A simple “Mount Rushmore” debate quickly turned into a clash of philosophies when Reggie Miller and Shaquille O’Neal were asked to name the greatest point guards under six-foot-three on the Rushmore Podcast.
Miller wasted no time locking in his core three, Stephen Curry, Isiah Thomas, and Allen Iverson, before facing the toughest decision for the final spot.
“There is no number one, but Stephen Curry, that’s easy to say. Isiah Thomas, no brainer. Allen Iverson, no brainer. Even though he’s not a point guard, but you said 6’3″ and under,” Miller said. “This is where it gets tricky…My fourth is either between Kyrie, Steve Nash, CP3, John Stockton, or Damian Lillard… I’m going with Kyrie.”
O’Neal went in a completely different direction, selecting his former teammate Jason Williams, a choice rooted more in style and flair than résumé.
Miller immediately challenged the decision with a hypothetical that framed the debate perfectly.
“My criteria for this was if we’re lining up on the playground and we have all the point guards in front of us, so Shaq, you got White Chocolate, Jason Williams right there, and you have Kyrie Irving right next to him, the last two,” Miller asked. “You’re telling me that you’re going with White Chocolate over Kyrie?”
Shaq didn’t hesitate.
“All day, every day. White Chocolate,” Shaq replied. “I ain’t worry about defense. Defense does not win championships, scoring does.”
At the center of the debate is Kyrie Irving, a player widely regarded as one of the most skilled ball-handlers the game has ever seen. Even Irving himself has acknowledged the influence of players like Williams on his development.
Williams, in turn, has shown nothing but respect for Kyrie’s game.
“He’s the top as it gets for me,” Williams said. “He’s the best ball-handler ever, just because I think that not only can he handle the thing, but he can get through cracks and crevices like no other and spin, and then puts him above everybody, and boy, he could finish at the rim with either hand. I don’t think we’ll ever see that again, not in our lifetime.”
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