‘Beg to differ’ – Michael Jordan knows how he’d beat Steph Curry and texted Stephen A. Smith why he’s not point guard GOAT
Michael Jordan and Steph Curry are two of the greatest players in NBA history. They dominated their respective eras and hoovered up records, championships, and MVPs. Jordan won, won, and won again in the 90sAFP - Getty For the vast majority of fans, MJ is the basketball GOAT (greatest of all time), having gone a perfect 6-0 in NBA Finals to go along with six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, and ten scoring titles. Curry, on the other hand, is the greatest shooter in the history of the league with more made 3s than any other player. Both legends got it done in different ways. No.23 dominated by being unstoppable at the rim and boasting a virtually un-guardable mid-range game. Curry, meanwhile, has personified greatness in his own unique way, splashing in logo 3s to catapult himself and the Golden State Warriors to basketball immortality. A matchup between the pair will always be the stuff of fantasy, but that hasn’t stopped Jordan from sharing how he would beat Curry 1-vs-1. When asked by The TODAY Show whether he would want to go up against Curry or another NBA icon in LeBron James, Jordan didn’t hesitate in giving his answer, and revealed how he would come out victorious. “Well, I’d go against Stephen Curry because I’m a little bit bigger than him, so I could back him in,”he said. “LeBron’s a little bit too big. “[Curry] is a great player. Not a Hall of Famer yet, though. He’s not.” For many, Curry is the greatest point guard ever. The man himself also thinks so, emphatically stating ‘yes’ when asked by former NBA pro Gilbert Arenas if he is indeed the greatest PG in history. Jordan revealed he could beat Curry 1-vs-1 by simply backing into himX@USAToday Curry is the greatest shooter ever and revolutionized basketball with his 3-pointersGetty Images - Getty On a subsequent episode of ESPN’s First Take, NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith agreed. Jordan was among the people who saw Smith’s argument, and proceeded to text Stephen A. at 5:54am with a polite but forceful rebuttal in favor of Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson. Smith read MJ’s text on the show. “Good morning, sir,” MJ wrote to Smith. “Although greatest of anything is always a debate, I beg to differ on greatest point guard of all time, with what you said. Magic Johnson is easily the best point guard of all time. Steph Curry is very close but not in front of Magic. You must define point guard to really have a serious debate. “Steph Curry is by far the best shooter of all time. Yes, his movement has created many shots for his teammates. He’s a career 43% 3-point shooter. But Magic Johnson invented the triple-double. Not true invented, but makes it more noticeable in terms of the impact on the game. It’s a point guard stat, to be honest. “Magic was the best. We can go on, but I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I know you get the point. By the way, Magic has five NBA championships.” Smith revealed the early morning text MJ sent him disagreeing with his opinion on the PG GOAT debateX@awfulannouncing Magic is considered one of the best players of all timeGetty Jordan’s argument was more than fair, although there’s really no right or wrong answer. Johnson won five chips to Curry’s four, and was a 6ft 9in beast for the ‘Showtime’ Lakers with some of the best court vision and passing ever, plus the physicality to play center in the NBA Finals. Curry is more of a shooter, killing teams with his limitless range and efficiency from beyond the arc which caused a fundamental shift in the way basketball is played. Whichever way you have them, Steph and Magic are 1A and 1B when it comes to the greatest point guards ever, and fans are lucky to have seen them both play.
Michael Jordan and Steph Curry are two of the greatest players in NBA history.
They dominated their respective eras and hoovered up records, championships, and MVPs.
For the vast majority of fans, MJ is the basketball GOAT (greatest of all time), having gone a perfect 6-0 in NBA Finals to go along with six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, and ten scoring titles.
Curry, on the other hand, is the greatest shooter in the history of the league with more made 3s than any other player.
Both legends got it done in different ways. No.23 dominated by being unstoppable at the rim and boasting a virtually un-guardable mid-range game.
Curry, meanwhile, has personified greatness in his own unique way, splashing in logo 3s to catapult himself and the Golden State Warriors to basketball immortality.
A matchup between the pair will always be the stuff of fantasy, but that hasn’t stopped Jordan from sharing how he would beat Curry 1-vs-1.
When asked by The TODAY Show whether he would want to go up against Curry or another NBA icon in LeBron James, Jordan didn’t hesitate in giving his answer, and revealed how he would come out victorious.
“Well, I’d go against Stephen Curry because I’m a little bit bigger than him, so I could back him in,”he said. “LeBron’s a little bit too big.
“[Curry] is a great player. Not a Hall of Famer yet, though. He’s not.”
For many, Curry is the greatest point guard ever.
The man himself also thinks so, emphatically stating ‘yes’ when asked by former NBA pro Gilbert Arenas if he is indeed the greatest PG in history.
On a subsequent episode of ESPN’s First Take, NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith agreed.
Jordan was among the people who saw Smith’s argument, and proceeded to text Stephen A. at 5:54am with a polite but forceful rebuttal in favor of Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson.
Smith read MJ’s text on the show.
“Good morning, sir,” MJ wrote to Smith.
“Although greatest of anything is always a debate, I beg to differ on greatest point guard of all time, with what you said. Magic Johnson is easily the best point guard of all time. Steph Curry is very close but not in front of Magic. You must define point guard to really have a serious debate.
“Steph Curry is by far the best shooter of all time. Yes, his movement has created many shots for his teammates. He’s a career 43% 3-point shooter. But Magic Johnson invented the triple-double. Not true invented, but makes it more noticeable in terms of the impact on the game. It’s a point guard stat, to be honest.
“Magic was the best. We can go on, but I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I know you get the point. By the way, Magic has five NBA championships.”
Jordan’s argument was more than fair, although there’s really no right or wrong answer.
Johnson won five chips to Curry’s four, and was a 6ft 9in beast for the ‘Showtime’ Lakers with some of the best court vision and passing ever, plus the physicality to play center in the NBA Finals.
Curry is more of a shooter, killing teams with his limitless range and efficiency from beyond the arc which caused a fundamental shift in the way basketball is played.
Whichever way you have them, Steph and Magic are 1A and 1B when it comes to the greatest point guards ever, and fans are lucky to have seen them both play.
