Richard Jefferson has heated argument with Channing Frye over Giannis Antetokounmpo & Nikola Jokic comparison
When ranking the NBA's top players, Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the first names that comes to mind. The Milwaukee Bucks star continues to take his game to new heights.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.0 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists this season. As the NBA season hits its halfway mark, he is front and center in the MVP discussion.
During a recent episode of "Road Trippin," former players Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye got into a heated discussion about the NBA MVP Award. Frye believes that Nikola Jokic deserves to win the award for a third straight year. Jefferson made it clear that he thinks Antetokounmpo is the better player.
"If Milwaukee was healthy, they would motherf****** whoop Denver's tail."
"If you are building around Giannis, it is much easier to build a top-five, top-ten defense. It's easy to have a dominant player on the defensive [and] offensive end that is also a very willing passer for a superstar."
Is Giannis Antetokounmpo the best player on the planet today?
Both are incredible talents, but the slight edge should go to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Between him and Nikola Jokic, he is the more dominant player. He has more of an impact on the game.
While Giannis Antetokounmpo might need specific players around him to maximize his talent, the results speak for themselves. Over the past six years, he has arguably been the most unstoppable force in the NBA.
The main thing that separates Antetokounmpo from Jokic is overall success. Both have won multiple MVP Awards. But the Milwaukee Bucks star has more hardware. He has also won the Defensive Player of the Year award, an NBA championship, and an NBA Finals MVP.
To be considered the best, you have to win at the highest level. Jokic has been great in the regular season, but has had limited success in the playoffs. Antetokounmpo has carried his team to the game's biggest stage.
In reality, this is a question that has no wrong answer. Both players are generational talents and are doing things the game has never seen before. But if one player has to be picked over the other, it's hard not to go with Antetokounmpo.
Great players are able to fully control the game on both ends. Antetokounmpo does that. He is just as effective as Jokic offensively, and can anchor a great defense. Because of his accolades and two-way dominance, Antetokounmpo should be considered the best player in the world.