RealGM

Who was the better player in their prime?

Robinson but close.

I'll go David Robinson. I think neither are great #1 options, however I think Robinson was better as a #2 guy due to being a better lob-threat and being able to draw free-throws at a higher rate. I think relative to era, Robinson is a better defender

Robinson's WOWY metrics

Prime WOWYR: 9.1
Scaled WOWYR: 8.4
Alt Scaled: 9.4
10-year Scaled GPM: 9.4

Kevin Garnett WOWY metrics

Prime WOWYR: 6.2
Scaled WOWYR: 5.7
Alt Scaled: 6.3
10-year GPM: 6.8

I think Robinson is a bit better on offense and defense so I’ll go with him.

Robinson without question. Better offense player and imo the more well rounded defender, Garnett has the clear "versatility" advantage against everyone except a few defenders and D-Rob is one of those few. He was just a freak athlete (foot speed/lateral quickness-wise) at a legit 7ft+. KG was a more prolific rebounder but Rob was no slouch himself.

I think Garnett peaked as a better player than Robinson in both 2003 and 2004, both offensively and defensively.

For the rest of their primes I see them as pretty much comparable.

LukaTheGOAT wrote:Robinson's WOWY metrics

Prime WOWYR: 9.1
Scaled WOWYR: 8.4
Alt Scaled: 9.4
10-year Scaled GPM: 9.4

Kevin Garnett WOWY metrics

Prime WOWYR: 6.2
Scaled WOWYR: 5.7
Alt Scaled: 6.3
10-year GPM: 6.8

Very reasonable conclusions, but I would not touch WOWYR with a pole for post-1997 players pre-1997 neither, but that's me.

Jaivl wrote:I think Garnett peaked as a better player than Robinson in both 2003 and 2004, both offensively and defensively.

For the rest of their primes I see them as pretty much comparable.

LukaTheGOAT wrote:Robinson's WOWY metrics

Prime WOWYR: 9.1
Scaled WOWYR: 8.4
Alt Scaled: 9.4
10-year Scaled GPM: 9.4

Kevin Garnett WOWY metrics

Prime WOWYR: 6.2
Scaled WOWYR: 5.7
Alt Scaled: 6.3
10-year GPM: 6.8

Very reasonable conclusions, but I would not touch WOWYR with a pole for post-1997 players pre-1997 neither, but that's me.

To be fair, for Robinson we've got on-off to an extent (not full play-by-play) for 94-96, numbers per 48.

94: on +9.4, net 19.9, off -10.5
95: on +10.7, net 19.8, off -9.1
96: on+10.7, net 16.6, off -5.9

This has been done before and it really is no comparison, Robinson was a star on both ends for almost a decade, arguably the best two way platter of the 90s. Garnett is among the best in his era but not the anchor on either end like Robinson. Both were worse in the playoffs but had Robinson been just the same in playoffs, even without winning a championship, he'd surely be considered top 10 .

Jaivl wrote:I think Garnett peaked as a better player than Robinson in both 2003 and 2004, both offensively and defensively.

For the rest of their primes I see them as pretty much comparable.

LukaTheGOAT wrote:Robinson's WOWY metrics

Prime WOWYR: 9.1
Scaled WOWYR: 8.4
Alt Scaled: 9.4
10-year Scaled GPM: 9.4

Kevin Garnett WOWY metrics

Prime WOWYR: 6.2
Scaled WOWYR: 5.7
Alt Scaled: 6.3
10-year GPM: 6.8

Very reasonable conclusions, but I would not touch WOWYR with a pole for post-1997 players pre-1997 neither, but that's me.

Fair. I do think Robinson has some plus-minus arguments. Things is a good portion of Robinson's best Prime years are missing along with what I would consider his defensive peak.

I like KG more but Robinson is rising the more I think about him.

HeartBreakKid wrote:I like KG more but Robinson is rising the more I think about him.

Just look at the numbers, boxscore and metrics. Look at his teams pre Duncan.