Larry Johnson vs Antonio McDyess (before their back/knee injuries),who was better?

You guys remember Larry Johnson? The undersized, athletic, skilled and dominant power forward of Nevada who averaged at least 20 points and 10 boards a game in his first two season in the NBA, who in his 2nd season was voted to the All-Star game, finished on the All-NBA Second Team, led the league in most minutes played and averaged. He played for Charlotte Hornets and oh, won the ROY award. He won a gold medal from 94 World Championship.

You know Antonio McDyess? Yes,the old, slow McDyess who plays for the Spurs. He was back in the day a terrific power forward, who was like Blake Griffin who finished so powerfully around the rim, cleared the glass and played excellent defense. He was 20/10 guy in his better days, who dominated with his athleticism, strength and skills.

However, the careers of the both didn't got to a Hall Of Fame way as it could have been duo to back injury (Johnson) and knee injury (McDyess). Who do you think in their prime was better and why?This should be interesting comparison.

Larry Johnson.

He reminded me a lot of Charles Barkley when he was young. He also had a mean streak on the court and would never back down from anyone and took big shots. I think the biggest difference between the two players is that Johnson was so skilled at so many aspects of the game.

Larry could pass, rebound, defend, score inside and out. Even when his explosiveness was robbed from back injuries, he evolved his game to become a post threat and three point shooter, but still remained a stanch defender for the Knicks later in his career.

McDyess was more or less always a nice player. Both in demeanor and in personality on the floor. I think of him as being similar to Shawn Kemp, with less of a temper and less of an ability to take over games. Antonio would become very invisible on the court, very passive. If he had stayed healthy, I'm sure he would've made multiple All-Star selections, but mostly on stats... not for like being the leader of a team or putting his team on his shoulders and carrying them into the playoffs.

But with his injuries... namely his patellar tendon rupturing, which happened twice... He became a good guy to have off the bench or temp start at PF/C.

Throw in the playoffs and Larry was far more of a contributor than Antonio McDyess ever was.

McDyess was a nasty dunker, excellent rebounder and shot blocker in his prime. The dude was so dominant however Johnson was a tad bit more. I'd take Johnson as well

I would have taken McDyess. He had a nicer game in my opinion and blocked a lot of shots.

To each their own. But McDyess really wasn't a leader ever.

He never took any team deep into the playoffs.

A much better role player.

Larry Johnson was far more versatile and valuable to his teams than Antonio.

Larry should have been in the All-Star in his rookie year

Darko wrote:

You guys remember Larry Johnson? The undersized, athletic, skilled and dominant power forward of Nevada who averaged at least 20 points and 10 boards a game in his first two season in the NBA, who in his 2nd season was voted to the All-Star game, finished on the All-NBA Second Team, led the league in most minutes played and averaged. He played for Charlotte Hornets and oh, won the ROY award. He won a gold medal from 94 World Championship.

You know Antonio McDyess? Yes,the old, slow McDyess who plays for the Spurs. He was back in the day a terrific power forward, who was like Blake Griffin who finished so powerfully around the rim, cleared the glass and played excellent defense. He was 20/10 guy in his better days, who dominated with his athleticism, strength and skills.

However, the careers of the both didn't got to a Hall Of Fame way as it could have been duo to back injury (Johnson) and knee injury (McDyess). Who do you think in their prime was better and why?This should be interesting comparison.

I remember LJ like it was yesterday. I'd take LJ as Nick C already mentioned his game reminded me like the Round-Mound Rebound, but with a little more up in his jump so to speak. When his back injuries hit and he was in NY his game always reminded me of Sheed's. But LJ was always more of a serious- take no shit player than that of Sheed. Dyess was good, but lacked the range that LJ did in his skillset. LJ transitioned himself from a thunderous finisher to a good and unscared shooter. Plus he had more grit than Dice. LJ played through the bruised ribs and bad back injuries. I could just imagine how uncomfortable that would be. Even though he was no longer a 20 PPG guy after his back injuries. He still put up 15 plus and hit big time shots. Dice transformed his game more to the tune of a role player after the injuries that picked his spots here and there when needed. Also his short-time spent in NY was a trying time in his career where he hardly ever was healthy enough to play. I think in the year he was in NY he could only start like 6 games due to injuries and only saw 18 games of action that season or something like that. He's made quite the inspiring comeback to being a respectable rotation player, but LJ did so a tad more.

Dice has the better personality to work within a team mentality though. He's soft-spoken and willing to help out in any way that he can. LJ's need to speak his mind didn't always make him the easiest teammate to get along with. For instance, Mourning (who also spoke his mind) and LJ's fall out was instrumental in why Zo became a Heat and why LJ in Charlotte overstayed a welcome. However, in NY he fit the team perfectly and there were no problems except with commentator Bill Walton for his Uncle Tom reference but taht's neither here nor there. And it was LJ's personality that also enabled LJ to be a better leader than Dice ever was. LJ was one of our warriors along with Pat in that they put their bodies on the line and played through unspeakable pain and still led by example. Dice never was that type of player games relied more on Nick Van Exel's shoulders

Larry Johnson was a great forward in his day,one of the 20 best of all time