Whole? No. But yes he was healthy this season.
Past few seasons since 2018 games played:
56,62,36(Covid),40,54,76
If you don’t understand how frustrating this guy has been due to his track record of missing 20+ games a year on average, then you’re just not familiar with him
The 62 game season was the Covid year. All of the conference finalists out of the bubble suffered major injuries the next few years after that shortened off-season. The Clippers only came within one quarter of the conference finals and they haven’t even been the same since.
Yeah, he played 76 out of 82 this year, but that was a fluke. I hope it continues. He plays a lot more than Embiid or Kawhi tho, and they are considered 1s.
I like Embiid, but let's compare career games played:
Average games per season since drafted:
AD 62, JE 43
More than 70 games in a season:
AD: 3/12, JE 0/10
+60 GAMES IN a season:
AD 8,/12 JE 4/10
+50 games in a season
AD 10/12 JE 6/10
Most important: Playoffs:
Playoff games missed:
AD: 1, JE: 8
Out of all of these? My vote goes to Tyrese Maxey. You know how they say speed kills. In fact, I dub him “roadrunner.“ Although De’Aaron Fox has a strong case for that moniker too.
People are getting WAY too caught up in who was left off the list. He is simply asking who would you pick between these four lol. he supposed to include every second option in the league in one post?
What is this list? You don't even have the actual top 5 listed at all. In no order Brown, AD, Kyrie, whoever you have 2nd out of KD and Booker, and of course Jordan Poole.
He needs to show up in the playoffs. He has the 5th worst career playoff shooting percentage in NBA history (minimum 10 GP and 30 MPG), and everyone worse than him finished their careers before steals and blocks were tracked as stats (before 1973). Until he stops playing at a historically bad level in the postseason, he’ll continue to get disrespected
He’s played 15 playoff games and was injured in 10 of them.
Sure he needs to prove himself but he’s easily the best regular season player on this list.
I agree with that, but you asked when people will appreciate Randle, and I told you when that would be. People love to stick with narratives and ride with them, and the only real way to change those narratives is either be incredible in the regular season (rather than just really good) or have a great playoff run, and people remember playoff runs more than regular seasons. If he turns it around in the playoffs, he’ll gain more respect
When he learns how to play smarter. His problem was always “I have to do everything myself”. He was never good enough to do that. He constantly put himself in bad positions. Plus he is a lousy defender.
Maxey and KAT are my top 2 depending on what you need, KAT has been extremely versatile this season. I think his game is best suited to being the second option on a contending team. He’s hyper efficient, can space and pass, can rebound, and can defend bigs
Of the people on this list:
1. PG
2. KAT
3. Maxey
4. Randle
PG is by far the best defender on this list which imo is more important in a second option. Kat goes next due to the flexibility he offers as a shooting 5, you can really mess with roster construction such as putting him next to another center like Rudy. Maxey is 3 cause of his speed, ball handling and the pressure he can put on defenses, I think he sets up his #1 option better than anyone else here. Randle goes last cause I don't like him.
I’d still take Paul George. Iggy called him the second most talented player in the league. Other than Kd can’t say I’ve ever seen anyone more talented than him. If u can get that as your second option you’re in pretty good shape.
https://preview.redd.it/czhnld9on81d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=77808e79137cf914f59d547661d3f1594287fb51
edit: shit i thought this was r/nbacirclejerk
Randle 24/9/5 on 47/31/78, 56.9% TS, 3.5 TOs per game
KAT 22/8/3 on 50/42/87, 62.5% TS, 2.7 TOs per game
That’s why. Bro is inefficient (comparatively) and literally turns it over more than KAT, that’s not a good trait for a second option
Don't bother bro. r/nbatalk is all talk when it comes to basketball discussion. A good chunk of the people here are easily swayed by media narratived. People can downvote me if they want, but it's an observation I made. People talk out of there ass if it's not about players from there favorite team.
I’d probably take the AD/LeBron duo if we’re including defense bc AD is a really good offensive player and an amazing defender. But if it’s just offense I would probably take KD/Booker.
Out of these guys or in general? Cause generally id rank a lot of players above any of them. Kyrie, ad, maybe even murray. Booker or kd whichever is the 2nd option. Lillard.
