If I needed a pg Nash
If I needed a sg AI
Overall I'll take Iverson and it's not even close. Prime AI never had the opportunity to play with another mvp level player like Nash did with Amare. Prime AI took a bunch of roll players to the finals and even won a game against the Shaq and Tobe Lakers when they had just swept their way through the west.
There's a reason for that, AI wouldn't be able to play with someone else. All AI wants is to shoot the ball and that's all he did and he missed alot too shooting at just 42% for his career.
Basketball is a team game, you need a solid team and AI has never truly been about team. He's about winning and as tough as he was, and imo he was as tough and as gutsy as any player ever to step onto the hardwood, he wasn't the leader necessary to win. He wasn't a willing mentor, wasn't willing to put time in the tape room, wasn't willing to put time in before or after games the same way other greats did. For me, a no go. It's much easier to start a team with Nash because you don't have to worry about egos and drafting or selecting other players to help the team would be a cinch.
Nash never even heard of defense.
What is the rationale that he is the better all around player? He never won a title, never made it to the finals, and had a better supporting cast.
Hey, I love AI but if I was in charge of a team, I wouldn't have AI ahead of Nash.
You talking about never winning a title, never making it to the Finals and having a better supporting cast? I think you seem to be forgetting a few key facts. Nash played his career in the Western Conference and not the EASY, ahem Eastern, Conference. Only in the Eastern Conference in the 2000s could a team winning less than 50 games make it to the NBA Finals.
Objectivity and evaluating the differences between the two conferences clearly will highlight that fact. From 1999-2011, 10 of the 13 possible Championships were won the the Western Conferences. Be real, if Nash had played in the Eastern Conferences, the chances of him making it to the Finals was AT LEAST as likely as J Kidd making it with the Nets, twice.