of the best individual players, of any position, in the history of the National Basketball Association thus far.

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