NBA Power Rankings: 30 Greatest Point Guards of All-Time
By Shane Young
1988 – 2005
Franchises: New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets
Career totals: 14,463 points, 7,987 assists, 4,084 rebounds, 1,616 steals, 2,862 turnovers
Career averages: 13.2 points, 7.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 2.6 turnovers
Shooting: 45.4 percent field goals, 28.2 3-pointers, 72.1 percent free throws
Accolades: 1x NBA assists leader, All-NBA Second Team, All-Rookie Second Team
This man was never selected as an all-star in the NBA, and it was unacceptable. Strickland was widely criticized for his words after not making the all-star game in the late 1990’s, saying that he wouldn’t play the following year if he was ever selected. He didn’t get a chance to sit out.
For someone that is still in the top 10 in career assists, Strickland doesn’t get the respect he deserves. It’s probably due to his tenure with nine different franchises, which was entirely too many. He’s suited up for 30 percent of the current teams in the league. 30 percent.
Strickland was most known for his fearless rim-attacking, always wanting to absorb the contact and finish the play with a tough layup. He would transform it into a reverse finish if he needed, or just take the hit and get the shot up over the defender. He got to the line just 4.4 times per game, and you would have liked him to play more to his strengths.
He was also famous for his flashiness with his passes. Strickland could ignite a fastbreak with a wild behind-the-back pass to the outlet guy, or throw no-looks like it was just natural. However, that did cost him in a crucial Game 7 of the West semifinals, against the Trail Blazers. He tried one of his no-look passes and caused a turnover, which ultimately set up the disaster that cost San Antonio a title shot.
Nonetheless, he wouldn’t have been traded to the Spurs at first if it wasn’t for Mark Jackson already being the primary point guard in New York. The two positions were overlapping, and they didn’t want to step on each other’s toes.
Next: Speaking of Jackson ....