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Byron Scott picks his one and only NBA comparison to Magic Johnson in the modern era
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- Byron Scott picks his one and only NBA comparison to Magic Johnson in the modern era
Magic Johnson redefined the point guard position. Standing at 6'9", he did not fit the usual template of needing to be a small guy to handle the rock properly.
However, the Hall of Famer possessed never-before-seen playmaking skills, be it the pace at which he played, his ball-handling, or the number of assists he dished out.
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Synonymous with the Showtime era of the Los Angeles Lakers , Johnson spent all his 13 NBA seasons with the Purple and Gold. The architect behind the team's offense, one of his biggest strengths was his ability to involve his teammates in the game and get them to their spots.
Byron Scott saw this firsthand, as he shared the backcourt with Magic. In a recent episode of his podcast, Scott opened up about the run-and-gun system and how Johnson was freelancing the key to success on that roster.
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"I think every opportunity that he (Magic) got to kind of go off script of things, that were supposed to be playing because of the way that opponents played us,was probably 75 percent of the time," described Scott as he went into more detail.
"As great a coach as Pat Riley was … Magic, I still say to this day, the greatest point guard I've ever seen. He saw the game in different phrases and he was able to pick apart all that. And the game to him and I think for most great players, is always slowed down," Scott explained.
Though there will never be another Magic, we have seen some glimpses of him in modern-day players like LeBron James and Luka Doncic . But for Byron, only one player fit the bill.
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The Joker is the best Magic Johnson iteration
It is almost impossible to argue Nikola Jokic 's greatness as a player. The Denver Nuggets center is a rare combination of size and skill, unlike anything we've ever seen. He can effortlessly switch between playing center and point guard on the court.
Currently ranking Top 3 in all-time triple-doubles, it's only a matter of time before he surpasses Russell Westbrook for the top spot. Recently, when addressing comparisons to Magic, former teammate Byron Scott felt only The Joker could make a valid case.
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"The closest to him (Magic) to me right now is the Joker. The Joker is a guy that controls the pace. You know, the guys that play with him (Jokic) understand that he is more than willing to make them better and to help them. So I think he is the closest that I've seen. I'm not going by position, just the way his knowledge of the game and the way that he sees the game," added Scott, acknowledging the term point center.
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Jokic started as a point guard
Looking at the way he approaches the game, it is not hard to imagine that The Joker initially played point guard. The three-time MVP once revealed how starting out as a PG helped him .
"That's the spot where you learn to really dribble the ball, control the ball, and control the game. Just to put your teammates in the right spot and talk and work with them. I think that learning is what built the passing skills that I have.When I was learning as a point guard, I was passing a lot", said Jokic during his sophomore year in the league.
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Currently, averaging 29.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 10.5 assists on 60.4/44.5/84.7 shooting splits, Jokic seems to be in a league of his own. There is almost nothing that he cannot do, especially on the offensive side. Hence, in terms of versatility, the Serbian big man could be a modern-day Magic.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
