I don’t think there’s a very clear answer. They’re the consensus top 2 in the league, similar age, career achievements and late bloomers. Both relatively injury free so far though Jokic is more available, both seem intent on staying all or most of their careers with their draft team.
Personally, I think it’s harder to build a team around Giannis you’re going to need people to compliment his weaknesses in shooting, free throws and late-game situations. Jokic dosen’t need as specific tailoring of teammates to his skills so your team might be more consistent through roster transitions. I guess you could knock Joker down for his defense but finding a power forward like Gordon who can cover up a bit on defense is easier than finding multiple good shooters.
Secondly, Joker’s game atleast appears like it’ll age better because it’s more IQ and finesse than athleticism. That might change if Giannis develops his game with age like Lebron did but it’s a less certain bet than Jokic.
Why is Giannis easier to build around than Jokic?
I personally think Giannis's biggest advantage over Jokic is off the court. Giannis knows how market himself and build an interesting presence online. That sells more jerseys and tickets. He even has his own ETF and other financial instruments you'll never see an NBA player do.
But on the court? I am looking for reasons.
With Jokic you’re getting a dude who can get you hyper efficient scoring with elite playmaking and at times maybe slightly below average defense or average at best.
With Giannis you’re getting someone who can give you efficient scoring, elite defense and above average playmaking.
You can go either way and I don’t really see why you’re trying to argue
Giannis has above average playmaking?
Yes
Absolutely
The most valuable type of 2nd star to put next to Giannis is a guard who can handle the ball and shoot/score from the perimeter. There are a multitude of stars in the league that do that with Giannis. Trae, Booker, Dame, Kyrie, Luka, Shai etc. it doesn’t matter how bad they are on defense because Giannis will cover up those weaknesses. Outside of that you just need shooting and guys who are just not negatives on defense lmao
Lmao, you are just naming random all-star guards that play entirely differently and some of them aren't even considered elite shooters.
They don’t even have to be elite shooters lmao, the consistent part is they all run the PNR extremely well, and can playmake on offense. That’s all Giannis needs in a 2nd player. Most all guards fit the bill, which is why I listed them