PG's in the 90s compared to PG's of the 00's

[llt23]

Ive been debating with some older folks that the 00 era on just has better talent in the PG department.

Is it really that bold of a statement to compare Chris Paul to GP? Paul had a season where he averaged 22, 11, 5.5, and 2.8 steals on 50% shooting. Why is that not respectable or comparable to 90s legends?

Then theres the competition. Most PG's as far as i remember in the 90s were pretty much Charlie Ward rehashes over and over.

Of course there are the exceptions, the innovators and the legends, the Stocktons, the two Hardaways, Kevin Johnson, Sam Cassell and Rod Strickland.

But do they compare to the 00's class? I feel like old heads are overrating their guys. Like 90s Centers were clearly better than 00's but I dunno here.

Derrick Rose, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, Steph Curry, Steph Marbury, Dre miller, Baron Davis, Gilbert Arenas, Chauncey Billups, Nash, Parker, Lawson, Jrue Holiday etc etc. I feel like there is way more talent at PG.

These guys (hell every starting PG today) all know how to split pick n rolls, they all have disgusting handles (nobody can guard anyone one on one anymore!) they got the euro step and other moves that just werent being applied in the 90s. The 90's i remember to be more post up oriented while now the pick n roll seemingly has to be run every possession no matter what.

I am on the side of the new school, but I am willing to hear the arguments of 90s heads. Im 25, so i was around, i played my whole life, i witnesses the evolution first hand, but I wasnt no expert back then. Unless playing NBA Live 95 and 97 counts

Thoughts?

PS....welcome to irrelevant offseason debates brehs

 

[Goatpoacher]

PG position is one of the few that has increased noticeably in talent. I think PG and SF are the deepest positions in the league. Everybody talks about how Centers have fallen off, and now PF's are falling off, but PG's have gotten alot better.

The 90's had great PG's, of course, but the current crop of PG's is nuts. Even the ones who don't really play standard PG like Curry, Westbrook, Rose.

 

[Carlos Huerta]

Well for one thing, I see you including guys like Curry, Lawson, and Holiday.. so you're essentially comparing players over a 13-year span versus the decade of the 90s??

Kidd, Stockton, KJ, and GP are better than any of PGs you listed. Seems like the best PGs in more modern times are better scorers than they are distributors

 

[Carlos Huerta]

PG position is one of the few that has increased noticeably in talent. I think PG and SF are the deepest positions in the league. Everybody talks about how Centers have fallen off, and now PF's are falling off, but PG's have gotten alot better.

The 90's had great PG's, of course, but the current crop of PG's is nuts. Even the ones who don't really play standard PG like Curry, Westbrook, Rose.

True, I think it might have been more top heavy in the 90s than now, but there probably are more good players across the board at that position than before.

 

[same damn lo sweater]

 

[llt23]

Well for one thing, I see you including guys like Curry, Lawson, and Holiday.. so you're essentially comparing players over a 13-year span versus the decade of the 90s??

Kidd, Stockton, KJ, and GP are better than any of PGs you listed. Seems like the best PGs in more modern times are better scorers than they are distributors

Kidd and Stockton ill concede, Kidd has a ridiculous amount of triple doubles and Stockton was averaging like 15 dimes a game but what makes Kevin Johnson and Gary Payton clearly better than guys like Chris Paul? And let us not talk about success at all.

I feel like CP3 is getting treated like dirt lately. Those seasons with the Hornets were insane. He was really damn dominant and i can barely remember who was even on his team! He averaged 11 dimes made David West an "all star" and i literally dont remember anyone else on the team though i can name the Sonics entire starting lineup when GP was there.

Like i posted in the first post, those numbers from Paul in that season are astounding. They are just as good as those guys, if not better. And thats why I made the topic, if the competition now is better, than how are those guys better?

 

[mbewane]

As dude said, PGs seemed to be more PGs then, while they are more scorers now...let's not overlook guys like Mark Price, Terry Porter, Mark Jackson, Damon Stoudemire, Terrel Brandon...can't really get into statistics because the game was slower and more interior-orientated than it is now...there may be more talent now, not sure if it makes for better PGs tho...

Unfortunately we lost all interior game at the same time

 

[Carlos Huerta]

Kidd and Stockton ill concede, but what makes Kevin Johnson and Gary Payton clearly better than guys like Chris Paul? And let us not talk about success at all.

