Featured Image Credit: Cigar Aficionado/Getty
Topics: Basketball, Michael Jordan, NBA, Steph Curry
Nasir Jabbar
Topics: Basketball, Michael Jordan, NBA, Steph Curry
Michael Jordan once named the best 'pure shooter' in NBA history, calling the shock player's stroke 'beautiful' in glowing praise.
Steph Curry, Larry Bird and the late Kobe Bryant are among the best shooters in NBA history, having sunk bucket after bucket during their respective careers.
But Jordan snubbed the likes of Curry, Bird and Bryant when asked to name the best shooter in NBA history.
He surprisingly opted for Brian Winters, who made his name at the Milwaukee Bucks, becoming a fan favourite.
In an interview with Cigar Aficionada founder Marvin R. Shanken back in 2005, Jordan was asked who the best shooter he's ever seen was.
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He began: "Best shooter. Oh, boy. That's a great question. Pure shooter?"
Shanken replied: "Or clutch shooter. I have another one here, best clutch player. You can combine the two if you want.
"Did you ever watch the Big O [Oscar Robertson] play?"
Jordan responded: "Yeah, I watched him play.
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"He was an all-around player, but I wouldn't say he was one of the best shooters. But he was one of the best all-around players, in the same category as Magic Johnson, who could rebound, assist and score."
The Chicago Bulls icon concluded by naming Winters, claiming he had the 'most beautiful stroke'.
He added: "Pure shooter, I would say Brian Winters, who played for the Milwaukee Bucks. He had the most beautiful stroke of all the people whom I can think of."
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Winters had one season in Los Angeles with the Lakers before moving to the Bucks, where he played for them between 1975 to 1983.
He averaged 16.2 points and 4.1 assists over his nine-year NBA career, with his best years coming from 1975-1976 to 1979-80, when he averaged 18.7 points.