It was a fine summer night in Boston on June 16, 2022. For the citizens, it was a normal day in the historic landscape. However, for the NBA world, it was an opportunity to watch a legacy-defining moment. Stephen Curry, the pioneer of modern-day basketball crowned himself as one of the greats. A masterful performance where he scored 34 points in a series-winning Game 6 solidified any doubts about his production on the biggest stage. It was followed by confetti dropping in the TD Garden. A familiar sight, for the fourth time in eight years, the Golden State Warriors stood on the podium as champions.

However, the atmosphere was different. The organization’s name might have been inscribed on the shiny Larry O’Brien trophy, but it was still one man’s moment – the Baby Face Assassin. “This one hits different,” he said while awaiting his moment of validation. It was indeed different since finally, it was him who held his maiden Finals MVP trophy.

Nodding purposely, his joy was evident despite the cold face. He high-fived every one of his teammates. Curry had finally gained the keys to the Hall of Greats. Moreover, it ignited his name in the conversation to be the best point guard of all time.

Until then, only one name seemed worthy. An ever-smiling legend who piled up accolades better than he could pass. Obviously, it was Magic Johnson. But Curry’s Finals MVP capture put his position under threat. It divided the pundits. Steph, who generally stays humble recently accepted the claim of being the best PG in the history of the NBA. There was no moment he hesitated, but he was respectful. “me and Magic, that’s the conversation” he told Gilbert Arenas.

For weeks, his statement went unanswered until recently Magic Johnson pushed Curry off the pedestal.

Magic Johnson is not ready to share the GOAT title

There was no one like Magic. The Los Angeles Lakers icon was 6’9″, tall enough to play forward. Yet he was equipped with the hands and vision of a basketball genius. Some of the passes were so mesmeric, they left the opponent’s jaws on the floor. Johnson was probably the first ‘superstar’ the NBA ever had. His infectious smile swooned the masses.

But he wasn’t just any pretty boy, he was THE pretty boy. When he passed the court’s borders, he was a different animal. There was a gladiator who was willing to wipe the smiles off anyone’s face if that meant he would win. He was nasty, running his mouth to scramble his opponent’s brain.

As his name suggests, the Lakers legend carried magic on his fingertips. If that wasn’t enough, Johnson was fearless and eager to prove himself. In 1980, as a raw rookie, he confidently strode to the front of the plane and told his teammates he would replace the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to play center against his idol Dr. Julius Erving. While courageous, it seemed laughable to hear. But what happened left the NBA world starstruck. He scored 42 points in his first time as a center and won the Finals MVP as a rookie. That was when the world knew, Magic was special.

It was followed by an illustrious career crammed with accolades and honors. A Hall of Famer, five-time champion, three-time Finals MVP, and a three-time league MVP. He made sure no one forgot his place in the story of the NBA. Without him, the NBA may have never grown to the colossal heights it has reached today. Johnson had done his dues to earn the title of the GOAT PG. For decades, he was considered to be in a class of his own. A figure whose impact can never be mirrored.

However, when Curry lifted the Finals MVP trophy, he was challenged. He was at risk of being dethroned. It’s safe to say Magic isn’t on board the Curry bus, at least not yet. When he was questioned about the Warriors starlet’s claims, Johnson responded with his impeccable resume.

“If he got more than five championships, if he got more than three Finals MVPs and three league MVPs, then he’s the greatest. If he got more than number one in assists all-time in the Finals, number two in double-doubles, number one in triple-doubles all-time in the NBA playoffs, number four in steals all-time in the playoffs, if he got more than those numbers, then he’s the best… If he got more than all those things, he’s the best,” he told Zach Gelb. “But the last time I checked, he doesn’t,”. 

He secured his place as the top jewel of the crown. And he did all so with his iconic toothy smile. Yet you could tell his laugh was only a mask of his true emotions. At that moment, he was competing with Stephen Curry. Since his proclamation, the discussion has gone silent. Curry has yet to respond. But can he fight against a list of accolades that shame even his glamorous career? Well, there are a few ways where he can cancel out the ‘Magic’.

Stephen Curry deserves his place as the GOAT, if not alone then with Magic Johnson

What Curry said was right. The conversation only extends to two names, himself and Magic Johnson. Even though not as accomplished as his counterpart, Steph is a revolutionary whose impact is only at its birth stages. Since his historic three-point extravaganza in 2015, the game has changed forever. When before everyone tried to be a LeBron James or a Michael Jordan, today the entire system tilts to the whims of Steph Curry.

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You can see the glimpses in the younger generation. He has somehow compelled everyone to shoot the ball. From the smallest of kids to college athletes, the art of long-range shooting is a by-product of the essence Stephen Curry continues to leave. At 35, he has rewritten history on multiple occasions. He is the undisputed greatest shooter, a unanimous MVP, and a four-time NBA champion.

Like any other great before him, he doesn’t forget disrespect. But rather than fighting his case with a war of words, Curry carries himself to the basketball court to dispel his naysayers. At the end of the day, that is what has always driven him. From his time as a thin kid in Davidson, Stephen Curry has always been overlooked, pushed to the back, and seen as unfitting’. It’s these comments that have fed into his desire to break through his chains and emerge as the mighty fighter he has become.

In the case of Magic, his story has been written. But Stephen Curry’s tale is still in the making. The last time he was mocked, he delivered with a championship conquest. Fueling himself with this hostility evokes his finest version. A man that is obsessed with laughing back at those who ever questioned him.

Steph Curry still enjoys his prime and has the capability to surpass Magic Johnson’s accolades. And it’s not that Curry doesn’t compare in statistics. Johnson is nowhere close to his realm in three-point shooting. As a shot-maker and an offensive talent, Curry is margins past the legendary point guard. He has marched to a position where all he needs is another piece of gold to truly look Magic in the eyes with assertiveness.

The Bay is a hot spot for stars in the league who are looking to compete. Additionally, Curry now has another rival to fight, one more claim to erase. The fight takes place in his kingdom, and the Baby Face Assassin is always hungry to fight. If he captures a fifth or even another MVP title, the case grows tighter. It will be enough for Curry to propel into the top spot.

You might be wondering, it’s not just Curry who is a great point guard. And that is right. Many have conquered the role. There was John Stockton, the passing wizard who is the all-time passing and steals leader. There is Jason Kidd who was a two-way terror. Chris Paul who has earned the nickname was ‘Point God’ or even Oscar Roberston, the man who popularized the triple-double before the emergence of Russell Westbrook.

No one can question their greatness. Each of these monarchs have cemented their place in the room. However, while their stats may help them fight, from the perspective of their impact, not one can breathe next to Magic or Stephen Curry. Magic Johnson was the NBA’s market at one point. He helped spread the game into all corners of the world. It was unprecedented, and to this day remains unmatched.

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Then there is Steph, the man who has inspired generations to play basketball in his own way. Their impact is visible on how big the sport has become and on the playgrounds where aspiring basketball players test their skills. There are only a handful of players who have left such a profound mark. Hence, when it comes to point guards, the battle will remain between Curry and Magic. All that is left to see is if Steph can earn a unanimous vote against the proud Magic Johnson.