Dirk Nowitzki vs. Kevin Durant

[dankok8]

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

[Neal Romer]

From a skills perspective it's pretty even I reckon, but I would tend to value Durant lower than comparably skilled players due to very weak intangibles.

[John8204]

Durant had top ten maybe even top five peak potential, but Dirk had a far better career and sustained much more success than Durant.

[FKAri]

KD peak and KD career. But there are certain things Dirk could do that were better than any version of KD.

I actually think at his best, Dirk was better at getting to his spot and better at scoring from that spot than KD. But KD was still a better scorer, was a more versatile scorer, was better in space, and also a much better defender. Neither could really playmaker. Dirk's a better leader tho because I know he's not going to mope around when things don't go his way and kill the team's vibes.

[Phoenix]

In a vacuum KD's the better overall talent, but I would rather Dirk lead my franchise due to superior intangibles and leadership. I actually think KD hasn't achieved as much as his talent suggests he should have, especially when people talk about how gifted he is historically. Or at least, it seems like he left things on the table. Dirk on the other hand, pretty much maxed out his basketball talents. I don't recall what the buzz was on him in 98, but I doubt few had him written in for an MVP, FMVP/ring and 30k points.

Also, while Dirk wasn't a facilitator per se, his teams post-Nash were able to maintain elite offensive rankings ( something Tpols will certainly appreciate), without any other really elite offensive players asides from himself. Josh Howard and Jason Terry were very good players, but not #1 Off Rg good( like in 2006) so Dirk had great ability to elevate a team. And was able to keep the Mavs a 50+ win team in a tough, tough Western conference throughout the 2000s with like 3 different rosters and coaching changes. He was the constant.

[StrongLurk]

Hard to choose, but I'll give a slight edge to KD.

[Lebron23]

Kevin Durant

[tpols]

Cant really beat a 2011 peak how Dirk did it.

They have similar strengths, both 7 foot snipers who's offense is special. Durant was more mobile but tbh Dirks scoring was more valuable in the clutch. He was stronger than KD so could always get to his spot and not as mentally immature as him either. Dirk was colder. And a better leader.

Just imagine KD taking those Mavs teams to 2 Finals almost winning both of them btw... with Jason Terry a 6th man as his best help. I don't think anyone in history does that outside maybe Jokic or early 80s Bird. And Dirk.

[Full Court]

I'd take Nowitzki to build my team around, hands down.

[Im Still Ballin]

RAPM says Dirk was better.

3-year RAPM
2001-2003 Dirk: +7.3
2010-2012 Dirk: +7.1
2011-2013 Dirk: +6.8

2014-2016 KD: +5.9
2021-2023 KD: +5.5
2020-2022 KD: +5.2

5-year RAPM
2007-2011 Dirk: +7.2
2008-2012 Dirk: +7.1
2010-2014 Dirk: +6.8

2013-2017 KD: +5.6
2010-2014 KD: +5.5
2012-2016 KD: +5.5

The offensive RAPM is relatively close between them. It's the possession game that gives Dirk the edge. Turns it over on offense way less. Has a notably stronger impact on defensive rebounds and to a lesser extent turnover generation.

As for the question in the OP? I'm not sure. But I would rather build a team with Dirk. Leadership, intangibles, etc. What others have mentioned.

[Axe]

Cant really beat a 2011 peak how Dirk did it.

They have similar strengths, both 7 foot snipers who's offense is special. Durant was more mobile but tbh Dirks scoring was more valuable in the clutch. He was stronger than KD so could always get to his spot and not as mentally immature as him either. Dirk was colder. And a better leader.

Just imagine KD taking those Mavs teams to 2 Finals almost winning both of them btw... with Jason Terry a 6th man as his best help. I don't think anyone in history does that outside maybe Jokic or early 80s Bird. And Dirk.
Dirk did better considering he's the only main star in his team during their championship season. Meanwhile, kd lost in the finals the following year despite having westbrook and harden under his arsenal. But he is the more talented player tho for today's offense.

The gay casual below you doesn't know crap about basketball and is a fragile piece of shit who just bleeds over anything he sees here mocking him, btw.

[Norcaliblunt]

Pretty even.

Dirks 2011 run is pretty overrated though. It took a goat level meltdown choke job from LeBron for the Mavs to win.

LeBron never choked that hard when he would face KD.

[marLeY baLL]

Justin Cowboy or MARLEY DRUG$

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[Phoenix]

Pretty even.

