Sports
Magic Johnson Explained What Makes Steph Curry So Unique
The debate over the greatest point guard of all time has almost become as talked about as the Michael Jordan versus LeBron James GOAT discussion. More often than not, the conversation revolves around two names: Magic Johnson and Stephen Curry.
Johnson has been widely regarded as the standard for point guards since he dominated the NBA in the 1980s. But with the way Curry has revolutionized the game of basketball and stacked Hall of Fame achievements, the
Golden State Warriors superstar has since emerged as a legitimate contender to Magic’s throne.
The conversation got especially louder after Curry won his fourth NBA championship in 2022. The four-time NBA champion has since confidently staked his claim as the GOAT point guard. But of course, Johnson wasn’t just about to give up the mantle.
Nonetheless, the two legendary point guards still have a lot of respect for each other. And Magic himself acknowledges the greatness of Steph Curry.
Magic Johnson on What Makes Steph Curry Unique
Johnson appeared on the show of Shannon Sharpe, Club Shay Shay, and was asked about what makes Curry so unique.
“First of all, movement without the ball. We’ve never seen a basketball player in better condition and understands angles and how to come off that screen and also be on balance to still shoot. And he can shoot off balance, too. We’ve never seen that before. And for him to be that small and he can shoot from almost half court. He’s not throwing it, he’s shooting it.”
As Johnson explained exquisitely, no player in the NBA has showcased an ability to shoot from long range with consistency, efficiency, and volume the way Curry has. Some players are more comfortable at catching and shooting, while others are more adept at shooting off the dribble. The greatest shooter ever is elite at both.
But apart from his other-worldly shooting ability, it’s the two-time MVP’s mentality that elevates him even further, according to Johnson. There’s a reason why people call him the Baby-faced Assassin. Johnson isn’t the only
L.A. Lakersicon who spoke highly of Curry’s killer instinct — Kobe Bryant also echoed the same sentiments.
Magic made these comments after Curry led the Warriors to their fourth NBA title in eight years against the heavily-favored
Boston Celtics in 2022. His epic performance during that run finally earned him the elusive Finals MVP that was missing from his Hall of Fame trophy case.
And to Magic, that showing etched Curry among the game’s greatest.
“He shut everybody up, who said he couldn’t be the Finals MVP. He couldn’t lead his team… He already knew he could do it, he just showed everybody he could do it. And that put him in that Mount Rushmore of great players that’s ever played in this league.”
Steph Curry’s 2022 NBA Finals Run
Curry was already considered an all-time great even before he won his fourth ring. He was already a three-time champion, two MVP, including the only player to win unanimously, and the league’s all-time leader in three-pointers made.
But leading the Warriors to a fourth NBA championship further solidified his legacy as an all-time great. His Finals performance against the Celtics was nothing short of remarkable. Curry averaged 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists throughout the six-game series, while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and nearly 43.8 percent from three.
|
Stephen Curry — 2022 NBA Finals Stats |
|
|---|---|
|
PPG |
31.2 |
|
RPG |
6.0 |
|
APG |
5.0 |
|
SPG |
2.0 |
|
FG% |
48.2% |
|
3P% |
43.7% |
He had one of his best signature games of his career in Game 4, when he erupted for 43 points and made seven three-pointers to lead the Warriors to a season-saving win on the road in Boston to avoid falling to a 3-1 series hole.
The series not only earned him that elusive Finals MVP, an accolade his critics often used against him, but it also silenced those who ever doubted his ability to lead his team on the grandest stage.
Curry’s 2022 title run became arguably the most important chapter of his career. As Magic said, it elevated him to all-time great status and validated everything he accomplished in his career. It was also the moment when he closed the gap on the greatest point guard of all-time debate.
Sports
Every Premier League 2026/27 Home Kit Ranked From Worst To Best
The new Premier League season is edging closer, and while there’s still time to wait before the action gets underway on August 21, fans have already had plenty to talk about.
Transfers have dominated the headlines, pre-season is in full swing, and, as always, the release of every club’s new home shirt has sparked plenty of revelries.
Some designs have gone down a treat, others have split opinions, but one thing is certain: everyone has something to say about it. With all 20 English top-flight clubs now having unveiled their home kits for the 2026/27 season, there’s only one thing left to do. As Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal prepare to defend their Premier League title, we’ve ranked every 2026/27 home shirt from worst to best.
Every Premier League 2026/27 Home Kit Ranked
20. Newcastle
There’s too much going on with Newcastle’s kit, and with far too many lines involved, it might make opponents feel like they’re in a life-sized game of geometry dash rather than top-flight football. Objectively very ugly.
19. Bournemouth
Red and black stripes are usually easy to get right. This year, however, Bournemouth have added random gold panelling that, put simply, doesn’t come with any rhyme or reason, while the big pink ‘Vitality’ sponsorship is too ‘in your face’ to ignore.
18. Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace’s new home shirt has all the hallmarks of a great kit. White, red, and blue is an iconic colourway, the sponsorship fits in seamlessly, and the retro-style badge is certainly a nice touch, but a detailing similar to Newcastle’s – along with the fact it looks like an away shirt, given the Eagles have decided to go completely against their usual primary colour – lets it down massively.
17. Hull City
You can’t fault Hull City for wanting to give a nod to their heritage in their return to the Premier League, with no sponsors and retro branding a classic combo. What you can fault is that their new shirt is a little bland, and the white collar and sleeves are way too bold.
16. Sunderland
As is the case with Hull City’s, the idea of retro is nice with Sunderland’s home shirt. But the black badge is an eye sore, and once you realise the stripes on the sleeve aren’t even symmetric, you’ll find it hard to stop looking for the wrong reasons.
15. Chelsea
If Chelsea’s neon-yellow badge wasn’t enough for people to be able to recognise the shirt, then they’ve added a faint extra badge in the detailing, right on the stomach. The colour is nice, and the fact it’s a basic design helps stop it from falling lower down the order.
14. Everton
Simple can be effective, sure. Everton’s latest home kit would probably rank higher if it didn’t feature a random splash of yellow, which is present on both the sleeve and collar, but not all the way around. Otherwise, it’s a nice shirt.
13. Leeds United
Credit where it’s due, a lot of people will end up loving Leeds United’s number – the colourway is particularly good. There’s just something about it that makes it look a bit like a pyjama top, albeit a smart one.
12. Coventry City
It’s been so long since Coventry City were in the big time (25 years) that they’ve returned as Huddersfield Town. That’s the only let-down in an otherwise striking outfit, with the detailing in each sky blue and white stripe a standout feature – it just doesn’t feel very ‘Cov’.
11. Man Utd
There’s nothing flashy about the Red Devils new kit, and we’re unsure whether that helps or hurts it. Eleventh feels right for a shirt that does the job but probably won’t be remembered by next season, unless Michael Carrick’s side really do exceed expectations (only time will tell!).
10. Fulham
Fulham’s kit is not that different to United’s, truth be told. But without a collar, a slight extra bit of panelling, and a cleaner colour, the Cottagers – who proclaim to be London’s oldest football club – edge it into the top 10.
9. Aston Villa
What can be said about the previous two kits can also be said about Aston Villa’s new look. Again, it’s the colour that takes them above Fulham and United, but there’s not an awful lot between them.
8. Manchester City
Puma got slammed for one of the kits they designed for Man City, which went down as one of the lowest-rated Premier League shirts ever. They’ve done well this time around, though, with the sky blue and ice white gradient a refreshing take on the modern look – a timely redemption ahead of a new era without Pep Guardiola.
7. Tottenham
Spurs’ home top is a plain white one (obviously) with navy accents and is said to have nostalgic, subtle diagonal striping that is said to be inspired by Tottenham’s mid-1980s Hummels kits. It’s clean and smart, not much else can be noted – again, does the job, just better than a lot of others that achieve the same.
6. Liverpool
Liverpool’s second Adidas kit since their record-breaking reunion last summer draws heavy influence from the iconic design the Reds wore from 1989 to 1991 with its famous geometric pattern a nod to the ‘Candy’ shirts of old. It’s another great creation, but definitely doesn’t hold a candle to last season’s effort.
5. Arsenal
Arsenal and marketing are a match made in heaven, and they’ve brought out another lovely home shirt. Albeit, it’s a little basic, but still very good – perhaps the fact it ranks fifth is a little bit of a reflection on the fact not many clubs have produced out-and-out stunners. The Gunners’ away and third strips are a sight to behold, if you get a chance to take a look.
4. Brentford
Brentford definitely get bonus points because they keep the same home shirt for two seasons, allowing fans to save their money as they aren’t forced to fork out on a new strip every summer. While they’ve kept their basic design though, the yellow trims are a really sleek addition – the more you look, the better it gets.
3. Brighton & Hove Albion
The new Brighton home shirt is all royal blue with a printed crisp white pinstripe and contrasting white neckline, which is a nod to their appearance in the 1983 FA Cup final. Completely moving away from the usually chunky stripes is a really nice transition.
2. Nottingham Forest
The patterning on Forest’s latest drop is what makes it so nice. While the actual material looks almost silky, which brings it down slightly, there can’t be a bad word said about the design. Those filling up the City Ground will be hoping it coincides with a much better campaign than last time out, which saw relegation become a genuine threat at one point.
1. Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town love to take the ‘royal’ in ‘royal blue’ and really accentuate it. Just like the last time they were in the promised land, the Tractor Boys will be fighting against the dropzone in style.
Sports
Arsenal Fans Cast Verdict on Christos Tzolis After Debut vs Girona
Arsenal fans have given their early thoughts on new signing Christos Tzolis after watching him make his debut in a pre-season win vs Girona.
