HOFer Isiah Thomas reveals 3 key reasons Magic Johnson reigns as the greatest passer of all time
Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson are two of the best point guards in NBA history. “Zeke” led his Detroit Pistons to two championships while “Junior” won it five times with the Los Angeles Lakers. The two went 1-1 against each other in the NBA Finals.
The 6-foot-1 Thomas dazzled with his ball-handling skills and was a clutch shooter. Although diminutive, he could be the biggest player on the court with his impact. Detroit needed him to win the championships in 1989 and 1990.
As great as Isiah Thomas was, he considers Magic Johnson as the best passer in NBA history. The “Bad Boys” icon responded to a tweet on X/Twitter when asked to rank the best passers in league annals. He highlighted Johnson's height, creativity and imagination as three reasons why he is the best passer in league history.
“Dani, @MagicJohnson is the best passer ever because of his height, creativity, and imagination. He invented the no-look pass, I invented the bounce pass lob for smaller players. #creativity #imagination When you introduce the never-been-done unthinkable that's the differentiator.”
The 6-foot-9 LA Lakers legend revolutionized the point guard position. He pushed pace like there was tomorrow and handed out assists with aplomb. The “Showtime Lakers” got its name because of their run-and-gun style behind Johnson. Players such as LeBron James and Penny Hardaway, who used size and vision to orchestrate plays, took their cue from the Hall of Famer.
Isiah Thomas has his followers, too. Some of the NBA’s best point guards, even if undersized, often credit the Pistons legend for paving the path for them. “Zeke” led the league in assists with 13.9 apg during the 1984-85 season, the third-best average in a single season.
Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson faced off twice in NBA Finals
Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas squared off in 1988 and 1989 for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Johnson won the first time, winning MVP in the championship series as well. Thomas got his after Johnson’s last title in the NBA.
In 1988, the Lakers won the championship in a seven-game series. Thomas, though, had the signature game, dropping 25 points in the third quarter in Game 6 despite a twisted ankle. Many fans considered the “Phantom Foul” on Bill Laimbeer against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the turning point of the series.
Magic Johnson averaged 21.1 points, 13.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game in the series. Isiah Thomas was just as impressive, putting up 19.7 ppg, 9.0 apg, 4.4 rpg and 2.9 spg.
The following year, Thomas and the Detroit Pistons got their revenge, sweeping the LA Lakers to the championship. Joe Dumars won the NBA Finals MVP but “Zeke” was just as instrumental in the Pistons’ title romp. Thomas averaged 21.3 ppg, 7.3 apg, 2.5 rpg and 1.5 spg.