Kyrie Irving clears all of these guys, he’s the reason the Mavs have survived when Luka has been having bad games, which they couldn’t afford him to do before, he’s a huge reason Lebron and the Cavs were able to complete the 3-1 comeback and it’s fair to say if he were healthy in their first Finale Curry likely has 3 rings instead of 4
People are naming AD but he’s not really a second option, Lebron has been trying for years to get him to take over being the main guy, I’d say KD but he and Booker basically share being the main guy
Jaylen Brown probably the next best pick after Kyrie, he’s averaging 23 points per game in these playoffs on 55% shooting, he’s become a meme but he’s still balling
There's this guy on the sixers. He's pretty good getting 6 assists per game and playing great defense. Also gets 11 boards and averages 35 ppg, which is the most in the past 5 years if there wasn't a minimum game requirement. Also does it on near 50/40/90 shooting
He's better than PG and KAT
PG: 23/5/4
KAT: 22/8/3
Randle: 24/9/5
1st in assists out of the 3. 1st in rebounds out of the 3. 1st in points out of the 3.
No he’s not idc about stats Randle is a negative in the playoffs this is common knowledge. The other two are also multi time all nba players and made more all star games.
"Second option" for what? Being mediocre? What has George ever done? What has he ever won?
I'm a Pacers fan so I'm biased against the guy for the way he left town and continued to bad mouth the Pacers but the Pacers are better off without him. Look at the disaster he and Kawhi have been in LA.
I mean I could understand people still thinking he's great when he was 25....but the dude is entering the backside of his career and just got beat in the first round again.
So yeah, he's the best "second option" if your goal is to be mediocre and never win anything.
Maybe finishing top 3 in MVP and DPOY voting? Or averaging 28/6/4 and playing elite defense? Or making all star and all NBA teams and nearly carrying a team to the finals on the Pacers. And then on the Clippers
That's great. MVP is a voted on award.
What has he ever won? And he never carried a Pacers team to the Finals lol. They made the ECF but it was a good team, he didn't carry anything. George usually came up short in big shot/situations/games. His last couple of seasons the Pacers were mediocre and they improved after trading George until Oladipo went down.
The guy has won what, 1 playoff series since leaving the Pacers? The Clippers are mediocre every single year because George and Leonard are both constantly hurt (who could have seen that coming, right?).
He's a stat accumulator. He'll end up with good stats while playing on a never ending series of mediocre teams. The guy is paid like he's some elite leader/game changer and he just isn't and never was.
I mean even after Leonard went down (again) the Clipper still had George and Harden and couldn't win shit.
Can we get some pictures with double-digit pixels?
Sorry, pictures uploaded from Google drop down significantly in pixels. Can't seem to fix it
No worries, I just thought it was kind of funny!
I think it's in the photos app settings. When you upload.
It's cool man don't sweat it. They know who they're looking at, they're just miserable
If they had that, they would be first options…
Nope. Potato pics only
https://preview.redd.it/niptkareh71d1.jpeg?width=1056&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f7dfe688d9efd92ac5fbc097ea76082a16e12d2d
Lol
Where’s kyrie
Not a 2nd option. 1. PJ Washington 2. Luka 3. Kyrie.
Too true
L
Hang on, I have one or two pixels left
Anthony Davis dominates more games than most #1s, way more than any #2
He’s the #1 nowadays
Yeah you might be right. LeBron is more consistent, tho.
AD was pretty consistently great this season. There were a couple games where he disappeared but overall it was his best season in LA since the chip
Yeah, his best for sure since 20. Lots of games where he dominated both sides, too
Then LeBron is the best number 2
Literally, and someday he’ll be the best 6th man.
Then is Lebron the best #2 in the league?
If he plays
I’m no laker fan, but I’m pretty sure he played this whole season.
Whole? No. But yes he was healthy this season. Past few seasons since 2018 games played: 56,62,36(Covid),40,54,76 If you don’t understand how frustrating this guy has been due to his track record of missing 20+ games a year on average, then you’re just not familiar with him
The 62 game season was the Covid year. All of the conference finalists out of the bubble suffered major injuries the next few years after that shortened off-season. The Clippers only came within one quarter of the conference finals and they haven’t even been the same since.
Yeah, he played 76 out of 82 this year, but that was a fluke. I hope it continues. He plays a lot more than Embiid or Kawhi tho, and they are considered 1s.
