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Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the best players in the world recently but has he also edged Kevin Durant recently?
Giannis Antetokounmpo is virtually untouchable on the open court, but Kevin Durant is a man-mountain with a seven-foot frame who mixes pure talent and scoring. Whose basketball game, though, is better? That is a tough question to react to. Giannis is more at the prime of his career, even if Durant has more titles and a long history of success in the NBA.
Giannis is an unstoppable force in the NBA thanks to his guard-like ball handling, 6′ 11″ height, and 7′ 3″ wingspan. At the age of 27, he already has the accomplishments of a member of the Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant’s four scoring championships rank third all-time, behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain, two of the game’s legends. However, KD has gone almost ten years without winning a scoring championship, with the latest of his four coming back in 2014. In fact, since 2017, Giannis Antetokounmpo has outscored him in each of the previous 5 seasons.
It’s one thing to score more points than KD for a season or two, but to do so for 5 years straight is simply extraordinary. Giannis has accomplished something here that not even LeBron James or Stephen Curry can brag about, which is also unexpected given how everyone loves to point out his shooting shortcomings.
Virtually no one else in the NBA had as many accomplishments under their belt at the age of 27 as he did. Michael Jordan and LeBron James didn’t win their first championships until they were 28. Statistics suggest that Kevin Durant’s claim to be “The Best Scorer in the League” may not be entirely accurate.
Durant is a better and more proficient scorer. Likewise, this is a no-brainer. Even Isaiah Thomas stated the players from the 1980s had no chance to stop KD because of how long and athletic he is. KD can pull up from wherever.
Giannis can score 40 points with ease, but if he had KD’s scoring prowess, he would average 60. Giannis and KD can both score with ease, but Durant has a stronger scoring defense than Giannis.
Giannis is much less “clutch” than Kevin Durant. KD can score more points than Giannis when the game is close by making crucial free throws, getting past stronger defenders, and getting through them. Fans would much rather KD take the final shot than Giannis when the game is down by three.
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