I feel like CP3 is getting treated like dirt lately. Those seasons with the Hornets were insane. He was really damn dominant and i can barely remember who was even on his team! He averaged 11 dimes made David West an "all star" and i literally dont remember anyone else on the team though i can name the Sonics entire starting lineup when GP was there.

Like i posted in the first post, those numbers from Paul in that season are astounding. They are just as good as those guys, if not better. And thats why I made the topic, if the competition now is better, than how are those guys better?

I don't necessarily think the competition is better now though. It's a different game with softer rules and no good big men. That gives today's PGs more heart to drive in the paint than before.

CP3 is a beast, I'm not denying that. But don't forget about dudes like Mark Jackson and Kenny Anderson. They're easily just as good if not better than dudes like Lawson or Holiday. I think a top 10 PGs of the 90's > top 10 PGs 00's.

 

[Malta]

It's an overrated position to be honest and I'd never build my team around a PG that wants a max contract.

 

[Reggie]

It's a golden age for point guards but a lot of these guys are just 2's masquerading as one's because they are a little undersized. Which is one reason why the shooting guard position is so weak. But I cant front, this is a great time for point guards in the NBA. But nikkas sleep on the 90's with players like Stockton KJ GP Kidd Porter Price the Hardaways's etc. This era may be deeper as far as quality pg's are concerned. But the 90's era had plenty of good ones too.

 

[llt23]

I see your point about the rules and the lack of intimidating presences inside. Theres a flipside to that though.

in the 90s imagine if the Knicks for example had a good slashing point guard. Imagine having picks set by Anthony Mason, Oakley and Ewing. Instead of picks set by tweener big men. Isnt that also a luxury of 90s pg's? Using their bigs to their advantage? Imagine Steph Curry, who lives and dies by getting open space from picks, played in the 90s with dominant big men.

And as much as i loved Mark Jackson id rather take Jamaal Tinsley in his prime.

 

[Reggie]

It's an overrated position to be honest and I'd never build my team around a PG that wants a max contract.

I can kind of agree with that. A great point guard is a good thing to have but the last great point to win a title was Parker in 07. Rondo wasn't elite when the Celts won so he doesn't count. And Kidd wasn't elite anymore when the Mavs won.

 

[Malta]

I can kind of agree with that. A great point guard is a good thing to have but the last great point to win a title was Parker in 07. Rondo wasn't elite when the Celts won so he doesn't count. And Kidd wasn't elite anymore when the Mavs won.

The last 20 NBA title winners and their starting PGs -


Mario Chalmers 2x
Jason Kidd
Derek Fisher 2x
Rajon Rondo
Tony Parker
Jason Williams
Tony Parker
Chauncey Billups
Tony Parker
Derek Fisher 2x (Brian Shaw/Lindsey Hunter split time as well)
Ron Harper
Avery Johnson
Ron Harper 3x
Kenny Smith 2x



There isn't a single player there that was "Top 10" in the league when their team won the title, PGs just aren't required to win titles. I like Steph Curry, mainly because he's sitting on a contract that isn't maxed out, when I hear about someone giving CP3 a max contract I'm just like "Why?".

 

[who_better_than_me]

The last 20 NBA title winners and their starting PGs -


Mario Chalmers 2x
Jason Kidd
Derek Fisher 2x
Rajon Rondo
Tony Parker
Jason Williams
Tony Parker
Chauncey Billups
Tony Parker
Derek Fisher 2x (Brian Shaw/Lindsey Hunter split time as well)
Ron Harper
Avery Johnson
Ron Harper 3x
Kenny Smith 2x



There isn't a single player there that was "Top 10" in the league when their team won the title, PGs just aren't required to win titles. I like Steph Curry, mainly because he's sitting on a contract that isn't maxed out, when I hear about someone giving CP3 a max contract I'm just like "Why?".

So you saying u wouldnt want Steph Curry on ur squad if he's maxed out?

Spurs dont win the title without parker, nets dont get to the finals without kidd, Celtics dont win without Rondo, and Pistons dont have the success they have without Billups.

 

[Malta]

So you saying u wouldnt want Steph Curry on ur squad if he's maxed out?

If I were a GM, and my team was about to max out a PG, he better have a lower than normal T-cell count, be 6'9" and have been born in Lansing, Michigan.

Saw your edit, Rondo, Billups and Kidd weren't maxed out, and I believe Parker wasn't either.