Before the start of the season, plenty of fans and media members started discussing who would be the best player in the NBA this campaign. The two biggest candidates were Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, and that hasn’t changed so far.
Stephen Curry is doing an incredible job with the Golden State Warriors, as well as Nikola Jokic in Denver and Chris Paul in Phoenix. However, the debate always goes down to the first two aforementioned players. After their incredible duel last season, people hope to see Durant and Antetokounmpo clashing in the 2022 playoffs to settle this debate.
Meanwhile, everybody is giving their two pennies on this conversation. Recently, New York Knicks’ star Julius Randle praised Durant, calling him the best player in the association after the Nets took care of the Knicks earlier this week.
Well, now Fox Sports analyst Chris Broussard picked the Greek Freak over KD, even suggesting that Durant wouldn’t have won the NBA championship last season if he was with the Bucks.
“But I don’t think that statement by Randle is true. It’s certainly not true when he adds on the ‘for sure.’ And a lot of people talk about Durant like ‘oh he’s the best player in the league’ like it’s a given.”
“First of all, I think it’s Giannis. I mean I will put Giannis right there. Durant is obviously a better scorer than Giannis. But when you bring the whole thing, Giannis is a far better defender, a far better rebounder, scores just as much, just as efficiently.”
Giannis or Durant?
.@RobParkerFS1: "How do you win games in the NBA? By not letting people score or by scoring?"@Chris_Broussard: "Ask Giannis because he just won a championship!"
Rob: "Ask Kevin Durant, who just won two championships!"
Chris: "With a stacked team!!" pic.twitter.com/KxG6ZarLHt
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) December 2, 2021
Rob Parker then said Giannis is perceived as a No. 2 option, which isn’t the case for Durant, but Broussard wasn’t having any of that. In fact, he said that KD wouldn’t have come up with the win if he was in Giannis’ position last season.
“Put Durant on that Milwaukee team, I don’t think they win the championship.”
Last season, they clashed in the second round of the playoffs, and KD left his everything on the court. However, that wasn’t enough for the Nets, who succumbed to the Bucks in seven games. They played very intense games, but Giannis and co. ultimately left the series with the W.
This season, the Nets are looking for revenge, but it doesn’t look like they’re better than last year. The East is stacked now, and the Bucks have bounced back after a rough start to the campaign.
If they clash in the postseason, Durant and Giannis will settle this discussion. As for now, everybody will make a case for their favorite player.
