When the primary objective of a sport is to put a ball in a hole 10 feet above the ground, having a height advantage can help. As a result, the NBA has always been a league for big men. Since its inception, Centers and larger-than-life physical freaks have dominated the win columns. However, there are 2 men who changed that notion. One, Stephen Curry, is firmly in the conversation for the best Point Guard of All Time.

The other, though, is sadly lost to time. However, those who remember, know that before Steph ran, there was another man who walked. And, it was this man that a 7-time NBA Champion put into the same conversation as The Chef.

The revolutionary Bad Boy point guard

Prior to Curry revolutionizing the sport, another name changed the complexion of the game, though in a much different way. While big men were the norm to lead teams to the Championship, Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas flipped the whole script. A 6’2″ guard out of Chicago, Zeke was as lethal as he was notorious. While infamously remembered, his basketball brilliance was second to none.

One of the few men who can legitimately claim to have gotten the better of Michael Jordan, Thomas was one of a kind.

Whether it was his unhinged aggression or a miraculous 25-point 4th-quarter on a broken ankle, Isiah did everything necessary to win. In the process, he changed the game for guards to come in the following decades.

Speaking about Zeke’s talent, Los Angeles Lakers great Robert Horry inserted his name into the best Point Guard of All Time conversation.

“How do you define point guard? Because to me you have to put Isiah in that conversation…He could lock you down defensively too. When we talk about good point guards, we talk about both ends. I’ve never heard someone say Steph was a great defender,” claimed Horry.

Read More: Giving an Indirect Nod to Stephen Curry, 3x- All-Star and Former Cleveland Champion Dissect Importance of 3-Pointers

The 7-time NBA Champion continued, “When I look at the game of basketball, I look at both ends. He’s [Steph] the best shooting point guard ever…But, that’s my point. He hardly ever plays the point.”

As another name enters the discussion, the conversation harkens back to the Golden State Warriors superstar’s proclamation a few days ago.

Stephen Curry or Magic Johnson?

When Gilbert Arenas asked Curry about the greatest point guard, Steph took his own name. Further, he acknowledged that the conversation was between him and Lakers legend Magic Johnson.

Both on and off the court, the argument holds merit. While Steph is one shy of the MVP and Championship totals, he’s accumulated a ridiculous resume nonetheless. Moreover, both names have an impact on the sport that far exceeds their individual numbers.

Magic was responsible for reviving interest in the sport and putting it on the map. Meanwhile, Curry has been responsible for the league’s offensive explosion, as well as its shift to the 3-point shot.

While an official answer remains impossible to find, even with MJ pitching in, perhaps another name needs warranting.

Watch This Story: Why Is Stephen Curry Called The Chef?