The Greek winger was signed from Club Brugge to replace Leandro Trossard and add depth on the left-hand side of the attack. Mikel Arteta’s men secured a 4-1 win over their Spanish opposition, with Kai Havertz, Max Dowman and Gabriel Jesus all on the scoresheet.
Tzolis even managed to get in on the act, as his curling effort deflected into the net in the first-half. But what did Gunners fans make of his overall performance? Well, they’ve made their feelings very clear online.
Arsenal Fans Give Opinions on Christos Tzolis’ Debut
The north Londoners were dominant throughout, and Tzolis made a strong impression on the left wing. He managed two shots, with one blocked and the other going in.
The 24-year-old also completed two out of three attempted crosses and found a teammate with 19 of his 23 pass attempts. Despite losing the ball six times, Tzolis made the most of his 31 touches in just over an hour of football.
Supporters were happy with what they saw, with many taking to X (formerly Twitter) to express their strong opinions. One said: “Tzolis stocks are going to fly,” while another claimed: “Hmm this Tzolis guy is going to be a problem.”
“Tzolis IQ is top. Gonna be a class player for us,” was the conclusion of one happy Gunner. His dribbling ability was brought up as another fan added: “These Tzolis 1v1’s… they tried saying my boy lacks burst of pace and has no tech; you’re simply uneducated.”
Vinicius Junior appears to be Arsenal’s dream signing, but one supporter suggested, perhaps in a tongue-in-cheek manner, that the Brazilian is now not needed: “Tzolis asking uncomfortable questions about whether Vini is needed.”
Watch Tzolis’ highlights in Girona vs Arsenal below
There’s still a long way to go for Tzolis to prove he can be a regular starter for Arteta. But he did make a strong case to be a like-for-like replacement for Trossard. In fact, his solid display, with a goal on top, was remarkably similar to the performances the Belgian regularly produced for the Premier League giants.
Statistics in this article are courtesy of SofaScore. Correct as of 01-08-26.
Sports
Romario Names Franco Baresi as ‘Toughest Player’ He Ever Faced
In his prime, there were few more frightening strikers on the planet than Romario. His most iconic moment came at the 1994 World Cup, as he scored five goals on his way to lifting the trophy with Brazil.
That was enough to see the forward named the best player of the tournament, and cemented his status as an all-time great. Beyond that, his career delivered two Copa America triumphs, and he also won silverware with Vasco da Gama, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, and Flamengo.
It’s said that Romario actually scored over 1000 times in his career, although FIFA only recognises 760 of his goals in official matches between clubs, the senior national team and the Olympic side. Regardless, he was prolific in his day, with very few defenders able to stop him.
However, there is one man who caused the Brazilian real problems.
Romario Praises ‘Incredible’ Italian Defender
Romario is certainly not shy when it comes to talking about his great qualities. After all, when listing his greatest six footballers of all time, he happily ranked himself alongside the best, remarking: “I consider myself one of the five greatest players of all time. Pele, [Diego] Maradona, [Lionel] Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, me and Ronaldo. That’s it. I’d give myself an 11 out of 10 as a player.”
With that in mind, it’s interesting to note that one former defender sparked true humility from the iconic Brazilian. Indeed, Romario named Italian legend Franco Baresi as the ‘toughest player’ he ever faced in his career.
Speaking after the defender’s tragic passing in July 2026, aged just 66, Romario expressed his grief with an emotional tribute on social media. He said:
“Guys, today football woke up a lot sadder with the death of Franco Baresi. When I was playing for PSV Eindhoven, I faced Milan twice, and I could already tell that Baresi was incredible. Then we met again in the 1994 World Cup Final, one of the most important matches of our lives.”
“I can say it without a single doubt, he was the toughest player I faced in my career.”
“In ’97, I had the honour of taking part in his farewell game. The guy was on another level! It was a symbol of Milan and a world champion with the Italian national team. One of the greatest defenders in history. It is my respect for everything he has done for football and my affection to his family and friends. May the Father in Heaven receive him in peace.”
Baresi will be remembered as one of the greatest defenders of all time, with Romario’s comments capturing just how highly thought of he was in the game. The Italian may have lost the 1994 final to Brazil, but had already won the World Cup in 1982.
On top of that success with his country, he remains one of the greatest one-club players in football history, spending his entire career with AC Milan. At the San Siro, he won six Serie A titles, three Champions League trophies and even finished runner-up for the Ballon d’Or award at one point during his illustrious career.
After his death, Milan spoke of his importance to their club. An emotional statement read: “The entire history of AC Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will be forever etched into the Club’s DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is. The condolences AC Milan extends to Franco Baresi’s family at such a difficult time are shared by every Rossonero, who feels this loss as their own.”
He truly was a legend of the sport.
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