New York’s Finest – Steph vs. Kenny
Photo. Jess PeppermanLast Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, two of greatest high school players of all-time squared off when Stephon Marbury‘s Knicks beat Sebastian Telfair‘s Wolves. Steph got the better of his younger cousin and fellow Lincoln H.S. (Brooklyn) alum in a New York win, giving him 17 points and 7 dimes, while Bassy went for 9 points and 7 dimes.
Watching that matchup got me to thinking about where those two rank in the annals of NYC ball. Everyone knows that New York City is the mecca of basketball. NYC has always producted some of the most talented players to ever touch a ball, from streetball legends to NBA Hall of Famers. New York City ballers are known for their flashy, in-your-face, “I’ma try and give you 50″ style of play. And NYC point guards have always been the main attraction, streetball or organized.
Us New Yorkers always rep our own, but it’s tough to pick just one when we’ve produced so many talented players. But the two names that come up the most when debating NYC point guards are those of Marbury and Kenny Anderson. They are arguably the two best players period to come out of the city, but there can only be one King of NY, right?
Both Kenny and Steph were phenoms in high school, both went on to star at Georgia Tech, and while both hit All-Star status as pros — depending on who you ask — neither lived up to the hype/potential surrounding them as teenagers.
Mr. Kenny Anderson was the Queens poster boy at Archbishop Malloy High School. He set the New York state career scoring record with 2,621 points, which was later broken by Telfair. But I should add that for a whole year at Malloy, Kenny sat out the first quarter of every game. Imagine if he had played all four quarters? Would Bassy have broken that record? Named New York’s Mr. Basketball, a McDonald’s All-American and the first player to be named All-City four times, KA was a legend before he enrolled at Georgia Tech.
He was simply unguardable, a lighting-quick lefty whose handle was matched by very few — just ask Bobby Hurley. Kenny took the Yellow Jackets to the Final Four as a sophomore with the help of Dennis Scott and Brian Oliver. Kenny was a unanimous first team All-American that year, putting up 25.9 points, 5.6 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game. He left early for the NBA, being picked #2 overall by the Nets in the 1991 Draft.
Over a 14-year pro career he made one All-Star team, and had his best run with the early-’90s Nets, averaging 18.8 points, 9.6 assists and 1.9 steals in ’94. He bounced around the League and became a bit injury-prone, and made one deep playoff run as the Celtics’ starting PG in 2002. His career numbers are solid — 12.6 points, 6.1 assists, 3.1 boards and 1.5 steals per game.
What impressed me the most about KA was the fact that he would kill you even when he wasn’t scoring. Kenny was lightning on the court and him being a lefty didn’t make it any easier for the defender. Kenny played with a swagger that was simply amazing. He was a flashy passer, but would give you buckets if he ever felt the need to score.
Steph, a.k.a. “Starbury,” is a Coney Island dude. He was a scoring machine at Lincoln H.S., giving you buckets while playing an intimidating game. He was a state champion and McDonald’s All-American in ’95, the same year as Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter and Paul Pierce. He didn’t put up the same numbers as Kenny or even Bassy in high school, but he was just as effective.
Photo. Jonathan MannionLike Kenny, Steph also went to Georgia Tech after high school. He played just one season there, picking up a third team All-American nod, ACC Rookie of the Year, all-conference first team, and he helped Tech beat Tim Duncan‘s Wake Forest squad for the ACC ‘chip. In the NCAA Tournament, Steph took the Yellow Jackets to the regional semis, where they lost to Cincinnati. For the year he averaged 18.9 points, 4.5 assists, 3.1 boards and 1.8 steals.
Steph was picked 4th overall in the ’96 Draft (arguably the NBA’s greatest Draft class ever along with Iverson, Kobe, Steve Nash, Ray Allen and others), and as a pro has definitely had more success than Kenny Anderson. Going into his 12th year in the League, he’s averaged 19.9 points and 7.9 assists for his career — just under the 20 and 8 mark that only Oscar Robertson has achieved over an entire career. He’s made two All-Star teams and two All-NBA third teams. He regular finishes among the League’s Top 10 in assists. He’s also played for a handful of teams, but hasn’t been past the first round of the playoffs.
Comparing the two NYC legends, Steph clearly has had a better pro career, but Kenny was better in college and high school. And if you wanna throw playground on there, Steph probably gets the edge there. I’m not one to make excuses, but I think if Kenny had been able to stay healthy, he might have had better NBA numbers than Marbury.
