Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen

Moderators: Clyde Frazier, Doctor MJ, trex_8063, penbeast0, PaulieWal

Higher on your all-time list?

Anthony Davis
4
33%
Scottie Pippen
8
67%
 
Total votes: 12

Matt15
Lead Assistant
Posts: 4,546
And1: 555
Joined: Aug 27, 2008

Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen 

Post#1 » by Matt15 » Sun Aug 10, 2025 10:40 am

Who do you rank higher on your all-time list?
One_and_Done
General Manager
Posts: 9,249
And1: 5,615
Joined: Jun 03, 2023

Re: Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen 

Post#2 » by One_and_Done » Sun Aug 10, 2025 10:41 am

Probably AD. Pippen is a pretty underrated guy, so it's at least a conversation I suppose. The more I think about it though the more obviously it seems to be AD.
Warspite wrote:Billups was a horrible scorer who could only score with an open corner 3 or a FT.
penbeast0
Senior Mod - NBA Player Comparisons
Senior Mod - NBA Player Comparisons
Posts: 30,363
And1: 9,913
Joined: Aug 14, 2004
Location: South Florida
 

Re: Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen 

Post#3 » by penbeast0 » Sun Aug 10, 2025 2:53 pm

Again, AD if you are ignoring the availability issues. Pippen if being out there on the court matters. Though Davis is probably more impactful when he is out there, he just isn't there as consistently and it's close enough that that puts Pippen clearly in front.
“Most people use statistics like a drunk man uses a lamppost; more for support than illumination,” Andrew Lang.
lessthanjake
Analyst
Posts: 3,226
And1: 2,947
Joined: Apr 13, 2013

Re: Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen 

Post#4 » by lessthanjake » Sun Aug 10, 2025 4:34 pm

At his best, I think Anthony Davis is a better player. But there’s availability issues with Davis. There’s also just a pretty severe team achievement gap, which matters to me a good deal for purposes of an “all-time list.” So this is very easily Pippen for me, even though I’d take 2020 playoffs AD over any version of Pippen.
OhayoKD wrote:Lebron contributes more to all the phases of play than Messi does. And he is of course a defensive anchor unlike messi.
User avatar
homecourtloss
RealGM
Posts: 11,427
And1: 18,829
Joined: Dec 29, 2012

Re: Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen 

Post#5 » by homecourtloss » Sun Aug 10, 2025 5:53 pm

AD’s overall profile tools profile suggests he’d be an impact monster and an easy pick, but it has not been the case. People will mention availability, which is, of course, a concern, but when he has been available, outside of the 2020 playoffs (not even the 2020 regular season) and a few other series, his impact profile has been rather weak relative to what one would expect. The 2020 playoffs seem like an exception.

His two year, three year, 4 year , 5 year impact profiles are rather weak.

Image
Image

Even in the 2020 regular season he struggled to lead winning margins without James with even defense not being something that was holding the team up:

Image

Meanwhile, Pippen’s prime impact profile looks rather robust in comparison though all we have are Squared’s partials for 1985-1996, but do have a full set for 1997 and 1998.

Image
Image
lessthanjake wrote:Kyrie was extremely impactful without LeBron, and basically had zero impact whatsoever if LeBron was on the court.

lessthanjake wrote: By playing in a way that prevents Kyrie from getting much impact, LeBron ensures that controlling for Kyrie has limited effect…
falcolombardi
General Manager
Posts: 9,518
And1: 7,132
Joined: Apr 13, 2021
       

Re: Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen 

Post#6 » by falcolombardi » Mon Aug 11, 2025 7:43 pm

For 2015 and 2018 regular seasons or 2020 playoffs davis may have peaked higher, but both were comparable players within their own eras as fringe mvp/top 5 candidates

Once considering availability i would take pippen straight up as they are roughly similar tier guys
migya
General Manager
Posts: 8,145
And1: 1,492
Joined: Aug 13, 2005

