Alright, so this whole debate about who’s gonna light up the scoreboard more, Jokic or Ant, it’s been rattling around in my brain for a bit. I actually spent some time the other day, just me, my thoughts, and a cup of coffee, trying to hash it out for myself. It wasn’t like I was crunching super complex numbers or anything, just good old-fashioned thinking and observation from watching these guys play a ton.
First, I got to thinking about Ant.
Anthony Edwards, man, that kid is just pure electricity. When I picture him, I see him attacking, always. He’s got that scorer’s mentality, you know? He wants the ball, he wants to take the shot, especially when the game’s tight. It feels like his team, Minnesota, they really lean on him to get buckets. He’s their main guy for putting points on the board, no doubt about it. His volume is gonna be high most nights because that’s his role, that’s what they need from him to win.
Then, my mind shifted to Jokic.
Now, Joker is a whole different animal. Seriously. My first thought isn’t “pure scorer.” It’s more like “do-it-all maestro.” He can score, and he can score a LOT when he decides to or when the Nuggets really need him to take over that way. But he’s often looking to pass first, get everyone involved. His scoring often feels more… I don’t know, efficient and timely rather than just sheer volume all game long. He picks his spots, but when he’s aggressive, he’s almost unstoppable. It’s just not his default mode, or so it seems to me from watching him.
So, how did I try to sort this out in my head? My “Process,” if you will.
Well, like I said, no fancy spreadsheets. I started by just replaying games in my head. I pictured their typical offensive possessions. What does Ant do? What does Jokic do?
Then, I thought about a few key things for each guy:
- Their primary job: For Ant, it feels like “get buckets” is job number one. For Jokic, it’s more like “run the entire offense,” and scoring is a big part of that, but not the only dominant part.
- Team structure: The Wolves, especially in big moments, often look to Ant to create and score. The Nuggets, they’ve got Murray who can go off, Porter Jr. too. Jokic has more high-level scoring help, so maybe he doesn’t have to carry the scoring load every single night in the same way Ant does.
- Shooting mentality: Ant seems like he has the ultimate green light. Jokic, while a fantastic shooter, sometimes seems like he’d rather get an assist if the pass is there.
- Playoff switch: Both guys can definitely flip a switch in the playoffs. We’ve seen Jokic have monster scoring games when needed. Ant lives for the big moments too.
I also considered just the raw opportunities. Ant is a guard, always moving, looking for his shot from all over. Jokic, a center, gets his touches in different ways, often in the post or orchestrating from the elbow. The type of shots and the frequency can be different.
Where I Landed After All That Musing
After going back and forth, I didn’t come to a definitive “this guy will always score more” answer, because, well, basketball is complicated, right? But here’s the gist of my thoughts:
On an average night in the regular season, I lean towards Ant having a slightly higher scoring average. Just because of his role and that aggressive, score-first mindset. He’s often the primary option, and he’s gonna take a lot of shots.
However, if you’re asking who could score more in any given game if they really decided to? That’s tougher. Jokic has those games where he just dominates with scoring because the matchup is right or the team needs it, and he’s incredibly efficient when he does. He might not do it as consistently night-to-night as Ant seeks to, but his ceiling for a single game scoring outburst when he’s in that mode is massive.
So, my “practice” of thinking this through led me to believe it’s very situational. Ant probably for consistent volume, Jokic for those truly dominant, “I’m taking over with scoring” nights when he chooses. It’s a fun one to think about, though. Both are incredible players, just different in how they go about their business, especially when it comes to putting the ball in the hoop. That’s just my two cents from mulling it over!