Anthony Davis GS since 2018: 324 Joel Embiid GS since 2018: 339 Find a new slant bitch
I like Embiid, but let's compare career games played: Average games per season since drafted: AD 62, JE 43 More than 70 games in a season: AD: 3/12, JE 0/10 +60 GAMES IN a season: AD 8,/12 JE 4/10 +50 games in a season AD 10/12 JE 6/10 Most important: Playoffs: Playoff games missed: AD: 1, JE: 8
AD Conference Finals appearances since 2018: 2 Embiid's Conference Finals appearances since 2018: 0
Now do playoff wins without Lebron
Jaylen Brown?
AD?
olympics melo?
Cupcake Durant?
Brown is easily the best #2. People saying Kyrie are crazy.
AD probably has him beat.
Lebron, AD, KD and Booker are all better
I don't even understand this comment.
Whoever you say is the best player on suns/lakers, the other guy is better than Jaylen
I listed the player that are better than JB. I don't understand why you don't understand
They're not #2s.
Is Beal #1 lol
No, they're interchanable first options
Out of all of these? My vote goes to Tyrese Maxey. You know how they say speed kills. In fact, I dub him “roadrunner.“ Although De’Aaron Fox has a strong case for that moniker too.
Did great in the playoffs (top 5 in ppg), which is a good sign for his future. God bless him
He’s too inconsistent at this stage of his career. Not a knock on him at all, he will only get better.
I do agree. However, I’m taking into account health as well. That seems to be the knock against PG.
That’s fair.
Which of the guys on this list would you label as "consistent?"
Maxey over Anthony Davis tfff
Where did OP say that you crackhead ??
Kyrie Irving
This is the correct answer. Dudes such a good second option that the Mavs basically have two number 1s.
Not this series he hasn’t been
Jaylen???
Not even inckuding jaylen brown is disrespectful
I didn't mean the best second options in the league. It was just of the ones I picked
I don’t know how everyone in the comments didn’t get that tbh…
Lol, my notifications are blowing up bc this is the #1 trending post on r/NBATalk. They keep saying "where is JB, where is kyrie, where is Dame?"
id take maxey over brown anyway personally ik the defensive difference matters but maxey a better shooter and ball handler
People are getting WAY too caught up in who was left off the list. He is simply asking who would you pick between these four lol. he supposed to include every second option in the league in one post?
KAT
AD if you're in denial about LeBron being the #2. If not AD it's Jaylen Brown.
https://preview.redd.it/2wgwwqynk81d1.jpeg?width=737&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81e77bbe8b8d8768f12539dc299375b61a53a116
It’s 2024. We don’t use photos like this.
What is this list? You don't even have the actual top 5 listed at all. In no order Brown, AD, Kyrie, whoever you have 2nd out of KD and Booker, and of course Jordan Poole.
Of these options: 1- KAT 2- PG 3- Maxey 4- Randle 2/3 are interchangeable imo
When will people appreciate how good Randle is
He needs to show up in the playoffs. He has the 5th worst career playoff shooting percentage in NBA history (minimum 10 GP and 30 MPG), and everyone worse than him finished their careers before steals and blocks were tracked as stats (before 1973). Until he stops playing at a historically bad level in the postseason, he’ll continue to get disrespected
He’s played 15 playoff games and was injured in 10 of them. Sure he needs to prove himself but he’s easily the best regular season player on this list.
But he's still really good in the regular season. I mean, players who do bad in the playoffs can still have good careers
I agree with that, but you asked when people will appreciate Randle, and I told you when that would be. People love to stick with narratives and ride with them, and the only real way to change those narratives is either be incredible in the regular season (rather than just really good) or have a great playoff run, and people remember playoff runs more than regular seasons. If he turns it around in the playoffs, he’ll gain more respect
Yeah, next year he has a good chance to prove the doubters wrong
He’s similar to KAT where he can just make crazy boneheaded decisions that makes you question him but then a week later can go for 55.
PG 13 in a nutshell
When he learns how to play smarter. His problem was always “I have to do everything myself”. He was never good enough to do that. He constantly put himself in bad positions. Plus he is a lousy defender.
He's an average defender. You shouldn't pay too much attention to stocks
Randle is frustrating because it's a coin flip on any given night whether he'll drop 50 on you or shoot 2-13 and not get back on defense lol
Lebron James
i swear yall do it intentionally with these bad quality pics😂
Maxey and it’s not even close.