A lot of it has to do with their roles on a team and style of play. Steph was a scoring point guard, almost a combo guard, who was often looked at as The Man on his team (except when he was with KG in Minnesota). Kenny was always the true point guard, a pass-first 1 who would only give you buckets if need be; he was never really looked at as the go-to guy on any of his teams in the NBA, plus he usually had better scorers around him than Steph has had.
Personally, I’d go with Kenny. His game was just so pretty, and he always got the job done. He was a bit of a head case at times, but a standout nonetheless. If I were coaching a team I’d want KA, an unselfish point guard, as opposed to Steph, a scoring guard who tends to be a black hole.
That’s just my opinion. What do you think? Or do you think someone else deserves to be in the argument ahead of Steph or Kenny?
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November 6th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Gee says:
I just don’t like Steph and to me he is overrated. KA all the way! I wish KA was still doing his thing in the L.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
jay says:
in college i would got kenny anderson hands down..he was just sick to watch! pros is another story….i would have to go steph on being the better pro..jury still out on bassey!!! just my opionion though… i would rank in my era of watching college ball KA gotta be up there as one of the best points i ever saw…i think jay kidd is numbero uno…and before i get flamed i want to rehash..my era…90′s and 2000′s…i am anxious to see how good d rose is. Ai and cp3 are up there as well. love his game!!!
November 6th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Omari says:
Ask Bobby Hurley who’s better. Nuff said!!!!!!!
November 6th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Sacto J says:
Yeah, cuz all NBA talent could be judged by how easily they beasted the great and powerful Bobby Hurley! The guy was a horse, wait I mean the guy owned a horse…..
November 6th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
carl says:
They are arguably the two best players period to come out of the city, but there can only be one King of NY, right?
ammend that to point guard’s to come outta the city. last i check MJ born in brooklyn, kareem out NYC too.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
T. Downing says:
Kenny led Georgia Tech to the Final Four as a Freshman, not as a Sophmore. I would argue that Kenny was a huge influence on Stephon’s career, which trickles down to Sebastian. If John Starks would have not fouled Kenny so hard, which injured his wrist, Kenny would have had a better professional career. In my opinion, other than Tiny Archibald, at his prime, Kenny Anderson was the finest of the legendary New York City point gods.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
seth says:
I got Chibbs. Starbury has been a better pro overall, and he has the package of skills and physical talent that could have made him the greatest lead guard ever, but KA is just one of those guys that just has certain images blazed into my mind, like the aforementioned Hurley moment. I’ll never forget Dickie V almost shitting himself live on national TV…gives me chills just thinking about it. I probably give Kenny the nod cuz he was at the peak of his powers when I was absolutely falling in love with the game, and he along with other “forgottens” like Chris Jackson were a big part of that. Imagine what could’ve been if Chibbs and DC didn’t have their heads in their collective asses in NJ & if Petrovic hadn’t died…that team could’ve been so so sick.
DIME: PLEASE, PLEASE
November 6th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
seth says:
I got Chibbs. Starbury has been a better pro overall, and he has the package of skills and physical talent that could have made him the greatest lead guard ever, but KA is just one of those guys that just has certain images blazed into my mind, like the aforementioned Hurley moment. I’ll never forget Dickie V almost shitting himself live on national TV…gives me chills just thinking about it. I probably give Kenny the nod cuz he was at the peak of his powers when I was absolutely falling in love with the game, and he along with other “forgottens” like Chris Jackson were a big part of that. Imagine what could’ve been if Chibbs and DC didn’t have their heads in their collective asses in NJ & if Petrovic hadn’t died…that team could’ve been so so sick.
DIME: PLEASE, PLEASE GIVE CHRIS JACKSON/MAHMOUD ABDUL RAUF SOME LOVE ON THE WEBSITE OR IN THE PAGES. I was watching youtube vids the other day of him dropping 50+ in college games and the pros..you just don’t see cats dropping 50 in college games. Kid was like AI with Pistol Pete’s jumper lest yall forget. Maybe you guys have hit him up before and I missed it, but I’d love to see a Chris Jackson feature. Thanks.
