THey were very similar. Magic was a point guard. He was a floor general. He had an exceptional high IQ. He job was to pass. He is the best passer ever. His shooting game was very inconsistant and not efficient. He improved later in his career. He has more hardware than Larry. Larry, on the other hand, had every thing that Magic did, floor general high IQ passing (he's #2 all time for me in passing), while Magic was an okay defender, mostly using his height, than anything, Larry was very good defender. He could bother shooters and passers, often stripping the ball. Micheal Cooper said "when he passed the ball he became more dangerous." He was an extremely good shooter and an efficient one as well. He has two 50-40-90 seasons (the first one ever in the NBA). Plus 50-40-90 average over 4 seasons, which no one, even Curry, has done. This puts Larry over Magic. Larry's leadership and flexibility to me puts Larry over MJ as well, making my GOATs in order being Larry, MJ, Magic. They are all very close and I generally don't get upset if someone has one of these players over the other. It's Nuanced and based on what you feel is important. Saying that, team accolades only enhanced a player's argument rather than justify it. With LeBron, he isn't as strong of a leader at least for a few years. Micheal wasn't either, that is why you heard of MJ's personal accolades but the Bulls were nothing for most of the '80's. That also speaks to leadership. Both Magic and Larry had leadership right out of the gate. Magic, came to a decent team with another GOAT candidate leading them (Kareem). Larry came to a crappy team that only won 29 games the year before. They didn't have DJ, or Ainge, or Parish or McHale yet. It was lead by Dave Cowens, veteran HoFer on his last years. He retired the following year after Larry joined, and Larry took over. But Larry's rookie year, when he was the only major change...they went to 61 wins. That is an individual talent that did that. Then the next year he won a ring with the same team, adding only Parish who had to hurry up and gel after Cowens suddenly quit in the middle of training camp and rookie McHale off the bench. LeBron is highly talented, but it took him forever to win a ring. For someone who is touted as the great leader...he couldn't lead. He had to learn. Larry was born with it. Magic got a ring his rookie year, a bench seat on the All-Star game. Larry was the starter for the All-Star game and Rookie of the Year. Finally, Larry called his shots. And made them. Noone before or since has done that consistently and as frequently as Larry did. That's another level of play. It speaks of accuracy and talent. That's why an entire decade of basketball players regard him as the best and were terrified of him, regardless of the rings the Celtics had won. MJ didn't do that, his trash talking was very spotty. Magic rarely trash talked. Welcome back.
I don't think that it would be a debate if Larry had stayed healthy. Larry was all around player from day one. That being said his last few years he played so hurt . His prime was so dominant. Magics front line was better than bird early on but Celtics developed into a mean machine. They were both unselfish players. Larry is it for me because I watched him play. But I love magic.great reaction.
THey were very similar. Magic was a point guard. He was a floor general. He had an exceptional high IQ. He job was to pass. He is the best passer ever. His shooting game was very inconsistant and not efficient. He improved later in his career. He has more hardware than Larry.
Larry, on the other hand, had every thing that Magic did, floor general high IQ passing (he's #2 all time for me in passing), while Magic was an okay defender, mostly using his height, than anything, Larry was very good defender. He could bother shooters and passers, often stripping the ball. Micheal Cooper said "when he passed the ball he became more dangerous."
He was an extremely good shooter and an efficient one as well. He has two 50-40-90 seasons (the first one ever in the NBA). Plus 50-40-90 average over 4 seasons, which no one, even Curry, has done.
This puts Larry over Magic. Larry's leadership and flexibility to me puts Larry over MJ as well, making my GOATs in order being Larry, MJ, Magic. They are all very close and I generally don't get upset if someone has one of these players over the other. It's Nuanced and based on what you feel is important.
Saying that, team accolades only enhanced a player's argument rather than justify it.
With LeBron, he isn't as strong of a leader at least for a few years. Micheal wasn't either, that is why you heard of MJ's personal accolades but the Bulls were nothing for most of the '80's. That also speaks to leadership. Both Magic and Larry had leadership right out of the gate. Magic, came to a decent team with another GOAT candidate leading them (Kareem). Larry came to a crappy team that only won 29 games the year before. They didn't have DJ, or Ainge, or Parish or McHale yet. It was lead by Dave Cowens, veteran HoFer on his last years. He retired the following year after Larry joined, and Larry took over. But Larry's rookie year, when he was the only major change...they went to 61 wins. That is an individual talent that did that. Then the next year he won a ring with the same team, adding only Parish who had to hurry up and gel after Cowens suddenly quit in the middle of training camp and rookie McHale off the bench.
LeBron is highly talented, but it took him forever to win a ring. For someone who is touted as the great leader...he couldn't lead. He had to learn. Larry was born with it.
Magic got a ring his rookie year, a bench seat on the All-Star game. Larry was the starter for the All-Star game and Rookie of the Year.
Finally, Larry called his shots. And made them. Noone before or since has done that consistently and as frequently as Larry did. That's another level of play. It speaks of accuracy and talent. That's why an entire decade of basketball players regard him as the best and were terrified of him, regardless of the rings the Celtics had won. MJ didn't do that, his trash talking was very spotty. Magic rarely trash talked.
Welcome back.
They were both pretty good, they were evenly matched.
Both did amazing things when they were playing. Tough one.
I don't think that it would be a debate if Larry had stayed healthy. Larry was all around player from day one. That being said his last few years he played so hurt . His prime was so dominant. Magics front line was better than bird early on but Celtics developed into a mean machine. They were both unselfish players. Larry is it for me because I watched him play. But I love magic.great reaction.
Bird had the more complete game. Bird even made three all-defensive teams. Magic never made an all-defensive team.