Who was a better player in their prime...Charles Barkley vs. Kevin Durant?

Durant was pick No 1, which pick Barkley was?
asking for a friend

 

rocket legend barkley is more articulate

 

Except he wasn't. It was Greg Oden that year.
Can't stand it when people can't even troll correctly.

 

Barkley had better commercials and signature shoes.

 

nice, that only makes my point even stronger...

 

I don't understand how this is even a question, I think Durant might be a little overrated, but he is a tier above Barkley and I have watched Barkley since college.

 

KD put a deficient team USA on his back and brought home the gold and there's people that forget the fact of the matter and dog on him for these playoffs. It's amazing.

 

What's amazing is that you think this is significant.

That USA team still had way more all stars, all NBA players, than anybody else.

 

KD makes things look so much EASIER.
His shot and game
Barkley appears to have to work for everything . .. and he did it
both are strangely a wash on defense
I would expect KD to be better.. but he not.

Both carried teams to the Finals
Barkley lost to Jordan's bulls
KD lost to LeBron's Heat

No shame in either loss.
I don't count KD's Championships . .. they are meaningless to me

Rocket River

 

Durant has had the better career. But it is closer than one might think. Barkley was just a phenomenal player. Without Jordan and Olajuwon in the way, he could be looking at 3 championships.

In 1993, the Suns took the Bulls to a game 6 in the NBA Finals and were a John Paxson 3 pointer from a game 7. In 1994 and 1995, the Rockets came back from 0-2 and 1-3 deficits to win in game 7's. Once you get to a game 7, the odds were close to a coin toss. From what I remember at the time, only one NBA team ever came back from an 0-2 deficit after losing the first two games at home. And no NBA team ever came back from a 1-3 deficit without having home court advantage for the remaining three games. The Rockets were able to pull off both miracles, which highlights the fragility of how we look at Olajuwon's legacy without those two championships. Winning is hard. I think Barkley was one of the five best players in that golden era.

And unlike some fans, I look back positively on the Barkley trade. The 1996-1997 Rockets season was one of the funnest season I remember. Without Barkley, we never get past that Sonics team, which absolutely curb stomped us the previous year.

 

Barkley has more impressive feats atm since KD’s GS stint is basically irrelevant

 

I voted roughly the same.

KD is the better all-around player and has the higher peak due to his defense and unique physical talents (6-11 elite shooter/perimeter skill player).

Barkley is the more dominant player at his peak. The reason for this isnt skill/talent, but because Barkley was simply the more aggressive, forceful and determined player when it came forcing his will on a game. KD's game/personality often left him as a passive observer in critical moments and games when he was in OKC.

Both lost to GOAT players in their championship runs in Jordan/Lebron as well as Hakeem and Curry.

In terms of career evaluations however I think KD will go down as a top 10 or 12 player of all-time while Barkley is regarded as somewhere in the top 20-25 or so.

 

That’s how feel as well. I would say if I had to pick an exact number I would say KD 15th all time. Barkley 20-22. Barkley was a force at his height that has rarely if ever been seen in the NBA.

 

If we are talking in their prime, I take Charles Barkley, who was nearly as good as MJ and Hakeem, the two GOATS.

 

I detest that trade
Cost us Sam and Robert

Rocket River

 

The Sad part is . . .. take away the GS Championships and KD is 20~25 too
They are the difference that pushes him into the top 15

Rocket River

 

Go back to the footage and stats. Team USA was losing preliminaries left and right that they weren't supposed to until KD took the team to another direction.

 

Both are first ballot Hall of Famers.... but Durant is a level above Barkley.