Hot Take Or Not? Tatum Is Better Than Durant

[Neurotic Guy]

JT > KD.   KD is a little > JB. 

Jaylen will catch him within 2 seasons if not next year.

[SHAQATTACK]

Durrants OKC team was loaded ….Ibaka , Harden , Westbrook , Green and few others as well.

He couldn’t get it done on that team ,  couldn’t lead them to a title …..he wasn’t a real leader IMO ….just a great player one of the best of all time…..like his buddy Irving .  Had to join Warriors to be sure he got a title …

Put Tatum with Curry and they would STILL be winning titles .

[gouki88]

I don't think it's a controversial thing to say. Tatum has a significant edge defensively, rebounds it quite a bit better, and plays way more games.

The difference in offence is negligible, if it exists. Tatum scores more at worse efficiency, but shoots the three better on higher volumes. Tatum generates more free throws but shoots them worse. Tatum turns it over less but gets less assists.

[Big333223]

Right now? I do think Tatum is better. I think he outplayed Durant in the playoffs pretty convincingly and Tatum has found that perfect rhythm between scoring almost at will while making the players around him more effective. Durant has lost just enough of a step to where I think Tatum is better now.

That said, Tatum is not really anywhere close to Durant in the all-time conversation. Not yet. Durant's MVP season is one of the best individual seasons anyone has ever had in the history of the game.

[GreenlyGreeny]

24-going-on-25 JT is better than 34-going-on-35 KD. JT has some growing to do to be better than Prime KD, though, and TBD on whether he can pull that off. Having KD on the team at JT’s sidekick and mentor would go a long way towards improving those odds, though…

Here’s a hot take: JT may very well be the best basketball player on the planet right now. Giannis and Jokic are the only real competition, so he’s inarguably the best American basketball player right now.

[Neurotic Guy]

24-going-on-25 JT is better than 34-going-on-35 KD. JT has some growing to do to be better than Prime KD, though, and TBD on whether he can pull that off. Having KD on the team at JT’s sidekick and mentor would go a long way towards improving those odds, though…

Here’s a hot take: JT may very well be the best basketball player on the planet right now. Giannis and Jokic are the only real competition, so he’s inarguably the best American basketball player right now.

You wouldn’t put Luka in that conversation?

[johnnygreen]

Durrants OKC team was loaded ….Ibaka , Harden , Westbrook , Green and few others as well.

He couldn’t get it done on that team ,  couldn’t lead them to a title …..he wasn’t a real leader IMO ….just a great player one of the best of all time…..like his buddy Irving .  Had to join Warriors to be sure he got a title …

Put Tatum with Curry and they would STILL be winning titles .

I must be missing something. Durant and OKC lost in the 2012 Finals to a loaded Miami Heat team with prime LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. If I recall, Miami was heavily favored. Durant averaged 30.6 ppg in those Finals.

Wasn't Tatum on the better team in last years Finals, and were also favored to win it too. Tatum averaged 21.5 ppg in last years Finals.

Those Golden State teams in 2017 and 2018 were going to win it all, regardless if they had Durant or Tatum.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

24-going-on-25 JT is better than 34-going-on-35 KD. JT has some growing to do to be better than Prime KD, though, and TBD on whether he can pull that off. Having KD on the team at JT’s sidekick and mentor would go a long way towards improving those odds, though…

Here’s a hot take: JT may very well be the best basketball player on the planet right now. Giannis and Jokic are the only real competition, so he’s inarguably the best American basketball player right now.

You wouldn’t put Luka in that conversation?

Luka only plays 1/2 of the game. Phoenix actively targeted him in the playoffs.

I think Tatum has surpassed Durant.

[Big333223]

24-going-on-25 JT is better than 34-going-on-35 KD. JT has some growing to do to be better than Prime KD, though, and TBD on whether he can pull that off. Having KD on the team at JT’s sidekick and mentor would go a long way towards improving those odds, though…

Here’s a hot take: JT may very well be the best basketball player on the planet right now. Giannis and Jokic are the only real competition, so he’s inarguably the best American basketball player right now.

You wouldn’t put Luka in that conversation?

Luka only plays 1/2 of the game. Phoenix actively targeted him in the playoffs.

I think Tatum has surpassed Durant.

How'd that work out for Phoenix?

[liam]

Durrants OKC team was loaded ….Ibaka , Harden , Westbrook , Green and few others as well.

He couldn’t get it done on that team ,  couldn’t lead them to a title …..he wasn’t a real leader IMO ….just a great player one of the best of all time…..like his buddy Irving .  Had to join Warriors to be sure he got a title …

Put Tatum with Curry and they would STILL be winning titles .

I must be missing something. Durant and OKC lost in the 2012 Finals to a loaded Miami Heat team with prime LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. If I recall, Miami was heavily favored. Durant averaged 30.6 ppg in those Finals.

Wasn't Tatum on the better team in last years Finals, and were also favored to win it too. Tatum averaged 21.5 ppg in last years Finals.

Those Golden State teams in 2017 and 2018 were going to win it all, regardless if they had Durant or Tatum.

You're not going to mention Tatum's wrist?

[gouki88]

24-going-on-25 JT is better than 34-going-on-35 KD. JT has some growing to do to be better than Prime KD, though, and TBD on whether he can pull that off. Having KD on the team at JT’s sidekick and mentor would go a long way towards improving those odds, though…

Here’s a hot take: JT may very well be the best basketball player on the planet right now. Giannis and Jokic are the only real competition, so he’s inarguably the best American basketball player right now.

You wouldn’t put Luka in that conversation?

Luka only plays 1/2 of the game. Phoenix actively targeted him in the playoffs.

I think Tatum has surpassed Durant.

And they suffered the most embarrassing playoff loss in recent memory.

[RockinRyA]

Its close but I think atthis point Tatum has the edge in durability and playmaking

[Goldstar88]

Its close but I think atthis point Tatum has the edge in durability and playmaking

Feel like Tatum is better defensively as well.

[RockinRyA]

Its close but I think atthis point Tatum has the edge in durability and playmaking

Feel like Tatum is better defensively as well.

I think its close, when engaged Durant is a heck of a defender. That's why I only listed the ones where one has the clear edge.