Wiggins. You really really love Noels by the way. Putting him in the same sentence as Davis is just unfair to Noel.
I like dominant defensive bigs, but I also like well-rounded elite scorers. I like both of those guys. I'm bummed we couldn't land Noel for Rondo during the 2013 draft... I'm equally bummed we missed out on a top 3 pick during the 2014 draft. BOth of those guys look like they are going to be perennial all-stars.
And is it actually unfair to Noel to compare him to Davis? Davis is a better scorer. Are we sure Noel isn't going to be a better defender?
Yes Davis has transcendent athleticism and is in legitimate conversation for MVP this year at 23 years old. He is having one of the best statistical seasons in the history of the NBA. Comparing a guy that is having a really nice rookie season to him is just stupid and pointless and again even unfair to Noel. I know you are smarter and more realistic than this. Is the hyperbole really that necessary to express that you like him?
But he was pointing out that they had similar rookie seasons. Nothing wrong with that at all, you know when the stats show they did in fact have similar rookie seasons.
Umm... this is a little different than comparing their rookie season statistics...
Were you surprised by Anthony Davis' development? I sure as heck wasn't. When he was averaging a Nerlens-esque 13 and 8, I pointed out on this forum that he was the second coming of Kevin Garnett and got similar responses to what I'm getting with Nerlens.
They were compared to each other in College. They are having somewhat similar rookie seasons. It's not outrageous to compare the two right now. Will Nerlens be as good as Davis in a couple years? Dunno. But he might be a better defender.
It is outrageous, and a few people have outlined why, but I think you are just trolling or being hyperbolic at this point so I don't care to compare the two any more.
Offensively, Davis was more polished coming into the league. Beyond that, what is so outrageous about it? Nerlens is putting up historic defensive stats for a player his age. I'm not the only person pointing out that he might be ROY.
FWIW, I looked up what Davis Per-36 stats were as a rookie: 17 points, 10.2 Rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2.2 blocks, 1.5 steals
FWIW, here's Nerlens Per-36 stats if you only include his post-allstar performances: 15.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2 assits, 2.7 blocks, 2.5 steals
Isn't that just confirming what we knew about him coming out of College? Extremely raw offensively, but a potential dominant defender. Nerlens was considered to be by far the best prospect of the 2013 Draft. He went to the same school as Davis a year after him.
Davis Per-40 stats in College: 17.7 points, 13 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.7 steals, 5.8 blocks, 62%/71%
Noel's Per-40 stats in College: 13.1 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.6 steals, 5.5 blocks, 59%/53%
His NBA stats seem to be following the same trajectory.