A quick tale in NBA mythology:
Fearing the downfall of the NBA after one of their greatest inventions inevitably starts to decline, the basketball gods sculpted four freaks of natures -- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, and Kristaps Porzingis. Separated by thousands of miles of land and water, the four demigods were allowed to grow into their prophecized bodies with no peer pressure towards what their respective games should look like. This separation in their developmental stages resulted in four different playstyles destined to rule the league for the foreseeable future.
Of those four creations, two - Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis - seem the most primed to complete the seemingly impossible task they were put on this planet for -- succeeding LeBron James.
At just 24 and 25 years old, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis have solidified their titles as superstars in the NBA. The only question is which star shines brightest?
Similar to the last 'Building a Franchise' article, the following categories seem the most important: impact on the game, ceiling, and longevity.
Impact
Via Bleacher Report
Impact Winner:Tie
Gauging a player's impact on the game is usually best done by numbers. Anthony Davis has the third highest player efficiency rating of all-time. Not since this season. Not since 2010. All-time, as in for every player that has ever played in either the NBA and/or ABA, Anthony Davis played the game of basketball more efficiently than all of them, excluding Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Even in the midst of his best season, posting a 28.9 per, Giannis still ranks second behind Davis. However, the tables turn in just about every other advanced metric, as Giannis blows AD and the rest of the league out of the water.
When both players put up all-time great numbers the basis of analytical judgment gets thrown out the window. Since analytics have failed the people, only the ol' reliable basic statistics and eye-tests can choose a winner for the impact category.
A look at their last head-to-head matchup shows the impact of both players:
Via ESPN
The better shooter is undoubtedly Anthony Davis, as he shoots a respectable 34 percent from deep while Giannis "shoots" 12 percent. One point, AD.
While it has been rumored and proven that the 7'6" wingspan of Davis can finish anything around the room, he's no match athletically for a guy casually clearing another 6'6" grown man. One point, Giannis.
Defensively, it's a tie.
On one hand, you have a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Anthony Davis, who leads the league in blocks and is the only center in the league's top-10 for nightly steals. Antetokuonmpo, on the other hand, averages less than half the blocks of AD and registers less steals, despite guarding more ball-dominant players. However, the Greek Freak-led Bucks rank amongst the NBA's elite at fifth in team defensive ratings, while Davis' Pelicans live alongside the bottom-dwellers of the league at 25th. Davis clearly wins the individual aspects, but the gap between their two teams can't be ignored, resulting in a defensive stalemate.
Score: Antetokounmpo-2 Davis-2 (Foreshadowing)
Last on the impact chart comes playmaking. Which of the two superstars can create not only their own shot but also good looks for their teammates?
In past years, Giannis would've won this category easily, as his future seemed destined as a point guard and his ability to find the open man trumped that of Davis. But whether it came from watching DeMarcus Cousins win games with his passing or more trust in his teammates, Anthony Davis is posting a career-high 4.7 nightly assists, leaving him within shouting distance of the 6.1 dimes Giannis drops a night. Throw in the fact that AD averages half the turnovers of Antetokounmpo(2.3 to 4.4) and giving Giannis the edge in terms of playmaking makes even less sense.
Ceiling
Ceiling Winner: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Anthony Davis is the perfect center in today's NBA. He can shoot. He can get the rebound then bring it down and initiate the offense. He can block shots. He can effortlessly switch onto any position, 1-5. Yet, his ceiling still doesn't reach as high as that of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The NBA has never seen a cheat code the likes of the Greek Freek. His ability to create his own shot and use inexplicable guard-like footwork inside his 6'11" juggernaut frame has him on pace to finish the season with 364 dunks(for reference, Dwight Howard holds the current record for most dunks in a season with 266).
At 26.7 points a night, Giannis is seventh in the NBA in scoring and just one point behind Anthony Davis; he's doing this while attempting 60 percent of his shots from three feet or less and attacking from as close to the basket as ever(average shot distance, 7.1 feet). Defenses are sagging off in attempts to stop his preferred attack and he's still one of the game's best scorers.
I know, I know, we've all heard this before, but when the Greek Freek gets even a somewhat respectable jumpshot ... the end. There is a very real possibility that Giannis never develops a consistent jumper, but the mere possibility of his ceiling being an unstoppable force the likes that basketball has never seen before makes him best AD in this category.
Longevity
Via Yahoo!Sports
Longevity Winner: Anthony Davis
The same 'what if' that edged Antetokounmpo over Davis in the ceiling category is the same what if that gives AD the nod in the longevity category.
Davis' soft touch on offense factored in with his newfound ability to pass the ball makes him an offensive cornerstone well into his 30s. His athleticism will naturally fade, but his blend of defensive IQ and size makes the possibility of AD following a Tim Duncan path of competitive longevity very possible.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, on the other hand, has no path to follow. His length alone will make him a dominant interior force for his entire career, but those three-dribble fastbreaks and those eurosteps from the three-point line to the rim won't be there his entire career(right?). Assuming that to be true:
Final Score: Antetokounmpo-2 Davis-2 (told you, foreshadowing)
Agree or disagree with my choice? Tell me which player you would choose to build your franchise around in the comment section. Like the new series? Leave a like and let me know other players you want to see go against each other.