Among the top ranks of scorers in NBA history, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant have already proven themselves as one of the best to ever do it. But even today, years after Anthony has retired from the game, the debate still rages on about where he stacks up to Durant, who is now a 13x All-Star, 2x Champion, and 4x scoring leader. According to NBA legend Gilbert Arenas, Anthony has the edge over Durant for a few specific reasons.
“You would go Melo because he had 4-level, 5-level scoring… there’s posting up and iso player,” said Gil on his self-titled podcast. “Melo posted up and iso player. When it comes to who is the most complete scorer? I’m gonna say Melo.”
Scoring in the NBA is more than just about who is the better shooter. In the case of Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and other scoring legends, they can do basically everything when it comes to putting the ball through the net. Unfortunately for Anthony, his isolation-heavy playstyle didn’t quite work out in New York and it’s something that will always hold him back compared to others in his position.
NBA Fans Disagree With Arenas’ Take
Carmelo Anthony is widely beloved and respected throughout the NBA community and his career was an enormous success given what he was given to work with. On X, however, fans were quick to shoot down the notion of him being a better scorer than Durant for a variety of reasons.
As a Knicks fan who grew up watching Melo, KD is by far a better scorer
— 𝓜𝓪𝓽𝓽 ✈️ (@mldiffley) October 16, 2023
For some, the debate boiled down to efficiency, which Durant has clearly been better at throughout his career.
KD is a more efficient mid range shooter, more efficient 3pt shooter, more efficient post player, more efficient isolation scorer as well………He's better at every aspect of scoring 😭. What are we doing bruh
— . (@Kd7_Szn) October 16, 2023
As some noted, the question isn’t about which player can make the flashiest or most difficult shots. Rather, it’s about which player is more effective at putting up points.
He talking about who can score In more ways. KD is clearly the better scorer
— KyDavion (@KyDavion_) October 16, 2023
There were some who agreed with Arenas, arguing that Anthony had a larger offensive arsenal overall despite being less efficient from the field. And while it’s true that Anthony is often credited for being the best tough-shot maker in the league, certain limitations to his game became a liability at times.
Kevin Durant Vs. Carmelo Anthony
With a career that spanned 19 seasons, Carmelo Anthony made an undeniable mark on the NBA landscape. While the 39-year-old was unable to win an NBA championship during his basketball career, he still retired as a decorated player of the game with 10 All-Star appearances, 6 All-NBA selections, and a scoring title in 2013. With a career stat line of 22.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, he’s widely regarded as one of the most brilliant scorers of All-Time… and it’s for good reason.
But when you look at Kevin Durant, it’s clear to see he’s on another level than the former Knicks star. In 15 seasons so far, Durant is a 13x All-Star, 1x MVP, 4x scoring champion, 10x All-NBA player, and (most importantly) 2x Finals champion. Statistically, Durant has been much more stable throughout his career with an impressive stat line of 27.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game on 49% shooting.
Overall, Durant has just been much more effective with the ball than Anthony was at his best and it could be why the Knicks never achieved as much success as the Thunder or Warriors. Nevertheless, Melo can still be proud of the legacy he left behind and it’s clear through the statements of Arenas and others that his game left a strong impression on those who were around to watch it.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
