Lebron or Durant?

[Ridders]

If you had to start a franchise from scratch, and could pick one of the two players, who would you pick?

They're both young. Durant's only turning 22 this month and has already won a scoring title. It's funny how NBA measurements work. Durant's listed at 6'9, but I've heard so many times that he's basically a 7 footer. Pretty scary thought considering how quick and agile he is. Probably will end up being a better scorer than Lebron. Already has better range. Playmaking would be his main weakness atm.

Lebron's approaching his prime (turning 26 in December) and is nearly the complete package, and a physical beast to boot. Only weakness would probably be his lack of a post-up game, and the fact that he takes way too many 3s for someone who can get to the rim like he can.

Pretty difficult choice. They're both physical freaks in their own way. Would probably stick with Lebron, although Durant's got more time on his side.

 

[Noa]

As good as Durant is, and will be even better, LBJ is still the man.

As for being a better scorer, 30 points is 30 points no matter how you get it.

 

[Special K]

You can't really make a bad pick here.

I guess you take Durant because you can take 4 more years of prime from him, but even then LBJ is only 26 as you said. But really that is a tough one because when all is said and done LBJ could be seen as a GOAT contender.

I think LBJ goes down as a bigger name and the one you should probably pick but geez I am in love with Durants game. I'm still filthy the sixers didn't tank that year(the year they traded AI)

 

[Ridders]

Poor Portland.

Passed on MJ in 84

Traded down in the 05 draft and missed out on Deron Williams and Paul

And it seems in 2007, they may have passed on another generational talent. In their defense, Oden could be a great big IF he could stay healthy.

It's funny to think that back when they were having the draft work-outs for the class of 2007, alot in the media were seriously worried about Durant because he couldn't bench 185 pounds.

 

[Special K]

Yeah I remember the split being 50/50.. I wanted Philly to get number 2 so they didn't have to make the choice. Must hurt Sonic fans...

Look back at that top 10

Oden, Durant, Horford, Conley, Green, Yi, Brewer, Wright, Noah, Hawes

I remember everyone thought Noah would bust after his stock dropped from potential number #1 the year before. Hindsight he goes top 4 maybe even top 3 ahead of Horford as I don't think you can drop Oden out JUST yet. I'm really pulling for Oden he really needs some bad luck the poor guy.

 

[edabomb]

Durant. Why bother with "LeBron is going to do what's best for LeBron" when you can have Durant.

 

[Big Mick]

I'm really pulling for Oden he really needs some bad luck the poor guy.

i think he has had enough Bad luck lol

 

[Special K]

oops my bad! I meant good luck

 

[Ridders]

Just for fun, a comparison of Durant's career stats (per game) vs Lebron's first 3 years (per game) in the league

Lebron;

26.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.83 steals, 0.7 blocks - 45.6 FG%, 32.5 3PT%, 74.7 FT%

Durant;

25.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks - 46.2 FG%, 36.1 3PT%, 88.2 FT%

Pretty similar numbers, with the obvious differences being Lebron's vastly superior assist numbers and Durant's significantly better FT%.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

It's difficult - LeBron is the better all around player but Durant is still scratching the surface of his potential. I went with Durant purely based on:

1. Age. 4 years is 4 years.
2. LeBron has played 40+ minutes a game for 7 years, on knees / ankles that have supported at a minimum 240 pounds (and some say the last two years closer to 270 pounds). They will go sooner than later.

 

[Ridders]

It's difficult - LeBron is the better all around player but Durant is still scratching the surface of his potential. I went with Durant purely based on:

1. Age. 4 years is 4 years.
2. LeBron has played 40+ minutes a game for 7 years, on knees / ankles that have supported at a minimum 240 pounds (and some say the last two years closer to 270 pounds). They will go sooner than later.

That's an interesting point. It's hard to gauge how long Lebron can remain in his physical prime simply because their probably hasn't been a perimeter player with the physique that Lebron has.

As you said he's averaged 40+ min for his entire career, and with the weight he carries, can't exactly be healthy for his knees. I actually can't find a player who's logged as many minutes that he has in the same time span.

In comparison Kobe came off the bench for his first two years in the league and Wade's never logged 40 mins per game in any of his 7 seasons.

Who knows. Could have been a reason for why he decided to join Miami. Extend the window of his peak years.

 

[Special K]

Maybe that is why Lebron picked the heat to ease those minutes?

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Off the top of my head, the only perimeter player that I would guess has played close to as many minutes as LeBron during the last 7 years is Joe Johnson. But he missed about 25 games a couple years back, whereas I don't believe LeBron has ever missed more than about 5 games in a single year (which is staggering in itself). But I think JJ has led the league once or twice so it could be close.

Kobe would probably go close as well, but he missed a stack of games through injury the year after Shaq left so he might fall short as well.

 

[Ridders]

Off the top of my head, the only perimeter player that I would guess has played close to as many minutes as LeBron during the last 7 years is Joe Johnson. But he missed about 25 games a couple years back, whereas I don't believe LeBron has ever missed more than about 5 games in a single year (which is staggering in itself). But I think JJ has led the league once or twice so it could be close.

Kobe would probably go close as well, but he missed a stack of games through injury the year after Shaq left so he might fall short as well.

Yeah good call. In the last 7 years JJ's logged 39.87 mins per game (regular season) while Kobe's logged 39.13 mins per game (regular season). Johnson's barely missed any games over that time span, except for the 06-07 season that you mentioned.

Didn't factor in playoffs, which would impact Kobe more than the other two since the Lakers made the Finals in 04, 08, 09, 10.

It's interesting to note that with both Kobe and Joe Johnson, they both played limited minutes in their initial years in the league, which has/will hold them in good stead as they get older.

In contrast, Lebron's been playing 40 + minutes since the beginning.

 

[Nth-Qld-Raider]

I'll have Kevin Durant.

LeBron is a scumbag.

 

[andrew057]

I'll have Kevin Durant.

LeBron is a scumbag.

Co-sign.