Dwight Howard vs Shawn Kemp - who was better?

[mehyaM24]

Dwight Howard from 08-14

20/14/2 on 59%fg and 21/14/3 on 60%fg in the playoffs
23 PER - 3 BPM - 26 VORP and 24 PER - 5 BPM - 6 VORP in the playoffs
All-NBA from 08-14
All-Defense from 08-12
3X DPOY

Shawn Kemp from 93-99

19/10/2 on 51%fg and 20/11/2 on 51%fg in the playoffs
21 PER - 2 BPM - 19 VORP and 23 PER - 4 BPM - 4 VORP in the playoffs
All-NBA from 94-96

numbers might be a little skewed because dwight was featured a bit more on offense. kemp was a better scorer imo (despite the lower numbers) due to his transition game and shooting ability (midrange and freethrows). dwight crushes kemp on defense though.

[warriorfan]

Dwight by a lot

[mehyaM24]

Dwight by a lot

dwight accomplished more during his prime, but what makes the comparison lopsided to you? defense? offensively, kemp was definitely more skilled.

[ShawkFactory]

From like 08 to 12 Dwight was a legit MVP candidate. Kemp was nice and all but wasn't on that level

[tanibanana]

Dwight by a lot

Exactly... i was surprise with this comparison.
Dwight has 5 All-NBA first team... Kemp has 0.

[3ball]

Kemp had a guard physique at 6'10"

So he'd be a goat talent in today's game as a 6'10" guard that was strong enough to get 20/10 as a big in the 90's

The big man 80's stifled his talent

[Axe]

Exactly... i was surprise with this comparison.
Dwight has 5 All-NBA first team... Kemp has 0.
Wow, just goes to show that the talents generated by a more recent era are a lot better than the ones from the past.

[Reggie43]

Another quality thread by the op :facepalm

[mehyaM24]

Wow, just goes to show that the talents generated by a more recent era are a lot better than the ones from the past.

dont see the "not close" argument. kemp had similar numbers along with impact. dwight definitely accomplished more during his prime, but he doesn't win half that stuff in the 90s. where there were better bigmen overall, especially on defense.


Kemp had a guard physique at 6'10"

So he'd be a goat talent in today's game as a 6'10" guard that was strong enough to get 20/10 as a big in the 90's

The big man 80's stifled his talent

i agree that kemp would be better today. his skills are better suited NOW than dwight's game.


Another quality thread by the op :facepalm

nobody forced you to click the thread. :confusedshrug:

[tpols]

Dwight in 2009 was a runaway DPOY, and automatic double. He was Shaq'ing everybody. After the back injury a couple years later he was never the same. He still thought he was Shaq, but he lost all of his dexterity and flexibility which allowed him to beat guys and just two hand slam it over and over.

[BigShotBob]

Dwight doesn't win a single DPOY in the 90's and he probably wouldn't play center.

[HylianNightmare]

Dwight. Not even close

[RRR3]

Next up from OP:


Who was better-Alonzo Mourning or Gerald Wallace?

[MrFonzworth]

Next up from OP:


Who was better-Alonzo Mourning or Gerald Wallace?

Yikes this post is a bomb.

[RRR3]

Yikes this post is a bomb.
Just like TJ McConnell’s jump shot

[MrFonzworth]

Just like TJ McConnell’s jump shot

Another stinker. Mick has a lethal 18 footer

[mehyaM24]

Next up from OP:


Who was better-Alonzo Mourning or Gerald Wallace?

gerald wallace made one all-star team. never had close to the impact prime zo did, either. i appreciate a good troll though :applause:

[AussieSteve]

At his best, Kemp was the 4th/5th best forward in the league behind Barkley, Malone and Pippen. And alongside late-prime Nique then early-prime Grant Hill. A top 10-15 player in the league.

Dwight was a DPOY and MVP runner-up.

[mehyaM24]

At his best, Kemp was the 4th/5th best forward in the league behind Barkley, Malone and Pippen. And alongside late-prime Nique then early-prime Grant Hill. A top 10-15 player in the league.

Dwight was a DPOY and MVP runner-up.

those guys were better, sure. but you don't think dwight would've been behind them either?

[RRR3]

Another stinker. Mick has a lethal 18 footer
Sure he does, champ. And Rudy is elite on offense according to Xiao.

[AussieSteve]

you don't think dwight would've been behind those guys either?

That's actually a good point.

[FultzNationRISE]

If you put them on opposite teams with equal teammates, you might get a fairly even contest.

But the issue is Dwight is harder to replace, which makes him more valuable. More guys can do what Kemp does than what Dwight does. So youd always prioritize Howard on a roster.

[mehyaM24]

That's actually a good point.

ya their numbers are pretty similar in the postseason. bpm doesn't measure OVERALL defense, but its a pretty good all-in-one impact stat (and adjusts per 100 possessions). i think the comparison is a lot closer than some of you think. but i'm also taking into account the eras both of them played in. 3ball rasied a valid point when he said kemp would be better today.

[ShawkFactory]

If you put them on opposite teams with equal teammates, you might get a fairly even contest.

But the issue is Dwight is harder to replace, which makes him more valuable. More guys can do what Kemp does than what Dwight does. So youd always prioritize Howard on a roster.

True but you could say that with a lot of people. These guys are all closer than most are willing to discuss because it’s not as fun to just say that they’re all really good.

Give Isiah Thomas and Mark Price even squads and it’s probably a 7 game series, given that their teammates compliment both well.

But you still choose Isiah every time if you have first pick.

[mehyaM24]

If you put them on opposite teams with equal teammates, you might get a fairly even contest.

But the issue is Dwight is harder to replace, which makes him more valuable. More guys can do what Kemp does than what Dwight does. So youd always prioritize Howard on a roster.

good post. don't know about today, where offense is lopsided, but generally speaking MOST gm's would agree. having a defensive anchor like prime dwight would be hard to pass on.

and i'm cool with anyone taking dwight. the "not close" stuff is just weird though.

[kawhileonard2]

Shawn Kemp for sure. He beat Karl Malone. Karl Malone destroyed David Robinson and David Robinson was much better than Dwight Howard and Dwight Howard beat peak Lebron without HCA.

[ShawkFactory]

Shawn Kemp for sure. He beat Karl Malone. Karl Malone destroyed David Robinson and David Robinson was much better than Dwight Howard and Dwight Howard beat peak Lebron without HCA.

So Kemp is like...one of the 10 or so greatest players ever then? Solid

[light]

Dwight Howard from 08-14

20/14/2 on 59%fg and 21/14/3 on 60%fg in the playoffs
23 PER - 3 BPM - 26 VORP and 24 PER - 5 BPM - 6 VORP in the playoffs
All-NBA from 08-14
All-Defense from 08-12
3X DPOY

Shawn Kemp from 93-99

19/10/2 on 51%fg and 20/11/2 on 51%fg in the playoffs
21 PER - 2 BPM - 19 VORP and 23 PER - 4 BPM - 4 VORP in the playoffs
All-NBA from 94-96

numbers might be a little skewed because dwight was featured a bit more on offense. kemp was a better scorer imo (despite the lower numbers) due to his transition game and shooting ability (midrange and freethrows). dwight crushes kemp on defense though.

Dwight was significantly better than Shawn Kemp.

Kemp is more like Anthony Mason level.

[kawhileonard2]

Dwight was significantly better than Shawn Kemp.

Kemp is more like Anthony Mason level.

Kemp in this era is more like Lebron level. Beat Karl Malone. Karl Malone beat David Robinson and Dwight beat Lebron without HCA. Dwight lost to Joe Johnson with HCA.