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Comparing Anthony Davis', Karl Malone's and Charles Barkley's best single season peak (thread).
For the purpose of this I'm taking their single season peaks as 2019-20 AD, 1989-90 Barkley and 1997-98 Malone.
Inflation Adjusted Per 75 numbers (Regular Season)
Davis: 27 on 8% TS better per TSA
Chuck: 24.5 on 23% TS better per TSA!!!
Malone: 30.6 on 14% TS better per TSA
Inflation Adjusted Per 75 numbers (Regular Season)
Davis: 27 on 8% TS better per TSA
Chuck: 24.5 on 23% TS better per TSA!!!
Malone: 30.6 on 14% TS better per TSA
Moving onto their passing and creation
AD averages 3.4 assists/75 has a 5.9 creation rate and a 6.2 passer rating
Chuck averages 3.6 assists/75 has a 6.9 creation rate and a 3.5 passer rating
Malone averages 3.9 assists/75 has a 7.9 creation rate and a 4.6 passer rating
AD averages 3.4 assists/75 has a 5.9 creation rate and a 6.2 passer rating
Chuck averages 3.6 assists/75 has a 6.9 creation rate and a 3.5 passer rating
Malone averages 3.9 assists/75 has a 7.9 creation rate and a 4.6 passer rating
They're all similar level passers with AD having the best passe rating and Malone having the highest box creation and assists/75.
In terms of portability and, AD beats the 2. He's an all time level off ball player and his skill set allows him to mesh with higher level talent.
In terms of portability and, AD beats the 2. He's an all time level off ball player and his skill set allows him to mesh with higher level talent.
Defensively, Anthony Davis is the best here again, comfortably beating them.
He's the best rim protector, most versatile defender and the best perimeter defender here.
Karl was an elite one on one defender. However he didn't provide much value outside of that.
He's the best rim protector, most versatile defender and the best perimeter defender here.
Karl was an elite one on one defender. However he didn't provide much value outside of that.
He wasn't a great help defender and wasn't amazing at protecting the rim.
Barkley on defense was not very good, not a great man defender, didn't provide much resistance at the basket, wasn't always engaged, gambled a fair bit.
Anthony Davis is clearly the best defender here.
Barkley on defense was not very good, not a great man defender, didn't provide much resistance at the basket, wasn't always engaged, gambled a fair bit.
Anthony Davis is clearly the best defender here.
Now the most important aspect of this comparison, the playoffs
Ad scored 28.3 points/75 on 18% ts better than league average per true shooting attempt
Karl scored 27.8/75 on average efficiency
Chuck scored 22.8/75 on 11% ts better than league average per true shooting attempt
Ad scored 28.3 points/75 on 18% ts better than league average per true shooting attempt
Karl scored 27.8/75 on average efficiency
Chuck scored 22.8/75 on 11% ts better than league average per true shooting attempt
Anthony Davis' ability to get better in the playoffs is amazing. He increased his scoring at creation rate while playing elite defense. Malone's efficiency took a hit whilst Barkley's production took a hit. Again Davis was by far the best defender in the playoffs.
Something really impressive about Chuck is he averaged 6 offensive rebounds a game per 75!!!
We don't have much impact metric data but here's their backpicks postseason BPM
Davis: 6.7
Malone: 5.2
Barkley: 5.5
We don't have much impact metric data but here's their backpicks postseason BPM
Davis: 6.7
Malone: 5.2
Barkley: 5.5
After looking at their regular season and post season play, their portability, offense and defense. I think Anthony Davis may have had a better single season peak than Charles Barkley and Karl Malone. His impact to the Lakers was insanely valuable and he had a historic season.
