Earvin “Magic” Johnson averaged 19.5 points per game over the course of his career. He was a 12-time All-Star, twice the All-Star game Most Valuable Player, and was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Magic Johnson is remembered as one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game. He was even recognized as a member of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. The list of accomplishments and recognitions goes on and on.

But there are also things that might not be remembered about Johnson. Johnson played guard at 6’9″, a standard size of an NBA forward. The forward spot is mostly known as a rebounding and scoring-driven position, especially in the self-oriented NBA. But Johnson holds the career record for the highest assists per game average in the history of the NBA, with 11.2.

Maybe you knew that, too. But did you know that in 1981, Johnson led the NBA in steals with 3.43 per game? Did you know that Johnson led the league in steals the next year as well? Probably not.

Magic Johnson, in every definition of the phrase, was a great all-around basketball player. Michael Jordan, who is only one of three players ever to lead the league three times in steals, was a great all-around basketball player.

A little over a month ago, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in one game. The number is the closest anyone has come to breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s single-game scoring record of 100 points. He’s the league leader in virtually every offensive category – points per game, field goal attempts and makes, and free throws. Basically, he fills the seats.

Sunday night Kobe didn’t disappoint, scoring 40 points for the 14th time this season. Johnson’s career high in one game was 46, which Kobe has already bested four times in 2006 alone. Kobe is averaging 35.1 a game on the season. Bryant is a superstar.

Unfortunately, the 40 points came in a 112-111 loss to the Boston Celtics. The loss dropped the Lakers to a very mediocre 28-28 record, which puts them in line for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

On the other side of the league, the Detroit Pistons have an NBA-best record of 46-9. Their leading scorer, Richard Hamilton, is averaging 21.3 points per game, almost 14 points behind Bryant. In fact, Hamilton only ranks 18th in the NBA in points per game. It can be argued that the Pistons don’t have one superstar on their roster. And yet they’re well on their way to another chance at an NBA championship. How?

Too often a superstar in the NBA is confused with a great basketball player. Superstars garner the attention and make the flashbulbs pop, and that’s all fine and well. But great basketball players are truly special, and one only comes along every so often.

Kobe is excelling in the era where only one team even plays defense anymore – you guessed it, the Pistons. (Someone should do a study to see if there’s a correlation between team defense and national championship appearances. Just a thought.) Scores like 112-111 have become commonplace, even expected, when two high-profile scorers match up.

In the end, great scorers can only carry a team so far. Just four years ago the Lakers were finishing up their run as three-time NBA Champions, but that was also with a guy named Shaq in the middle. It’s winning without the other superstars that makes a player truly great.

If Kobe wants another championship anytime soon, he’s going to have to start thinking about trading in some of those 40-point nights for 10-assist performances.

Maybe 100 points is something to shoot for, but a championship is something to play for.

Nathan Grimm is a sophomore in ALS. He can be reached at [email protected].