Dirks 2011 run is pretty overrated though. It took a goat level meltdown choke job from LeBron for the Mavs to win.

LeBron never choked that hard when he would face KD.

He wasn't as good in the finals as he was throughout the Western playoffs, but on paper his team was probably less talented than everyone else, maybe a toss-up with the Blazers, but definitely less firepower than the Lakers, Thunder and Heat. Though I do agree, if Lebron even played 'good' in the finals the Heat probably win in 6.

[ArbitraryWater]

Its crazy because in 2018 I probably would have picked KD.

But now for me its Dirk clearly.

Career wise anyway.


And all Id say for peak, well, im def not taking any non-GS years over 2011 Dirk.

If you think the GS years just so happened to be his peak, yea, you could take them.

[SouBeachTalents]

Durant imo was the more talented individual player, I would say at his best he was better than Dirk was at his. Career wise they're essentially in the same tier, both roughly top 20. Building a franchise though, you'd have to be insane to choose Durant :lol As others have already mentioned, Dirk blows him away in leadership and intangibles, and I felt like he overachieved relative to the talent level he played with while Durant underachieved with his.

[Phoenix]

Durant imo was the more talented individual player, I would say at his best he was better than Dirk was at his. Career wise they're essentially in the same tier, both roughly top 20. Building a franchise though, you'd have to be insane to choose Durant :lol As others have already mentioned, Dirk blows him away in leadership and intangibles, and I felt like he overachieved relative to the talent level he played with while Durant underachieved with his.

Exactly the point I made earlier.. As much as KD has done, people talk about him in terms of being historically gifted at the level of guys like MJ, Lebron, Kareem etc. When you compare him to that level that's when it feels like he's underachieved. It's really more like he should be compared in the Dirk and KG tier. His career is more in line with those guys than the GOAT level guys he's supposedly as gifted as. Dirk pretty much maxed out his talent and career, if anything he probably did more than expected because I think people wrote him off as ever being good enough to win the big one after 2007.

[Manny98]

Going with Dirk for peak & career

KD hasn't done enough in the postseason outside of those years where he joined the Warriors which counts for less

[SouBeachTalents]

Going with Dirk for peak & career

KD hasn't done enough in the postseason outside of those years where he joined the Warriors which counts for less
I remember not that long ago you were claiming KD > LeBron :lol

[Manny98]

I remember not that long ago you were claiming KD > LeBron :lol

No I wasn't :lol

[dankok8]

Harden and Kyrie going down in the 2021 playoffs could end up really hurting KD's legacy. Good chance that team wins a title if healthy that year and he would be looked at so much differently with another ring outside of Golden State.

[SouBeachTalents]

Harden and Kyrie going down in the 2021 playoffs could end up really hurting KD's legacy. Good chance that team wins a title if healthy that year and he would be looked at so much differently with another ring outside of Golden State.
I still maintain his toe being on the line is the most pivotal moment of the 2020's up to this point. KD & esp Giannis are looked at dramatically differently, and I maintain the Nets Big 3 doesn't break up as quickly if they had won a title together, so it's conceivable KD, Harden & Kyrie all end up on different teams at different times, totally shaking up the NBA landscape.

[dankok8]

I still maintain his toe being on the line is the most pivotal moment of the 2020's up to this point. KD & esp Giannis are looked at dramatically differently, and I maintain the Nets Big 3 doesn't break up as quickly if they had won a title together, so it's conceivable KD, Harden & Kyrie all end up on different teams at different times, totally shaking up the NBA landscape.

Toe on the line less so than the injuries IMO because I don't think the Nets win with an injured Harden/Kyrie even if they somehow good through the Bucks.

[SouBeachTalents]

Toe on the line less so than the injuries IMO because I don't think the Nets win with an injured Harden/Kyrie even if they somehow good through the Bucks.
My only counter to that is winning with Harden/Kyrie wouldn't do a ton to quell the narrative around KD imo, but winning in that fashion would've gone a long way. I'm confident even just KD alone beats the Hawks, and I'd have to assume Harden would've been in playing shape by the Finals.

[highwhey]

Its crazy because in 2018 I probably would have picked KD.

But now for me its Dirk clearly.

Career wise anyway.


And all Id say for peak, well, im def not taking any non-GS years over 2011 Dirk.

If you think the GS years just so happened to be his peak, yea, you could take them.

its because we have seen kd...he's a journeyman. he will come in and drop 30 independent of the team. dirk did more than that.