Austin Kent

Like I said I have only seen one game of Isaih and that was on an old tape I borrowed from my coach so I can't go as far as to say who was better in detail (they don't televise much Jazz games) Think of it this way...one player plays great for 10 years, one player plays great for 17 years (well 15). Who would you want to have on your team in there rookies seasons if you knew the contents of the future? That's all I can bring to the table in this discussion though.

jvanbusk

But, that really isn't the point. The point is who was the better player. The better player was Isiah Thomas.

What can I liken this too....

Wilt Chamberlain played 14 or 15 years and was awesome. Kareem Abdul -Jabbar played 20+ years and his career numbers were higher than Chamberlains. Kareem was a great player, but he was not as great as Wilt Chamberlain.

Austin Kent

That's true but in hindsight I would have rather had Stockton because he put up and helped a team longer.

jvanbusk

I still think you are missing the point, though.

It's not a point of who youd rather have (in this case because of longetivity), its a point of who was a better player.

Ducket

i think the real question is, how in god's green earth did stockton get the nod over zeke for the dream team???

jvanbusk

Ask Michael and Scottie.

DetBNyce

He helped a team for longer like you said, but what did he help them to? A couple finals appearances, some wins. But Zeke in those years he played he helped his team to two Championships.

Austin Kent

Yea, that is what is what stops me from saying Stockton was better. Thomas seems to me like quite a leader and motivator, I think that is why soooo many people like him.

DetBNyce

Yea, it's kind of like how some people see Allen Iverson today. You look at him and see this 6' guy doing these things on the court and you wonder how in the hell did he do that?

BEEWILL

Isaiah was a nerd Stock was a thug

Baroo

Stockton leads the league in assists because Magic got HIV, Isiah got hurt, and Stockton never had the balls to shoot. Plain and simple. Stockton trailed both of them by a wide margin for most of his career.

BTW, Zeek could pass better than Stockton imo. I still remember him sending a 1/2 court bounce pass alley-oop to Terry Mills. Unbelievable play.

Basically my vote is Isiah in a heartbeat. The man has won at every level.

Austin Kent

I am not the best basketball player in the world because I am not 7 feet tall, I don't have beast strength, I am not the fastest player or best shooter. I can't dribble better then everyone or pass. If it wasn't for that I would be...



You can't downplay Stockton's ability because Isaih got hurt and Magic got HIV, you just can't and for those of you who have just chimed into this thread please note that I have not once said Stockton was better, nor Thomas I am just being the devils advocate to all these Pistons fans that have been fans since the bad baoy days, at that time I was a Ninja Turtle fan and only knew three players (MJ, Magic and Bird)

Baroo

While I'm not sure what that has to do with anything discussed here, I didn't "downplay" Stockton's ability at all. He was a fine player (even the night Zeek lit him up for 40 in Utah).

I've been a fan all my life, not just since the Bad Boys and I've watched both players play their entire career. This is why I posted what I posted about Stockton and the fact that he'd still be chasing both Magic and Zeek on the all-time list.

BTW, if you're going to talk about Isiah, atleast spell his name right. It might give you a little more credibility.

AdamF77

Eh, looks like you declared Stockton the better player there to me. Maybe that wasn't you typing?

jvanbusk

Looks like he has you there KABI,