Who's The Better NBA Player: Houston Rockets Dwight Howard or New Orleans Pelicans Anthony Davis? [VOTE]
Both players were drafted No. 1 overall.
Both have led the league in blocks. They even play in the same division. Neither of them are even 30 years old yet and they have made the All-Star team.
Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard are viewed as the two best big men in the NBA today. With powerful moves in the paint, huge rejections and great rebounding, these two players have done their teams and fans a great service.
But who is better?
Why Anthony Davis is Better
Davis is better than Howard because he is a more versatile player, lacks a weakness and he has far less talent around him.
Howard has the NBA's leading scorer on his team, James Harden. Howard isn't asked to do nearly as much as Davis does. The New Orleans Pelicans are 13-12, playing in the toughest division in the NBA, the Southwest. Without Davis, the Pelicans would struggle to even have five wins at this point in the season.
There's nothing Davis can't do on the basketball court, except, of course, make 3-point shots. To stop Howard, teams can simply intentionally foul him and send him to the free throw line. Howard is a career 57.3 percent free throw shooter. This season Howard is shooting just 49.2 percent from the line. As for Davis, he makes an outstanding 77.8 percent of his free throws.
At 6-foot-10, 220 pounds, Davis can play both power forward and center. Davis is a far superior ball handler than Howard, and he can attack the basket better. Davis is eight years younger than Howard, and he will only get better with more experience.
Davis also led the NBA in blocks last season.
Why Dwight Howard is Better
Davis is great, but like Ric Flair once said, "To be the man, you got to beat the man."
In their six games against one another, Howard has won five of those matches. Howard has accomplished nearly everything that Davis has and more. Even before Howard arrived Houston to play with the Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, he previously guided the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009. Davis has yet to even make the playoffs in his career, and it doesn't look like he's going to make it this year, either.
Is Howard a great free throw shooter? No, but not many centers are. Wilt Chamberlain made just 51 percent, Bill Russell 56 percent, and Shaquille O'Neal only made 52 percent of his free throws. Even point guard Rajon Rondo is shooting just 33 percent from the line. That's not to excuse Howard, but his value comes elsewhere.
Most importantly, Howard is a better rebounder than Davis. Howard averages 12.9 rebounds per game, whereas Davis is grabbing 9.3 boards per game. Even though Davis is scoring five more points per game than Davis, Howard has a better shooting percentage.
As far as size, Howard stands 6-foot-11, 240 pounds. That's one inch taller and 20 pounds heavier than Davis.
Verdict
Both players are great -- there's no doubt about that. Davis is a better option if you want a more complete player who can pass, rebound, hit free throws, shoot, dunk and dribble, especially on a poor team. If you already have a good team with scorers and you need a big man, then Howard is the better choice.
Who do you think is better? Feel free to vote in our NBA fan poll below.
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