November 6th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
seth says:
sorry for posting twice
November 6th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Bron42 says:
Both flamed out, and I think steph def got wayyy too much hype. But kenny is out of the league and steph is still here so as loopy as he is, i’m goin with steph.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:
Of course Kenny’s out of the League first; he came into the League 5 years earlier.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Celts Fan says:
To the dude that said MJ was born in NY, he played his HS ball in NC so he didn’t come out of NYC. Do you really think he wouldn’t have been mentioned if he qualified?
also, Kareem was a bitch
November 6th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Celts Fan says:
Kenny married a skank from the Real World, Steph had to leave practice to avoid being jumped by half of his team. Both have been huge disappointments in the league (one due to lack of production, the other due to lack of common sense.) The true winner, anyone with a sense of humor
November 6th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Lucky Lester says:
Well if MJ was out of NC, and Kareem was a bitch, then that leaves NYC with 0 HOFers…. 0… Especially if Steph and KEnny are battling it out for the best ever from NYC – because while both are nice, Chris Webber is laughing at their chances to get in to the Hall.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Celts Fan says:
Kareem was good, don’t get me wrong, he was just a nancy boy bitch too…
November 6th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
shourjo says:
What if you throw Rod Strickland into the argument? What do y’all think? He’s never made an all-star team … but in terms of being a guy opponents fear, I think he is right up there – if not higher – than either KA or SM.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Jeff LeGrand says:
kenny anderson was what you want your point guard to be a distributor,floor general and if your team needed it buckets. he made his teammates better,ask dennis scott about his playmaking skills,who has steph made better on any of his teams? injuries aside,anderson was a better player,step,simply a better scorer.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Leland says:
I’m going with Strickland. Dude would be puking drunk and still get ten dimes and hit the game winner.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
I’ll take Kenny because before the injuries he was nice Shout out to shourjo on the Rod Strickland mention that cat was nice. he came in the league in the late 80′s so he was never getting in the allstar game during that late 80′s and early 90′s era(isiah thomas, john stockton etc) plus he was labeled as not being coachable. You can throw in Mark Jackson too!! He would be in the NYC top ten. PS to the Knick haters we are .500 I can’t wait till we beat Boston!!
November 6th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Captain America says:
Let’s hear it for Steph Marbles
November 6th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
D-Lite says:
I too liked Strickland’s game, always dangerous. KA was nice, Steph did not appeear to make anyone better not even himself. For a # 1 option he always called hi sonw number and Bassy needs to began to live on his own rep not his cuz’s..until overhyped without visible potential. Just do what the coaches want when they want. Coaches need to trust their point youngster! otherwise you have no one to blame but yourself. even if you can’t play out hustle everyone else for PT!!!
November 6th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Go Get 'Em says:
Don’t forget about God Shammgod. He was definitely one of the greatest NYC PGs of all time.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:05 am
jez says:
“For the year he averaged 18.9 points, 4.5 assists, 3.1 boards and 1.8 assists.”
i nearly fell off my seat
November 7th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Austin Burton says:
Good catch Jez. Promise it wasn’t a shot at Steph. It’s been fixed.
November 7th, 2007 at 10:09 am
DOC says:
mark jackson is top 5 all time in dimes so hes the best all them other dudes showed flashes but were doing dickhead things one way or another and lost they shine. But its point guards from other cities way better than them cats.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Bust Jlaze says:
God Shammgod?? Oh snap…we’re getting a little carried away now…
November 7th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Bust Jlaze says:
“For the year he averaged 18.9 points, 4.5 assists, 3.1 boards and 1.8 assists.” hahahah!! Jez, were you laughing cause of the steph interview where he said “assists” and “dimes” in the same sentence? That was funny…Steph is MAD weird yo…
November 7th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Dewane Mutunga says:
DOC you have a good point, marc jackson is also in that class and he’s both steph and kenny were headcases but that does take away from there game. And we are speaking on other guards from other cities, we’re talking about NYC, the mecca, the reason why most players play the way they do….
November 10th, 2007 at 10:05 am
mbe18 says:
What about Rod Strickland?
November 11th, 2007 at 12:36 am
JRMessiah Tha Brklyn Kid says:
Nah every1 forgets Ben Gordon he frm MT.Vernon in NY ya are also forgeting Chris Mullin and Mark Jackson Mark J still has records at st.johns that still stand and chris mullin was jus a flat out balla he brought his “A” game night in and night out and Ben Gordon is 6’2 if he was on a team like philly where he the main playa he would drop 18PG and 6AST a night easy