Jeremy Lin vs Kemba Walker [POLL]: Who Will Play Better in the 2016-17 NBA Season? Brooklyn Nets & Charlotte Hornets Point Guards Comparison
Jeremy Lin seamlessly complemented as a backup point guard to Kemba Walker last season. The outstanding guard play of the two established NBA stars revitalized the Charlotte Hornets' performance.
After Lin gave up his purple and blue jersey for the Brooklyn Nets' black and white, he is bound to become one of Walker's close rivals in the Eastern Conference of the 2016-17 NBA season. Walker will continue to lead the Hornets, while Lin will quarterback the Nets. Who will play better?
Lin vs Walker: The Opposite Beginnings
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Lin and Walker both carved a respectable career in the NBA, but they have an opposite start. Lin struggled at the early stage of his career after he failed to make it to the 2010 NBA draft.
The Asian-American Harvard graduate rose to fame in 2012 after he ignited the Linsanity fever with the New York Knicks. But years later, he found himself bouncing back from one team to another.
On the other hand, Walker entered the league in 2011 as a top-rated recruit. Walker stayed with the Hornets throughout his NBA career. As seasons progressed, the New York native established a solid reputation as a starting point guard.
Who Will Play Better?
According to Zach Cronin of "Nothin' But Nets", Walker will most likely perform better than Lin in the upcoming season mainly because he is in a good team and he is surrounded by great players. On the other hand, he pointed out that Lin will not be buried in the depth chart because his new lead role is expected to give him the best season of his career.
Cronin said that when it comes to perimeter offense, Walker is apparently a better player than Lin. While Walker excels on the offensive end, he added that Lin has an edge when it comes to drawing contact.
Cronin believed that Lin will do better in taking his first leadership role with the Nets' young roster. However, he stressed that the new starting point will most likely not match Walker's production in the upcoming season.
Previous Stats
Walker and Lin were fairly high usage players last season, with 26.5 to 22.2 percent, respectively. Lin had a lower assist rate (25.7 to 18.6) and a higher turnover rate (14.9 to 10.1) than Walker.
As the starting point guard who played 35.6 minutes per game last season, Walker averaged 20.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds. On the other hand, Lin accumulated impressive statistics with his bench role. He only played for 26.3 minutes per night but averaged 11.7 points, 3.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds.
Poll
Who will play better in the 2016-17 NBA season: Jeremy Lin or Kemba Walker? Share your thoughts by casting your vote below.
