Following Team USA’s triumphant wins on the international hardwood, the debate on who stands as the greatest point guard continues to pick up tension. Stephen Curry, with his 36-point performance against Serbia – without which a game lost – or 4 consecutive 3-pointers in the Finals, has once again made his case. Well, the case might not have been for point guard Richard Jefferson checks.

In a recent discussion on Road Trippin, Kendrick Perkins continues to re-affirm that in his opinion, Stephan Curry is the greatest point guard ever. “On paper, he will go down as the PG. And when I think about Steph, I think about the way that he has changed the game forever.” 

Although he acknowledged Magic Johnson’s greatness, in Perk’s view, Curry’s ability to transform the way the game was played, especially with his shooting and off-ball movement, sets him apart from every other PG. However, Richard Jefferson, who has seen Curry’s greatness first-hand, wasn’t swayed. The former teammate stepped in with a bold counter. “Magic saved the league,” he said, challenging Perkins’ take. But he had a lengthier argument to make his point.

Calling Curry the “greatest shooter ever,” Jefferson drew the line between a shooting guard and a point guard. Clearing that Perk had it mixed up, he continued, “You’re only calling him a point guard purely based off of his size, not versus any point guard skill you have ever seen, ever in your life. He is known as the greatest shooter; he is the greatest shooter by far, by far above everyone that we have ever seen.”

Jefferson presents his arguments stating Curry is a shooting guard who can handle the ball exceptionally well. Something he initially witnessed playing for the Warriors and then again in the Olympics. He says the 4x champion rarely ever initiates the offense, taking him off point guard contention.

Curry is indeed the undisputed king beyond the arc with over 3700 shots. But his rebounds and assists stand at 4.7 and 6.4 assists compared to Magic Johnson’s 7.2 and 11.2 per game.

In the ongoing debates, for Jefferson, it’s not just about analytics. Sure, Curry transformed how the game is played, but Magic? He transformed the whole league.

Richard Jefferson: Magic Johnson is a league changer

Back in the early 1980s, the NBA was struggling to pique the public’s interest—Finals games were even played on tape delay because the demand just wasn’t there. But then came Magic, a 6’9” point guard with a larger-than-life personality, and an infectious charisma that captivated fans. He brought a new level of excitement and style to the game that helped put the NBA on the map.

His charisma and feud with Larry Bird are credited with saving the NBA and making it a global success. “Those two guys -Magic Johnson and Larry Bird- saved the NBA. Really saved the NBA from really going under because at that particular point, it was only maybe 4 teams that were making money out of maybe 22–24 teams in the league. And these two guys came along and they just kinda save the NBA,” Byron Scott attested.

He even went on to add that it was here that players really started earning and thus, one needs to be grateful in the modern NBA. While he contributed to the league, Curry was onto stirring the game.

Steph Curry revolutionized how basketball is played, fundamentally changing attacking tactics by extending the range of the three-point shot. His off-ball movement and shooting ability have made the three-pointer a core part of the modern game. Curry’s legacy lies in reshaping the very way the game is treated and played today, leading the Golden State Warriors to 4 NBA titles.

In the ongoing argument over the best point guard, Richard Jefferson’s perspective shows a deeper distinction: Magic Johnson succeeded and saved the NBA. Steph Curry, succeeded and reshaped. So, who gets the crown? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.