Dirk Nowitzki vs. Kevin Durant

[Djoker]

Who had the better peak?
Who had the better career?

[JJ_PR]

I voted Durant peak and career. He has one more ring, and his peak was pretty insane.

[tsherkin]

I voted Durant peak and career. He has one more ring, and his peak was pretty insane.

Honestly, in a head to head with a guy who won a ring as the focal piece of his team, I don't think Durant's rings matter much. The team he won with had set the NBA record for wins the year prior and already had a title. They were in the Finals for the second straight year prior to KD's arrival.

Otherwise, it's a compelling comparison, for sure. KD was a SAVAGE scorer. At his peak, he was one of the two or three best offensive players in the game.

[liquidswords]

The Dirk love continues to shock me honestly. Dirk is a CLEAR tier below Durant. The ring debate is one component of the argument but peak prime, KD is a do-it-all juggernaut and Dirk is an offensive dynamo.

[Stan]

I voted Durant peak and career. He has one more ring, and his peak was pretty insane.

This dude just used KD having one more ring as an argument. Holy sh11t

[Special_Puppy]

Love this question

[JJ_PR]

I voted Durant peak and career. He has one more ring, and his peak was pretty insane.

This dude just used KD having one more ring as an argument. Holy sh11t

Championships are the ultimate prize, and he won finals MVP in both.

[Special_Puppy]

I picked Durant by a hair for both

[Special_Puppy]

I voted Durant peak and career. He has one more ring, and his peak was pretty insane.

This dude just used KD having one more ring as an argument. Holy sh11t

Championships are the ultimate prize, and he won finals MVP in both.

My guess is that Dirk would have also won more chips if he joined the Spurs in 2005 or something along those lines

[JJ_PR]

This dude just used KD having one more ring as an argument. Holy sh11t

Championships are the ultimate prize, and he won finals MVP in both.

My guess is that Dirk would have also won more chips if he joined the Spurs in 2005 or something along those lines

I agree. Also, Dallas wasn't the greatest management, letting Steve Nash go for nothing. In the right situation, Dirk wins at least two, I think.

[1993Playoffs]

Kd is slightly better.

[Damkac]

I voted Durant peak and career. He has one more ring, and his peak was pretty insane.

This dude just used KD having one more ring as an argument. Holy sh11t

Championships are the ultimate prize, and he won finals MVP in both.

On a team that made Andrew Wiggins an All-Star

1 Dirk's ring > 2 Durant's rings

[GeorgeMarcus]

Reasonably close, but give me Dirk for both. Especially for career.

[rickxdel]

Can't deny Durant is the more talented player and had a higher peak

Real ones know Dirk's career, the MVP, the chip he won and who he beat, what he means for the city of Dallas is greater than the cheapened chips Durant achieved and the team-hopping and disappointments he's been part of since

[rk2023]

Career: Wash, but I take Durant at this point

Peak: Close, but confidently lean Dirk

[TheGOATRises007]

Career, I think Durant by a clear margin.

Peak is much closer. I prefer KD, but Dirk obviously has a good argument too.

[ball_takes23]

what is Dirks argument for peak? defense, playmaking, scoring all favor KD. shooting is pretty equal. handle favors KD. midrange could favor Dirk depending on when you define KDs peak. KD better at getting to the basket.

[Special_Puppy]

what is Dirks argument for peak? defense, playmaking, scoring all favor KD. shooting is pretty equal. handle favors KD. midrange could favor Dirk depending on when you define KDs peak. KD better at getting to the basket.

Dirk generally achieved a higher on/off during his peak even while his "on" value lagged behind Durant

[sp6r=underrated]

This doesn't answer the first question asked but you'd have to be deranged to pick Durant if you're a franchise over Dirk.

From the age of 31 on, Durant's value for the franchises he played for was quite debatable. He made himself miserable anywhere he played despite being much closer to Duncan than KG for team support. He battled injuries, got coaches fired, demanded a role in roster construction and then made trade demands or became the subject of reasonable trade rumors.

That makes career an easy answer, even taken Durant's 20s in the most positive light and Dirk in the most negative, Durant didn't do enough in the 20s to make up the value gap.

Peak is harder and something I need to think about.

[NbaAllDay]

Durant.

Dirk isn't far behind but he has a reverence and love towards him due to his humility, play style and being with one team etc etc. People struggle to seperate that.

Reality is Durant is/was a better Basketball player.