Carmelo Anthony or Kevin Durant: Which Forward Would You Choose?

Most observers will agree that Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant are two of the top small forwards in the NBA, but if you were forced to decide between the two, who would you choose?

Both Anthony and Durant are considered two of the league's premier scorers at their position, and the similar styles they share are reflected in the career numbers they have accumulated.

Anthony at 26 is four years older than Durant, and has averaged 24.7 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, while shooting 46 percent from the field for his career.

Durant, who will be 22 next month has averaged 25.3 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and has also connected on 46 percent of his shots through the course of his career.

Durant's 36 percent average from the three-point line is slightly better than Anthony's 30 percent, and both players shoot above 80 percent from the free throw line.

Both players' offensive games are perimeter-based, and although Durant is one inch taller than Anthony at 6'9", Anthony is stronger and more comfortable battling in the post.

Anthony and Durant are also similar in the fact they both seem to score almost effortlessly, and the smooth nature of each player's game could be considered similar as well.

Durant became the youngest player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring at 30.1 points per game last season, while Anthony was third in the same category at 28.2 points per game.

Anthony has been perceived as one of the league's brightest stars since he entered the NBA, but in recent years he has fallen beneath players like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in the public's perception.

One of the reasons may be that although Anthony is one of the best scorers in the league, there are not really any other parts of his game that stand out.

Anthony is an average defender and rebounder, and his nonchalant style has been used as evidence that he may not perform to the peak of his potential at all times.

Durant shares many of these same flaws, but he is still seen as being only a few seasons away from occupying the same elite air James and Wade share.

Durant is also an average defender and rebounder, and he doesn't attack the basket with the same strength Anthony is capable of.

The fact that Anthony has played for a talented but underachieving Nuggets team for the duration of his career may also have played a part in shaping the public's perception of the two players.

Denver has been a postseason contender since Anthony arrived but multiple incidents have contributed to their reputation of an undisciplined team that looks good in the regular season but implodes in the playoffs.

Durant on the other hand is regularly praised for his Thunder team's spirited showing in their first playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, and many observers are picking them as a dark horse choice to dethrone the defending champs.

Anthony had a much better postseason than Durant and averaged more points, but his Nuggets' team loss was viewed as another example of their ineptitude, while the Thunder's loss was viewed as the start of something great.

There may be merits in that line of thought, and it may be one of the reasons Anthony seems so inclined to end his association with the Nuggets by forcing the franchise to pursue trade options.

Durant very well may be a superior player to Anthony as his time in the league progresses, but if I were forced to decide between the two, I would probably lean more towards Anthony.

The deciding factors would be Anthony's ability to mix it up in the paint, and although both are average defenders, Anthony's frame makes it easier for him to defend bigger players.

Anthony's impending decision could even help sway the public's opinion, because if he does go to New York as everyone anticipates, and Chris Paul follows, the creation of another super team would likely elevate his status in the public's eyes.