Steve Nash vs. John Stockton- whose the better player?

[will2survive]

I always would've said John Stockton but Steve Nash's court awareness,outside shot,and pure work ethic make my answer easy.

Steve Nash(the man outworks and outsmarts everyone)

[tealish]

pure work ethic? that's an argument against John Freaking Stockton?

[teaserpleaser]

i'd take Nash but stockton was the man

[jjgold]

Nash

More explosive

Game changer

[KiDBaZkiT]

Is this a joke? Do your research. Stockton was able to take his team to the NBA finals twice, hold the assist record that will never be broken. He also has the individual steals record, something Nash will never even sniff either. They are comparable on offense but John was three times the defender. John Stockton all day long.

[KiDBaZkiT]

And if you want to talk about outside shots, just ask Charles Bakley about stockton hitting a game winning 3 at the buzzer in his grill in Houston to send the Jazz to the NBA finals. One of t my favorite shots of all time.

[redbull]

stockton. no doubt. defence, dirty defence , pass , shoot , loyalty.
nash only win ,the style he pass. stockton convensional but deadly.

[jureslo]

Stockton was better, i think.

[TheChancellor]

Not to sound like a smart-ass here, but this topic shouldn't even be up for debate, IMO. There's two reasons why.

1. Nash had his strongest statistical seasons and MVP seasons immediately after the hand-check rule was changed. There was a considerable spike in scoring, most notably for perimeter players. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Nash shouldn't have won MVP those two years, but the fact remains that Stockton was playing in an era where guards had a much more difficult time getting to the rim. You take Nash's averages prior to the rule change and you're looking at very similar stats. Except for...

2. Steals. And this is why Stockton gets my vote. Nash is considered one of the worst defensive point guards in the league. Neither Stockton or Nash were great "on-the-ball" defenders, but Stockton had a knack for getting in the passing lanes. This is primarily why I consider Stockton to be the better point guard. He was a factor on the defensive end, whereas Nash is a liability.

I'd gladly take a few less points and a couple less assists a game if it meant better defense.

[Scorpion]

Stocktons D was better

[richyrich8478]

loved stockton but steve nash is a better all around player in my opinion...stockton had better talent around him

[Dark Horse]

Nash. Not close.

He changed NBA basketball. And I've seen the vast majority of Suns games in his Phoenix era. The guy is insanely creative.

[tealish]

Nash. Not close. He changed NBA basketball. And I've seen the vast majority of Suns games in his Phoenix era.

I cannot respect this. You can pick Nash, but not close? Nope, that is one opinion you are not entitled to.

[Dark Horse]

lol

Have to offset all those Stocktonians here.

But I do mean it. Stockton was good enough. But Nash represents a whole new brand of basketball.

Look at the copy cats around the league, trying to play like the Suns.

Plus Nash makes everybody around him better. Look at the contracts he earned players that have left the Suns. Joe Johnson got a max contract. Shaun Marion wanted a max contract, but didn't get it. Where is he now?! Just a role player... Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, Tim Thomas, all peaked with the Suns and disappeared back into mediocrity afterwards. The list goes on and on.

Nash is like a f*cking Picasso. A rare creator that makes something out of nothing wherever he goes. By comparison, Stockton is a boring, although very capable ... file clerk. Just ask 'the postman'.

[ttwarrior1]

stockton, nash wasnt' even a hall of famer until this season

[UntilTheNDofTimE]

Stockton....

Key point " hip check"

[Shark79]

I'll stick with Stockton

[redbull]

if u like creativity , go to harlem globator.

[tealish]

nash makes everybody around him better. Look at the contracts he earned players that have left the Suns. Joe Johnson got a max contract. Shaun Marion wanted a max contract, but didn't get it. Where is he now?! Just a role player... Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, Tim Thomas, all peaked with the Suns and disappeared back into mediocrity afterwards.

You cannot have it both ways. You say Nash makes guys better, that their peak was with Phoenix. But then you list Joe Johnson, a guy who became a star/franchise player in ATL as someone who "Nash helped earn a max contract".
No, man. You can't have it both ways.

