Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash, Better Than Stockton, Kidd? Best Since Magic Johnson?

Phoenix Suns' point guard Steve Nash has long been the subject of differing opinions. Some say he is one of the best to never win it all, while others simply credit an offensive system for his hefty on court resume.

But it’s funny what you find sometimes when you go rummaging through your closet. That’s what I was doing a few days ago when I was almost instantly inspired to write what you are reading now.

As I sifted through the collection of basketball jerseys, mini helmets and pee-wee soccer trophies, I stumbled upon an old issue of SLAM Magazine, which I had only saved because of the athlete who graced the cover, Steve Nash.

Nash’s “Sun-N-Fun” Suns had hijacked my imagination in the Spring of 2005, and this, then 15-year-old college basketball fan, quickly became obsessed with everything the short, white, long-haired point guard was doing on the NBA hardwood.

You see, six years ago, shortly after Nash’s round ball resurgence with the Phoenix Suns during the 2004-2005 season, the greatest Canadian basketball player of all-time did an interview with SLAM.

The interview, accompanied with a short article by SLAM editor Lang Whitaker, gave some substance to the question of, then recently crowned league MVP, Nash possibly being better than Utah legend John Stockton and triple-double mastermind Jason Kidd at the point guard position.

In no way was Whitaker pronouncing Nash as the greatest floor general of all-time, but in fact announcing Nash’s arrival into an elite group of ballers.

The cover featured Nash surrounded by a plethora of provoking questions such as "Better Than Stockton?" and "Best Since Magic?"

Whitaker was quick to defend his high praise for Nash however, claiming "No, he can’t touch Stockton’s 10-year stretch of at least 14 and 10 per - but then again, Stockton never averaged 30, 12 and 7 over the course of the conference semi-finals, as Nash did against the Mavs in May [2005]."

As for Kidd, Whitaker delivered the following argument. "He’s got none of Kidd’s triple-double tendencies, but compare their shooting and turnover numbers, and it’s hard to argue that Nash isn’t more efficient."

Whitaker went on to wrap up SLAM Magazine’s cover defense with the following sentence. "True, Stockton and Kidd have played in the Finals, but neither of them ever won MVP."

Nash has since gone on to experience consistent success as an elite NBA point guard, winning the Maurice Podoloff Trophy again in 2005-2006, joining a nearly-untouchable group of players to win the award at least twice (Bob Pettit, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan and LeBron James).

Fast forward half a decade later to 2011, where at 37 years of age and with 15 years of NBA basketball to his name, Nash has more than made the case for himself as the best court magician since Earvin "Magic" Johnson; despite never having made an NBA Finals appearance.

As for the Magic talk, in that same November 2005 feature, after breaking one of Johnson’s regular season assist records, a humble 31-year-old Steve Nash downplayed the comparisons to L.A.’s three-time Finals MVP . "It’s kind of embarrassing…to be mentioned with him is an honor. But by no stretch am I Magic."

Though few would disagree with Nash’s comments, many have to believe that Nash is now worthy of the prior comparisons.

Currently, Nash (9,252) sits just two spots behind Magic (10,141), who is fourth, on the NBA’s All-Time Assists list. If Nash plays at least two more seasons in the league, he will no doubt be on pace to pass "The Big O" Oscar Robertson (fifth), Magic and Mark Jackson (third).

Forget about Nash’s postseason heartbreak (most playoff games, 118, without a Finals appearance), how can anyone scoff at a guy who is third all-time in NBA assists, a two-time MVP, a seven-time NBA All-Star and a three-time NBA First-Teamer?

I for one, can accept that a little white kid, born in South Africa, and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, was able to make the most of a scholarship to Santa Clara, eventually becoming a first-round draft pick, and then successfully recreating Magic’s famous "Showtime" basketball better than anyone since.

All along proving himself as one of the game’s most selfless engineers, considering his historically-great shooting achievements (eighth best 3-point shooting percentage all-time, 42.9%, and best free throw shooting percentage all-time, 90.4%)

Today, Nash and Johnson (three-time winner) are still the only two point guards in league history to have won the regular season MVP award at least twice in their career.

But if you have yet to have your doubts erased that Nash not only belongs in the same all-time great discussion as Magic, but remains the closest thing to the imaginative, facilitating floor general that Magic was, then check out this quote from the Phoenix mainstay from that same SLAM interview.

"I’m a pretty unique MVP. I’m not necessarily dominating the game the way most MVPs do. I think it’s good for kids and good for the game that the MVP was awarded to someone who won it in a team setting."

Classic Magic.

Patrick Clarke is a Featured Columnist for the Phoenix Suns. Follow on Twitter @_Pat_Clarke