NBA: 12 players whose skills ideally match today’s uptempo play style

Magic Johnson, Guard/Forward (1979-1991, 1995-1996)

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Career best stat line: 23.9 points, 12.2 assists, 52% FG (1986-87)

Whether today’s coaches had come up with the decision to make him a power forward or allowed him to stay at the guard position, like in his Michigan State days, Magic’s transcendent court vision would have always remained the same.

In the 1984-85 season, Magic averaged 12.6 assists and then increased those numbers to 15.2, when playoff time came. Given the amount of spacing there is in this era, as well as a frequent fast-paced offense (a play style the Showtime Lakers thrived in), Magic’s large assist numbers likely would have been amplified to an even larger extent today.

Magic is already one of the all-time great players in the NBA and was ahead of his team when he played in the league, but there’s no question that he would fit right in with today’s pace-and-space game.