The Guessing Game: Which player is the next Kevin Durant?

Micah Adams

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The Guessing Game: Which player is the next Kevin Durant? image

Remove all preconceived bias and let the facts speak for themselves.

That's what we're aiming for with The Daily Guessing Game.

We provide the stats for Player A and Player B and you pick which one is better. It's really that simple ... but with the caveat that you don't know the identities before voting.

Sometimes it will be two incredibly similar players and a legitimately fair comparison. Sometimes it will be single years being compared and sometimes entire careers. Sometimes the sample sizes will be so ridiculous and disparate that it's beyond ludicrous. Sometimes it's entirely tongue in cheek and not to be taken too seriously.

This time we're going to change things up. One of the players below is a 22-year-old Kevin Durant. But which one is it? 

Enough small talk ...

Take your pick

Player A is on top, Player B is on bottom.

 

 
Which player is better?
Player A
Player B
 
 
 
 
 
 
Created with Poll Maker

 

We posed this same question to members of our global NBA.com Staff. Without knowing the identities of either player, here are the quick reasons for why they voted as they did.

Player A

I'm going with Player A because Player B is clearly the person you want me to pick. — Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)

Player B

Both have really similar numbers, but Player B looks like a more efficient scorer, with his 3-point shooting being far better. He even has a higher field goal percentage, even though he's taking more outside shots than Player A. Also, his rebounding and assist numbers are better, while having almost identical defensive stats (blocks and steals). All in all, Player B looks just a touch superior in almost all categories. - Juan Estevez (@JuanEstevez90)

Drumroll please...

So who are the secret identities?

Player A is Kevin Durant in his fourth season back in 2010-11.

Player B is Brandon Ingram in his fourth season so far here in 2019-20.

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com

All stats provided above are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com's invaluable Player Comparison Finder tool.

Here's the thing... Brandon Ingram is NOT Kevin Durant. That's not the point here. The point is to simply shine some love on Ingram's incredible breakout season thus far in a way that connects back to his glass half-full projections entering the 2016 NBA Draft.

Check back next time. Who knows? Maybe we'll all come to the conclusion that Aron Baynes is actually better than Hakeem Olajuwon!

The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.

Micah Adams

Micah Adams Photo

Micah Adams is a Managing Editor and Head of Affiliate and Commercial Content at Sporting News. Prior to joining SN in 2021, Adams spent over a decade producing and leading content teams at ESPN, DAZN and The Social Institute. Adams graduated from Duke University in 2009 and remains a Cameron Crazie at heart well into his 30s. When not losing sleep or hair over the Blue Devils, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bulls, and USMNT, Adams enjoys chasing his two small children around along with his wife, losing golf balls, spending time outdoors and binging terrible movies.