FanPost

Why Karl-Anthony Towns Is Better Than Anthony Davis, Looking Forward

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Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Player A: 19.9 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 2.2 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 54% FGM/A, 85% FT/A. (Per 36 minutes)

Player B: 23.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.4 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 49% FGM/A, 76% FT/A. (Per 36 minutes)

Which player would you take?

The numbers look oddly similar, but I'd assume that the majority would go with Player B.

Player A is a rookie, and was dubbed as a could-be rookie of the year coming into this season. Player A is Karl-Anthony Towns.

Player B is in his fourth year in the league, and was dubbed as a favorite for the MVP award coming into this season. Player B is Anthony Davis.

It's really quite amazing when you look at the numbers that Towns puts on a nightly basis. After roughly three months into the season, Towns seems like a clear-cut favorite to win the rookie of the year award. Some even went to heights mentioning that he should have been an All-Star, as his numbers back him up. However, not many have considered him to be in the same breath as Anthony Davis, let alone arguing who's better.

When people look at Anthony Davis, they think of him as the future of the NBA, or the face of the league. It is true, Davis is a beast at such a young age of 22, and still has an entire career ahead of him. His potential is incomparable to the potential of others in his draft class, and maybe even the entire younger players who are aiming to make a name for themselves.

But so is Karl-Anthony Towns...

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Just to have a background check on both players, both Davis and Towns played for the Kentucky Wildcats, but were three years separated. Karl-Anthony was quietly making a name for himself, though considerable for the number one pick. Oddly put, Towns was the underrated number one pick. Anthony, on the other hand, had a popular story and was projected to go number one in the draft during his high-school days. Davis made a name for himself as he featured for USA in the 2012 Olympics, before he even had any NBA experience.

Starting with an impressive rebounding and blocking display during his rookie year despite injury struggles, Davis progressed to the point where he nearly doubled his rookie stats concerning points per game. Eventually, with time, Anthony lead his team to a playoff appearance, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors.

Davis now has 3 All-Star selections, 1 All-NBA selection, 1 All-Defense selection, 2-time blocks leader and 1 All-rookie selection, in only three completed seasons. A sure lock to be a future Hall of Fame inductee.

But, the thing with Karl-Anthony is that he has the skill set and size to impact heavily on both halves of the floor. His offensive and defensive games are advanced and still have a lot more to progress, considering that he only played 50 career NBA games. His shooting touch is already amazingly consistent, especially his mid-range jumper, where it comes as a weapon for the Timberwolves against other teams. It's a pick-your-poison type, he'll attack you with a jumper or by using his size and skill-set to beat you in the post.

If Towns can hit from the outside and overpower you down low, then there is really no way to stop him other than hope that his shot bounces off the rim.

If you sleep on Karl-Anthony, he'll feast on you and make you regret that instantly. Some say that rebounds determine the match, Towns already is a monster on the boards, and it's just a matter of time until he eclipses a high rebounding average to be among the league's best. His second chance points contribute heavily, as well as not allowing opponents to have second chance points.

Besides, who doesn't love a passionate player who plays with heart and soul? Just look at his reaction to Kevin Garnett dunking.

As for AD, his defensive presence is undeniable. The best defensive players are the ones who make you feel their presence on the court. Take Kawhi Leonard for example. Davis still hasn't won a defensive player of the year, but saying that he should win one at the age of 22 speaks volumes. Anthony seems like the player who will lead the league in blocks for an unprecedented time. Only three players have lead the league in blocks for four times: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Mark Eaton and Marcus Camby. The thing is, these three reached their fourth time while they were deep in the careers, Davis has two in three completed seasons.

A stat which is surprising for some is that Towns allows less opponent points in the paint when compared to Davis [27.5 points to 30.4 points].

Ofcourse, Towns cannot really be compared to Davis concerning defense, despite him being solid as well. Davis is just simply on another level.

Anthony is developing his game even more. His mid-range shooting has improved, and he's now able to knock down threes, making him as lethal as ever.

There's no denying that both are magnificent in their own way, and could be the best big men in the league after a few years, but it just seems that Karl-Anthony could have the edge.

Davis' production results in wins, basically, but not the wins needed. The Pelicans took a major step back. Whereas Towns' production results in a forward step, and that's being shown this season.

The NBA is changing dramatically to the small-ball system, leaving occasionally just one big man. If you give it a strong thought, that single big man -if used efficiently- will dominate the smaller men. Towns has the size, has the skill, and has the quality to dominate either big men or small men. Put shorter players into perspective and remove the taller ones, and Towns will easily score on you and crash the boards, easily.

Then again, Towns adapts smoothly into changes and the small-ball system is no different. Davis would do the same, but Davis is going with the small-ball flow and attempting to create a shot from outside which isn't all that efficient as going from the inside.

Moreover, it seems that Towns is used in the best possible way in Minnesota. New Orleans are trying to get the best coach, but that lead to a huge drop in the win-loss column. The T-Wolves rebuilt their system and their ways, which now has them having a young core, and an entertaining one.

Towns has Ricky Rubio to dish and feed him the ball, either him or Andrew Wiggins. But the team doesn't stop there, the Wolves aren't strong now, but they will be because of this young and all-around core. Simply put, rebuilding their system will make them contenders in the future, something the Pelicans have struggled to fully achieve.

Towns doesn't get the same amount of touches, the same amount of usage, but when he does, he makes the most of it. That's what makes him efficient. Karl-Anthony averages a less amount of field goal attempts, a less amount of minutes played, yet has quite similar stats to Davis.

With all that being said, we should just be grateful to have these dominant big men lead the way into the new era of basketball. One is 22, while the other is only 20, and we're already talking about how they're smoothly becoming big names. Their potential still hasn't been scratched, what will happen when it has?

Good luck to the opponents.