Re: Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen 

Post#7 » by migya » Tue Aug 12, 2025 3:23 am

falcolombardi wrote:For 2015 and 2018 regular seasons or 2020 playoffs davis may have peaked higher, but both were comparable players within their own eras as fringe mvp/top 5 candidates

Once considering availability i would take pippen straight up as they are roughly similar tier guys



Both are comparable but hard to say Pippen was a top 5 player besides 1994 and maybe 1995.
falcolombardi
General Manager
Posts: 9,518
And1: 7,132
Joined: Apr 13, 2021
       

Re: Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen 

Post#8 » by falcolombardi » Tue Aug 12, 2025 3:31 am

migya wrote:
falcolombardi wrote:For 2015 and 2018 regular seasons or 2020 playoffs davis may have peaked higher, but both were comparable players within their own eras as fringe mvp/top 5 candidates

Once considering availability i would take pippen straight up as they are roughly similar tier guys



Both are comparable but hard to say Pippen was a top 5 player besides 1994 and maybe 1995.


That is what fringe means here, same applies to davis most years outside 2018/2020 (and maybe 2015)
migya
General Manager
Posts: 8,145
And1: 1,492
Joined: Aug 13, 2005

Re: Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen 

Post#9 » by migya » Tue Aug 12, 2025 3:37 am

falcolombardi wrote:
migya wrote:
falcolombardi wrote:For 2015 and 2018 regular seasons or 2020 playoffs davis may have peaked higher, but both were comparable players within their own eras as fringe mvp/top 5 candidates

Once considering availability i would take pippen straight up as they are roughly similar tier guys



Both are comparable but hard to say Pippen was a top 5 player besides 1994 and maybe 1995.


That is what fringe means here, same applies to davis most years outside 2018/2020 (and maybe 2015)



It can be said, particularly before 1994 and after 1998, which isn't many seasons in his career in truth, Pippen was fringe top 10. His two way play was among the best but there was some great players.

Ahead of him - Jordan, Olajuwon, Robinson, Ewing, Malone, Barkley for all that time period.

Magic, KJ, THardaway, Mullin, Stockton before 1994, at least most of those seasons. Isiah up until 1992 is arguable also. Might have missed a couple of others, like Chambers late 80s first couple of seasons 90s etc.
falcolombardi
General Manager
Posts: 9,518
And1: 7,132
Joined: Apr 13, 2021
       

Re: Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen 

Post#10 » by falcolombardi » Tue Aug 12, 2025 3:43 am

migya wrote:
falcolombardi wrote:
migya wrote:

Both are comparable but hard to say Pippen was a top 5 player besides 1994 and maybe 1995.


That is what fringe means here, same applies to davis most years outside 2018/2020 (and maybe 2015)



It can be said, particularly before 1994 and after 1998, which isn't many seasons in his career in truth, Pippen was fringe top 10. His two way play was among the best but there was some great players.

Ahead of him - Jordan, Olajuwon, Robinson, Ewing, Malone, Barkley for all that time period.

Magic, KJ, THardaway, Mullin, Stockton before 1994, at least most of those seasons. Isiah up until 1992 is arguable also. Might have missed a couple of others, like Chambers late 80s first couple of seasons 90s etc.


You could say the same thingh about davis by mentioning all the possible players better than him, specially if you stretch it like you did here with chambers or mullin

Example: "all of lebron, curry, giannis, jokic,healthy kawhi, harden and durant were better. Also prime westbrook or late prime chris paul too. Then later on guys like luka and shai. Some years from lillard or mitchell are up there too"
Elpolo_14
Sophomore
Posts: 217
And1: 164
Joined: Mar 24, 2025
         

Re: Anthony Davis vs Scottie Pippen 

Post#11 » by Elpolo_14 » Tue Aug 12, 2025 5:46 am

Higher all time is Comfortably PIPPEN IMO.

If it about Peak AD take the Cake

Return to Player Comparisons