When it comes to the greatest point guards in NBA history, one man is generally considered as the undisputed number one: Magic Johnson. The man who led the Los Angeles Lakers to multiple titles during the 1980s had everything you could possibly want from a lead guard, combining his unique height, passing skills and vision to help facilitate for one of the best teams of all-time.
But despite how great he was, Johnson also faced some significant challenges across his NBA career, with multiple players doing their best to try and slow him down. From his legendary battles with the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons, to having to deal with a Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls, Magic had some tough assignments.
Johnson named the five players who defended him the best, and although he included Jordan on his list, he didn’t give the Bulls legend the number one spot.
Below are who Magic picked, including further quotes from the man himself on the respective players he chose.
Michael Jordan
Unsurprisingly, Magic Johnson did include Michael Jordan as one of his hardest assignments in his career. The man who many consider to be the greatest of all-time, battled against Magic and his Los Angeles Lakers predominantly during the 1980s, where Jordan and the Bulls weren’t at their peak and still gaining play-off experience.
Nevertheless, Jordan’s relentless work ethic and defensive IQ stood out, and though he couldn’t match Magic from a size point of view, his hustle and ability to use his hands in the passing lanes made him a nightmare to get past.
His strength is like a big man. He’s the strongest guard, I’m talking body-wise, to ever play.
Scottie Pippen
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One of the greatest defenders in NBA history, Scottie Pippen’s size and defensive IQ made him a perennial member of the All-Defensive First Team during his career in the league. The Bulls star’s ability to genuinely defend one through five made him one of the toughest propositions in the NBA, showcasing lateral quickness to defend smaller point guards, and the strength to deal with towering centers.
While Pippen would never win the Defensive Player of the Year award outright, he was recognised for his defensive efforts by being named to the All-Defensive First Team for eight years in a row from between 1992-1999 – not to mention that in 1991 and 2000 he was named to the All-Defensive Second Team too.
Speaking after the Lakers were trounced in Game 2 of the 1991 NBA Finals, Magic paid his dues to Pippen and the way he defended him in the game.
Pippen did a great job on me. Once Michael got into early foul trouble, you had to expect they would make that switch. They were trying wear me out or take the ball out of my hands, take your pick. Scottie is more physical than Michael so the matchup was a little different.
Nate McMillan
Perhaps surprisingly, Nate McMillan makes it onto this list of the toughest defenders Magic Johnson ever faced in the NBA. Given his more prominent role as a head coach in recent – most notably at the Atlanta Hawks – newer NBA fans may have forgotten that McMillan was a tough and rugged defender who embraced the physical side of things really well.
McMillan spent his entire playing career with the Seattle SuperSonics, where the 6 foot 5 guard teamed up with the likes of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp to form a side that prided itself on its defensive hustle. McMillan would twice make the All-Defensive Second team in back-to-back years in 1994 and 1995, while he also led the league in steals in 94. It was no surprise that his no.10 jersey was eventually retired by the Sonics.
Joe Dumars
Johnson talked about how Dumars, along with his Pistons backcourt partner of Isiah Thomas played physical with Johnson and weren’t scared to leave their mark on him to try and stop him in his tracks. Dumars was a defensive bulldog who was an elite lockdown defender on the wing, combining his high IQ and physical gifts to make it a nightmare for opposition guards.
Indeed, not only did Magic Johnson praise Dumars for his defensive work, but even the legendary Michael Jordan named the Pistons legend as his hardest ever defender. A four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team, Dumars and Thomas formed one of the greatest backcourts in NBA history. The Pistons were such a test that even Johnson has spoken publicly about their greatness.
I say this to Isiah, his ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons, I don’t think there has ever been a more physical team than them. They imposed their will on you, right, they beat you up, man, and if you flinched, it was over for you. They would be physical, and then they had that three-headed monster in Isiah, Joe Dumars, and Vinnie Johnson, you couldn’t do nothing with them.
Dennis Johnson
Now onto the man who Magic Johnson outright said was the hardest defender he ever faced in the NBA, Dennis Johnson. A legend of the Boston Celtics – the point guard spent 1983-1990 there – Johnson would win three NBA titles as he helped battle Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the greatest rivalries in NBA history.
Despite standing at 6 foot 4 and giving up a few inches in height to Magic, DJ battled harder than anyone, and made a reputation as being one of the best defensive stoppers in the game at that time. All in all, he made the All-Defensive First Team on six occasions as well as making the All-Defensive Second Team for three years in a row between 1984 and 1986.
Speaking at DJ’s Hall of Fame induction in 2010, Magic paid the ultimate tribute to the former Celtics guard.
As far as I’m concerned, D.J. was the greatest defensive player I’ve ever played against. D.J. was one of the smartest men to ever play basketball. He kept you off balance. He kept you thinking. You didn’t know what he was going to do, and that’s what made me so mad playing against him because I could never make a mistake because he was already anticipating my move before I made my move.
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