Also, don't forget the system in which they play in is a huge factor in stat inflation. Bottom line, on offense Stockton had Malone and they played the 2 man game better than anyone. Nash runs the offense brilliantly in a different way and now with Amare, a similar 2 man game as well. Both are a coach's dream to run the point.

Now, let's look at defense. I don't have to go any further.

[TheChancellor]

lol

Have to offset all those Stocktonians here.

But I do mean it. Stockton was good enough. But Nash represents a whole new brand of basketball.

Look at the copy cats around the league, trying to play like the Suns.

Plus Nash makes everybody around him better. Look at the contracts he earned players that have left the Suns. Joe Johnson got a max contract. Shaun Marion wanted a max contract, but didn't get it. Where is he now?! Just a role player... Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, Tim Thomas, all peaked with the Suns and disappeared back into mediocrity afterwards. The list goes on and on.

Nash is like a f*cking Picasso. A rare creator that makes something out of nothing wherever he goes. By comparison, Stockton is a boring, although very capable ... file clerk. Just ask 'the postman'.

It's amazing how stupid people can look when they're trying to engage in a discussion. Based off that ONE post, I can already tell that you don't know shit about basketball.

1. You talk about teams trying to copy the Suns style of play, but has it ever won a team a championship? No. If you look at the teams that have won championships in the past decade, ALL of them played half-court ball. You're bragging about an offense that has only proven to bring teams over the 50+ win mark in a regular season. That's it.

2. Nash makes people around him better, yes. But what good point guard doesn't? Stupid point to make.

3. Nash didn't earn ANYBODY a max contract. Joe Johnson was, simply put, a talented player. And he proved that after leaving Phoenix. Shawn Marion didn't get a max contract because he's not a good basketball player. He flourished in an offense that worked for HIM, and so did every other player that played for Phoenix. ANYONE can play well in a high-paced offense. Take the Knicks for example. As soon as D'antoni became coach, players starting having career years. It's the offense that should be credited with making players better, not Nash.

4. Stop riding Nash's d**k. He can't play defense. Stockton could. Enough said.

[Rixsaw]

..... But Nash represents a whole new brand of basketball. Look at the copy cats around the league, trying to play like the Suns......

And what brand is that? The Globe Trotter brand? Or the "Run and Gun, and NO DEFENSE" brand? Name a team beside the New York that is copying this brand of basketball? Only moron believe that you don't need defense to win championships.

Nash is an awesome shooter, I'll give him that. But compare to John Stockton? Show me some stats that said Nash is better.

[Dark Horse]

Anyway, I'm lucky to have seen these Suns almost every time. You people acting like Suns experts. Just how many games have you seen them play? I'm asking because it's always the same tagline and charicature, without any knowledge of this team. "They don't play defense"? Go ask the Spurs about that one.

[bigdaddyjames]

i will take Nash and he is a hell of a good player to be as short as he is ...... Nash all the way ....

[thezbar]

Nash in a photo

[philswin]

Nash slightly better - One of the few point guards who can create his own shot

[zigomanisinsider]

nash d so good fisher scored 22 pts last night

[will2survive]

Stockton had Karl Malone---- Nash has Amare Stoudimaire-------- Nash has MVP Awards

who would you rather dish the ball to?What scorer would benefit you more and Nash is still better

[yahoonino]

steve nash ,,by a mile

[Mikail]

Steve Nash. It is a pleasure to watch this guy ball. Nothing against John Stockton but Nash is a cut above.

[Team Ramrod]

this is a good one but I have to go with Stockton.

[antifoil]

nash because stockton wore shorts so short you could see his balls

[LT Profits]

Nash offensively, Stockton defensively

I think the edge Nash has offensively isn't as gaping as the edge Stockton has defensively, so the better all around player is.........Stockton.

[tanner40]

Nash is overrated his MVP's are a joke

[capper123]

i think nash he can hit shots alot better thaN STOCKTON PLUS KARL MALONE. nash never had a karl malone to go to. slight edge to nash but stockton was great and could dish the ball well!

[ttwarrior1]

stockton only had malone, nash had dirk , j richardson, hell stockton never even had that.