NBA Draft 2012: Best Pro-Player Comparison for Anthony Davis

The trendy thing to do with presumptive No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis is to find current NBA players to compare him to. Truth be told, there is no completely accurate player projection, and that's part of the reason why he is expected to be great. 

Physically, it’s easy to compare him to Marcus Camby, a fantastic defensive player and shot-blocker. Camby is a former Defensive Player of the Year, and is 12th all-time in the history of the NBA in blocked shots.

Because of their similar physique and talents, Camby makes sense, but the better comparison is Kevin Garnett. There are two things that Garnett, in particular vintage Garnett, had in common with Davis that Camby doesn’t.

In case you haven't heard, Davis used to be a point guard before he had an eight-inch growth spurt. Because of that, he has the fundamental skills expected of a guard. The ability to put the ball on the floor, shoot from the outside and find open teammates are all in Davis' wheelhouse. 

Granted, these skills weren’t exactly on display at Kentucky. Davis did what was asked of him on offense, which was mainly to finish at the rim. It’s not surprising that some of his old abilities took a step back. 

They are still a part of his game though, and he will develop these skills much easier than the majority of big men entering the league. Garnett is one of the best passing bigs in the history of the game, and it is not a stretch to assume that Davis also can excel in that regard. 

Additionally, his defensive style fits the Garnett mold better than the traditional defense you see from centers. In isolation, he has the ability to step out and defend perimeter players. 

Once he is fully developed, Davis will be a well-rounded offensive player who can score and pass in a variety of ways. He will be a great rebounder and interior defender, but also someone who can leave the paint on help defense.

All of that sounds like Kevin Garnett more than any other player in the league.