Michael Jordan is the latest big name to weigh in on who the greatest point guard ever is, and his take is sure to get the basketball world talking.
The debate began when Stephen Curry proclaimed himself the best point guard in NBA history in a podcast appearance with Gilbert Arenas earlier this week. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith backed Curry over Magic Johnson in a close decision. But on First Take Wednesday morning, Smith revealed that Michael Jordan had texted him a take on the matter.
"Although greatest of anything is always a debate, I beg to differ on greatest point guard of all-time… Magic Johnson is easily the best point guard of all time. Steph Curry is very close, but not in front of Magic,” Jordan said, per Smith.
"I beg to differ on greatest point guard of all-time. Magic Johnson is easily the best PG of all-time. Steph Curry is very close, but not in front of Magic."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 23, 2023
Michael Jordan's text to Stephen A. Smith, which he read live on First Take this morning 😲pic.twitter.com/BhdJj6FARp
Jordan did add in his message to Smith that he believes Curry is “by far the best shooter of all time.” However, Jordan wrote that Johnson “invented the triple-double” and pointed out that Magic has five NBA titles, one more than Curry.
Of course, Johnson and Jordan’s careers overlapped, with the two sharing the floor on the 1992 “Dream Team” with USA Basketball. Still, arguably the sport’s greatest player ever weighing in on this debate is big news, and Jordan clearly put plenty of thought into his message to Smith.
0% chance MJ texted Stephen A. all of that at 5:45 AM https://t.co/eK1oneEE4H
— Austin (@ChefTrillie) August 23, 2023
😲😲😲😲😲... This clearly means that he thinks LeBron is not on his level if he went to the championships https://t.co/Qw2y1IU4ps
— True to self Mack (@TyWomack11) August 23, 2023
If MJ said it, that’s all I need to hear. https://t.co/QpwDwOyjL1
— All Things Sports (@AllThings_Hoops) August 23, 2023
This isn’t shocking MJ has always said that Magic is greatest PG of all time https://t.co/GiXjZkmxbJ
— Himmy Butler 🇨🇲 (@MrJayBreezy) August 23, 2023
this Magic vs Steph debate really becomes a convo on what positions have become. because while they’re both technically listed as a point guard, they did not have the same roles https://t.co/6BXW8mx9aS
— no_funk36 (@P_Funk36) August 23, 2023
Why is this even a debate https://t.co/eSHCL7DKHi
— KEN (@Kenstuntin) August 23, 2023