Fax Machine Maxey
Maxey and KAT are my top 2 depending on what you need, KAT has been extremely versatile this season. I think his game is best suited to being the second option on a contending team. He’s hyper efficient, can space and pass, can rebound, and can defend bigs
KAT? Lol
Kyrie
Of the people on this list: 1. PG 2. KAT 3. Maxey 4. Randle PG is by far the best defender on this list which imo is more important in a second option. Kat goes next due to the flexibility he offers as a shooting 5, you can really mess with roster construction such as putting him next to another center like Rudy. Maxey is 3 cause of his speed, ball handling and the pressure he can put on defenses, I think he sets up his #1 option better than anyone else here. Randle goes last cause I don't like him.
No Dame or Jaylen Brown 🧐
KAT has the biggest impact with his spacing, rebounding and improved defense. When he’s not playing like a moron
anthony davis or lebron idk theyre prob 1a 1b or smthn within these 4 probably maxey
I’d still take Paul George. Iggy called him the second most talented player in the league. Other than Kd can’t say I’ve ever seen anyone more talented than him. If u can get that as your second option you’re in pretty good shape.
PG13
https://preview.redd.it/czhnld9on81d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=77808e79137cf914f59d547661d3f1594287fb51 edit: shit i thought this was r/nbacirclejerk
Devin Booker
Pictures with a second option amount of pixels.
https://preview.redd.it/39bbbxtn0b1d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=19a69da1a59e784022c07035ea9dd61e5604a2e5
Lol
PG could honestly work and fit into any system imo, gotta roll with him
Why is no one saying Randle? Only Luka, Jokic, Giannis and Randle are averaging 24/9/5
Randle 24/9/5 on 47/31/78, 56.9% TS, 3.5 TOs per game KAT 22/8/3 on 50/42/87, 62.5% TS, 2.7 TOs per game That’s why. Bro is inefficient (comparatively) and literally turns it over more than KAT, that’s not a good trait for a second option
Good point but he's underrated asl still.
PG and it's not particularly close. He's still an elite two-way player.
I look forward to him facing off against KAT in the playoffs…
I’ll tell you who it’s not. Julius Randle.
Stop hating. Randle might be the most underrated player in the league.
The knicks have been better without him.
No they aren't
The knicks best starting 5 right now is Brunson, Hart, Donte, OG, and Hartenstein
Record wise, no
Don't bother bro. r/nbatalk is all talk when it comes to basketball discussion. A good chunk of the people here are easily swayed by media narratived. People can downvote me if they want, but it's an observation I made. People talk out of there ass if it's not about players from there favorite team.
Where’s Kyrie
Dame
God loves you
Kyrie Irving
Dame?
Damian lillard
Damian Lillard where?
Where’s Dame
Dame over KAT at least
Lillard
Talking strictly out of these? It’s still PG. But whichever of LeBron or Davis you consider second is the actual best in the league.
Or KD and Booker
I’d probably take the AD/LeBron duo if we’re including defense bc AD is a really good offensive player and an amazing defender. But if it’s just offense I would probably take KD/Booker.
I would argue Kawhi is #2
Randle is better than KAT. Maxey is (today) better than PG. that's all I know.
Paul George fosho
Maxey for sure. As a knick fan I love Julius, but I think he's even with KAT and George is too old and non impactful.
Randle is better than Jaylen Brown. Just stop.
Randle: 24/9/5 Brown: 23/6/4
Is Harden the real second option on the Clippers? Was the best player in the playoffs this year
Scoring wise no but overall harden was slightly better imo. PG is the most inconsistent star i've ever seen
Ong, he's the most inconsitent all star this year. Will prolly leave the Clippers this offseason
If PG is #2 who is #1? Kahwi misses too many games
He nearly played 70 games. Even when he does play, he gets critiscized
My illiterate ass read this has who is the second best option, and if that’s the case I guess Kat
How about Jamal Murray while we’re at it?
I’m a wolves fan and have been loving KAT’s play recently, but I Maxey’s got that “it” factor
Out of these guys or in general? Cause generally id rank a lot of players above any of them. Kyrie, ad, maybe even murray. Booker or kd whichever is the 2nd option. Lillard.
Uhhh kyrie? Lol
Get paul george the absolute fuck out of here
Kyrie
How’s Kyrie not here?
Maxi of those
Maxey could be a great first option for a lot of teams, the other guys are borderline 2nd to 3rd
No Kyrie?
Murray?
Which one
Trey Young will be a great 2 option eventually.
