Tag Archives: best point guards in NBA history

H2H 106: Tiny Archibald vs. Walt Frazier – Who was Better?

Though the NBA in the 1970s may not have had the transcendent superstar power and great rivalries of the decades directly before and afterwards (Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell in the 1960s, Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson in the 1980s), and faced a legitimate competitive threat in the upstart American Basketball Association (ABA), it was nevertheless a high-flying era with no shortage of legendary players.  At the point guard position, two flashy floor generals who stood out during this time were Nate “Tiny” Archibald and Walt “Clyde” Frazier – one was a dynamic playmaker and explosive scoring threat in his prime, while the other was an early prototype “big” point guard who was as colorful off the court as on it.  Both Hall of Famers, let us reminisce on this pair of brilliant 1970s point guards and pose the question:

Who was better – Tiny Archibald or Walt Frazier?

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H2H 49: John Stockton vs. Isiah Thomas – Who was Better?

Though they may often be the smallest players on the court, great point guards can control the flow and have an outsized impact on the outcome of a basketball game.  Along these lines, during the 1980s and 1990s, the diminutive floor generals John Stockton and Isiah Thomas each stood only a shade above six feet tall and weighed barely 170 to 180 pounds, yet were among the biggest and brightest stars in the Association; while the former was more of a pass-first point guard and the latter was a more dynamic scorer, each led their respective teams to unprecedented success.  As we look back on this rugged era of NBA play and compare and contrast the careers of both players, we ask the question:

Who was better – John Stockton or Isiah Thomas?

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H2H 18: Jason Kidd vs. Steve Nash – Who was Better?

As the so-called “floor general” of the team, a point guard’s primary responsibility is to make the offense flow and to create opportunities for scoring, whether it  be for teammates or himself. Throughout the history of the NBA, there have been many great point guards who have helped guide their teams to success and championships, whether it be Bob Cousy of the Celtics, Magic Johnson of the Lakers, Isiah Thomas of the Pistons, Steph Curry of the Warriors, etc.  The recent 2018 Basketball Hall of Fame class included two of the most dynamic point guards of the 2000s in Jason Kidd and Steve Nash. During careers that overlapped as both teammates and opponents, the duo were usually at or near the top of the assists leaderboard each season and helped revitalize a few moribund franchises, which begs the question:

Who was better – Jason Kidd or Steve Nash?

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