When it comes to basketball, most supporters reserve their fanfare for the players who are able to make the biggest dunks, and for good reason. There’s no greater sight in the sport than a giant of a player flying through the air and smashing down a bucket with both aggressive power and an athletic grace. It’s why the players that are most popular will forever be a Kobe Bryant type.
Yet one thing that these fans should remember is that the dunking superstars need someone to pass them the ball, and the more times they can get passed the ball, the more likely their team is to win. So it’s about time we show the players who were able to constantly and consistently dish out the ball some love. Here then is a quick rundown of some of basketball’s greatest passers of the ball.
Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson
This player didn’t just pass the ball, he made passing the ball a work of art. In fact, Earvin Johnson made it look so majestic, that this wizard of the ball earned the nickname ‘Magic’. The way he moved the ball around the court made him one of the most popular basketball players in his era.
He had a spectacular basketball IQ that made him the first to see anything, and always the first to react to it. He’s the only player in NBA history to average more than 11 assists per game and he also had a way to make it look incredible. No wonder then that the Los Angeles Lakers when he played for them from 1979-1991were called the ‘Showtime’. Johnson also managed to win 5 NBA Championships with them. Showtime indeed.
Steve Nash
Steve Nash was a basketball player like no other. He grew up in Canada with an English father who had played soccer at a professional level, and this was the sport the young Nash was most obsessed with. That all changed though, as at age 12 Nash started to fall in love with basketball. We’re sure glad he did, because he is one of the most entertaining passers of the ball to ever step onto the court.
It’s clear that his love of soccer carried over into his basketball, as he never held onto the ball for long, and was always looking to set up one of his teammates. This two-time MVP was so unselfish, that one of his old coaches threatened to fine him if he didn’t take more shots during a game.
If his old team, the Phoenix Suns, were lucky enough to have him back at point-guard, they’d easily have odds even lower than the 8/1 that they are to win the NBA Championship. If you did want to take a punt on the best basketball betting sites, then ArabianBetting has you covered. They’ve searched far and wide to bring you the top basketball betting sites in the Middle East and North Africa. Plus, they’ll provide you with all the information you need to help make your decision, including generous sign-up deals and betting tips. So you’ll have the best shot at hopefully being a winner.
John Stockton
A true throwback to another era, John Stockton’s career peaked during the flashiness of the 90’s, but he calmly went about his business in a reserved old-school style. Yet just because he was old-school, didn’t make him nice for opposing players to face off with, with ex Chicago Bulls player Steve Kerr naming him recently as one of the dirtiest players he played against.
He played for nearly two decades for the Utah Jazz and teamed up with dominating power-forward Karl Malone to form the most productive passing and scoring partnership in NBA history. He also managed to become the league’s all-time assist leader with a staggering 15,806. Unfortunately, his Jazz team met Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls twice in the finals, so they were never able to win the Championship. Yet, he helped make Utah Jazz one of the best teams in the division and was an All-Star 10 times.
It’s no wonder then that they loved him in Utah so much that they retired his number 12 jersey when his basketball career came to an end in 2003. They also built a bronze statue of him and Malone to go outside their arena, and named the road that the arena stands on John Stockton Drive. A true old-school hero.