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Two of the NBA's brightest stars will face off on Monday night, well sort of, as Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are set to host Luka Doncic and the Mavs. Unfortunately, Doncic will be unable to play in this one due to injury. Both players have become essential pieces of their respective organizations, but which would be the best option to go with when starting a franchise from scratch?
Size: At 6-11 and 242 pounds, Antetokounmpo is a bit bigger than Doncic, who is listed at 6-7 and 220 pounds. Still, both can play a variety of positions when needed, including guard and forward.
Strength: Antetokounmpo will take this category, though the margin isn't as great as you might think. At times, Giannis is muscling his way to the hoop. Other times, he's fending off opposing players for a loose rebound. For a bit of perspective, The Greek Freak is currently averaging 12.8 rebounds per game, which is fifth in the league — behind a bunch of devoted centers. Doncic is no slouch on the boards, though, as he's averaging 9.6 per contest.
Accuracy: At range, it would seem that Doncic holds the edge. Many would-be owners might favor the Slovenian-born star in this category. However, Antetokounmpo has improved his three-point shooting for this campaign. Last season, Giannis recorded a 25.6 percent mark from downtown. This season, he's making 32.8 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. Doncic, a talented shooter in his own right, is currently knocking down threes at a 32.6 percent clip.
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At the stripe: Doncic takes this statistical category by quite a wide margin. Giannis doesn't have many weaknesses, but free-throws have been an issue over the course of his career. This season, Antetokounmpo is making just 59.3 percent of his shots at the charity stripe, which is a career-low. Doncic is converting at an 80.3 percent clip.
Dishing the rock: Both are gifted passers, but it's Doncic taking the proverbial cake in this department. Luka has a great eye for the court, as his third-ranked 8.9 assists per game can attest. Giannis, meanwhile, is averaging a respectable 5.3 assists.
Experience: Though he's only playing in his second NBA season, this is where Doncic pulls away from Antetokounmpo a bit. Luka has been playing at a professional level since the young age of 13. The 20-year-old served with Real Madrid's U-16 and U-18 teams in the Euroleague, where he won three Liga championships. Antetokounmpo has some experience overseas as well, as he played for Filathlitikos in the semi-pro Greek league from 2011 to 2013.
The verdict: Either player would be a great option to build around, but we are picking Giannis Antetokounmpo. His combination of size, strength, speed, and ball-handling skills would simply be too appealing to pass on.
Disagree? That's alright. There are many reasons to believe Luka Doncic would be a better option. Feel free to voice your opinion.
