Better player: Kevin Durant vs Magic Johnson

[DillaTUDE]

Who cares about accolades when discussing who the "better" player is? That's only relevant when determining who the "greater" player is.

Magic, like Bill Russell, is a player who probably ranks top five when discussing the "greatest" players of all time. He's one of the most decorated athletes in the sports history.

But just as is the case with Bill Russell, there are a whole lot of other players who were "better" players than Magic and KD is definitely one of them.

KD is (going to be) in that discussion as to whether or not he's a better player than LeBron--a player who by comparison not only negates Magic's playmaking ability, but also provides better scoring and defense. So I don't see how anyone can't see that KD is the better player when Magic is essentially LeBron stripped of his scoring and defensive abilities.

And if KD played in that Western Conference that Magic played in during his 80s run then he'd definitely have the same accolades as Magic.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

Magic I’m not one of these people that thinks KD isn’t top 25 all time either. But to me Magic and Bird whole they weren’t the best physically played the game intellectually at the height of it.

At the height of what now?

The game today has more advanced offensive and defensive schemes than the 80s did. The 80s basically consisted of fastbreaks, 1v1s and only one side of the floor actions.

Magic to me is the best facilitator ever and Bird is top 10 in facilitating an offense creating pace and realizing how a basketball has energy and it needed to be transferred to everybody..

He has an argument for being that, but I still don't see how that supersedes the impact that Durant has on the game. Durant has more impact on both ends of the floor, I mean defensively it really isn't close, and it's not like Magic was a better or even equal offensive player to make up the margin. If we're talking about an all-time list, I have no problem with Magic being ranked ahead of him, as it's too early to start ranking Durant anyway. But if we're talking in terms of ability/skillset and impact, it's Durant, and it's not even particularly close.

 

[Bigblackted4]

At the height of what now?

The game today has more advanced offensive and defensive schemes than the 80s did. The 80s basically consisted of fastbreaks, 1v1s and only one side of the floor actions.

He has an argument for being that, but I still don't see how that supersedes the impact that Durant has on the game. Durant has more impact on both ends of the floor, I mean defensively it really isn't close, and it's not like Magic was a better or even equal offensive player to make up the margin. If we're talking about an all-time list, I have no problem with Magic being ranked ahead of him, as it's too early to start ranking Durant anyway. But if we're talking in terms of ability/skillset and impact, it's Durant, and it's not even particularly close.

To me Pace and Facilitating and the understanding of how a team could use them are some of the best skills a player could have and he revolutionized them. Also Magic post game is truly slept on. Dude could have averaged 25 easy. He had it all offensively except a jump shot but the difference between him not having a jump shot and others is he could just turn his back and back You into the paint and shot a sky hook or any post move. I think impact is similar, think J Kidd Nets impact but 5 times that.

 

[Bigblackted4]

It’s an interesting question though is the more skillful player always the better one

 

[75 Others]

Magic would be a slightly better Elfrid Payton in today's league.

Come on man

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

Correct me if I’m working but off top I believe Magic played 12 years, went to the finals 9 times of those 12 years and won 5 rings...

Let that sink in before we make ridiculous statements.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

To me Pace and Facilitating and the understanding of how a team could use them are some of the best skills a player could have and he revolutionized them.

Very, very true. Very few players in NBA history have that ability.

Also Magic post game is truly slept on. Dude could have averaged 25 easy. He had it all offensively except a jump shot but the difference between him not having a jump shot and others is he could just turn his back and back You into the paint and shot a sky hook or any post move. I think impact is similar, think J Kidd Nets impact but 5 times that.

That's mostly due to the fact he played in a weaker defensive era. Of course, he could back down his opponent and score like that because he didn't have to deal with help defense in his vicinity. You put Durant or LeBron in an era like that and they're breaking all types of scoring records.

It’s an interesting question though is the more skillful player always the better one

It's not the fact that Durant's just more skillful, it's his sheer dominance on the floor because of his skill, athleticism, and size. You mentioned Magic could take over a game without scoring, well, a player who can't score at an elite all-time level, will never be able to have the impact on a game that a player who can.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

Correct me if I’m working but off top I believe Magic played 12 years, went to the finals 9 times of those 12 years and won 5 rings...

Let that sink in before we make ridiculous statements.

You can't be serious? If Magic doesn't get drafted to the Lakers, do you think he's going to the Finals 9 times and winning five rings?

 

[Originalman]

I know this is fun for y’all... but how many of y’all are over 40........ ? I say that to say that it’s futile to compare and contrast contemporary players to an era where most black households still had rotary phones...

Jokers be just making threads now...."who better Jim Brown or Tom Brady and has Tom Brady passed him already".....

 

[Strapped]

Durant

 

[Lord Beasley]

KD makes better decisions on and off the court. No brainer

 

[R=G]

WTF is going on in this forum...hahaha

 

[Ben.]

On an all-time level Magic easily but KD is catching up but on a prime/peak level KD easily

 

[Young Fab]

I swear, some of you nikkas really irk me.

nikka win one ring(in which had to join a 73-9 team that just reached back to back Finals with the reigning 2x MVP, best shooting backcourt in league history, DPOY candidate, Finals MVP comin off the bench and COTY to do it) and all of a sudden he on the same level as Magic Johnson.

Jesus Christ

 

[Bigblackted4]

Very, very true. Very few players in NBA history have that ability.

That's mostly due to the fact he played in a weaker defensive era. Of course, he could back down his opponent and score like that because he didn't have to deal with help defense in his vicinity. You put Durant or LeBron in an era like that and they're breaking all types of scoring records.

It's not the fact that Durant's just more skillful, it's his sheer dominance on the floor because of his skill, athleticism, and size. You mentioned Magic could take over a game without scoring, well, a player who can't score at an elite all-time level, will never be able to have the impact on a game that a player who can.

Only responding to the last part because I agree with the others.

Magic scored in an elite way in a lot of big games refer to his 35+ can’t remember the exact total in the close out game of his first finals.