© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Barnes picks his top five and explains why Giannis Antetokounmpo is better than Kevin Durant
Former NBA player Matt Barnes recently appeared on 'Club Shay Shay' – a show hosted by sports analyst Shannon Sharpe. The pair spoke about a wide range of topics, but ranking players is always the most exciting, and Barnes did not disappoint. Although he left some notable names like Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic out, his top 5 list is solid.
"Giannis, KD, Steph, LeBron, and Embiid." Barnes named his list. "And LeBron has only slid down there because he's older, not his body of work. Still the best player in the world - one of the greatest players to ever play the game."
The rise of the Greek freak
Giannis Antetokounmpo finds himself on the top of Matt Barnes' list because of his commitment to greatness. He entered the league as a skinny guy with raw talent, but his determination set him apart. Giannis has done the work and earned many honors, even before completing ten seasons in the NBA.
"Giannis is incredible," Barnes added. "Giannis is the one superstar you see that every single year he comes back better, on a different aspect."
Why Giannis over KD?
Kevin Durant has been considered among the best players throughout his whole career, mostly second behind LeBron James. However, being behind Antetokounmpo has more to do with the Greek national's ability to be exceptional on both ends of the floor.
"The only reason I gave Giannis the edge is because of the defensive side of the game. I mean, if you look at KD's efficiency and how amazing he is on the offensive end," Barnes explained. "Giannis may not be as efficient, but he's still putting up monster numbers on the offensive end, but then he's also a defensive monster too."
"I just think Giannis is a better defender, so I have to give Giannis that nod and Giannis is younger too," he added.
Since leaving the Golden State Warriors, Durant has added more to his game but has yet to be able to go deep into the playoffs. On the other hand, the Milwaukee Bucks star won the title in 2021 and has remained at the top – despite his failure to progress against the Celtics last season.