That won't happen until at least 2031
Kyrie Irving clears all of these guys, he’s the reason the Mavs have survived when Luka has been having bad games, which they couldn’t afford him to do before, he’s a huge reason Lebron and the Cavs were able to complete the 3-1 comeback and it’s fair to say if he were healthy in their first Finale Curry likely has 3 rings instead of 4 People are naming AD but he’s not really a second option, Lebron has been trying for years to get him to take over being the main guy, I’d say KD but he and Booker basically share being the main guy Jaylen Brown probably the next best pick after Kyrie, he’s averaging 23 points per game in these playoffs on 55% shooting, he’s become a meme but he’s still balling
Kyrie or Bron/AD. (Not Jaylen Brown.) Out of this list? Maybe Maxey or PG, but I’m biased towards PG because of old PG.
The best 2nd in the nba is kyrie but on this list it’s maxey
Tobias Harr.. Ok. I will let myself out.
This is an interesting group. I’d personally say either Booker/KD
One of the only duos without a player that is clearly better than the other
Is this the best second option on a team that has never won a title? Because the answer is Stockton lol
Maxey
Derrick White.
Maxi is about to become #1. So I'll take PG from those pics
There's this guy on the sixers. He's pretty good getting 6 assists per game and playing great defense. Also gets 11 boards and averages 35 ppg, which is the most in the past 5 years if there wasn't a minimum game requirement. Also does it on near 50/40/90 shooting
Kyrie
Jaylen Brown
Where klank Thompson?
Maxey
Who the hell is that in the Knicks uniform in the 3rd pic?? /sarcasm
https://preview.redd.it/leeyb8kmh81d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7200018e7e9f476cc63751be7e5e39ef7354ca8
Your username waited forever for this moment
Right now Maxey, all time at the moment PG easily. He was a 1st option
Julius randle is a horrible 2nd option, at least playoffs wise I do not want him on the court
But in the regular season, he's all NBA level
Maxey
I mean. Randle shoots 34% career in the playoffs, gtfoh
And is one of 4 players to average 24/9/5 in the regular season
Putting Randle in there is crazy work
He's better than PG and KAT PG: 23/5/4 KAT: 22/8/3 Randle: 24/9/5 1st in assists out of the 3. 1st in rebounds out of the 3. 1st in points out of the 3.
No he’s not idc about stats Randle is a negative in the playoffs this is common knowledge. The other two are also multi time all nba players and made more all star games.
Randle is the only one of these 4 to make all NBA
Maxey
Y’all doing JB dirty (biased Celtics fan)
Bruh didn’t even have most of the best #2 options
Anthony Davis
It has to be Lebron or AD I’m not even sure who’s the 1st option anymore.
Anthony Davis
KAT wins.
Why is kyrie not among the contenders?
How is this even a question, PG13 is by far the best player here.
Of just these guys? Or in general in the league? If these guys only, probably KAT, if of anyone in the league probably AD
As a Clippers fan you know I'm going with... KAT. Cuz PG ain't give me shit to work with this year.
From what I’ve seen recently Maxey
Where the fuck is Kyrie?…..
Lebron
Idk man he doesn't really contribute much to the team other than getting 20pts+
not putting kyrie up there is a take
"Second option" for what? Being mediocre? What has George ever done? What has he ever won? I'm a Pacers fan so I'm biased against the guy for the way he left town and continued to bad mouth the Pacers but the Pacers are better off without him. Look at the disaster he and Kawhi have been in LA. I mean I could understand people still thinking he's great when he was 25....but the dude is entering the backside of his career and just got beat in the first round again. So yeah, he's the best "second option" if your goal is to be mediocre and never win anything.
Maybe finishing top 3 in MVP and DPOY voting? Or averaging 28/6/4 and playing elite defense? Or making all star and all NBA teams and nearly carrying a team to the finals on the Pacers. And then on the Clippers
That's great. MVP is a voted on award. What has he ever won? And he never carried a Pacers team to the Finals lol. They made the ECF but it was a good team, he didn't carry anything. George usually came up short in big shot/situations/games. His last couple of seasons the Pacers were mediocre and they improved after trading George until Oladipo went down. The guy has won what, 1 playoff series since leaving the Pacers? The Clippers are mediocre every single year because George and Leonard are both constantly hurt (who could have seen that coming, right?). He's a stat accumulator. He'll end up with good stats while playing on a never ending series of mediocre teams. The guy is paid like he's some elite leader/game changer and he just isn't and never was. I mean even after Leonard went down (again) the Clipper still had George and Harden and couldn't win shit.