ESPN's Max Kellerman has always been a contrarian, especially on NBA topics, but on Monday morning, Stephen A. Smith and Jay Williams felt Kellerman went too far when he claimed that Giannis Antetokounmpo was better than Kevin Durant:
"The Greek Freak is better than KD…I'm sorry did the Freak and KD play in the same league or not because one of them is going to win the MVP and the other's not."
Max Kellerman (@maxkellerman) has Stephen A. (@stephenasmith) and Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) in UNBELIEF pic.twitter.com/qdQ8r7bfoe— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 10, 2019
Let's start with the fact that Kellerman's argument is absolutely ridiculous and hypocritical.
Max uses the fact that Antetokounmpo is likely to win the MVP award as a basis for saying he is better than Durant, but by that logic, James Harden is then better than LeBron James, as Harden won the MVP award last year and will, at worst, be a runner-up to Giannis this season.
Up until recently when Max called Kawhi Leonard the best player on the planet, he had maintained that James was the best player in the league and has frequently criticized Harden for his lack of big-time performances in the playoffs.
But which is it, Max? You can't play both sides of the fence here.
Realistically speaking, Antetokounmpo is unquestionably one of the best players in the league, but it is a bit too soon to say that he is better than Durant, as Giannis has yet to prove that he can lead a team through the playoffs.
Antetokounmpo looked outclassed by Leonard in the Eastern Conference Finals, and his lack of a perimeter jumper—not to mention his inconsistent free-throw shooting—is currently preventing him from being on that next level.
The Greek Freak might get there one day, but as of right now, you simply cannot say he is better than Durant.
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