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Utah Jazz: Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo are chasing history

By Ryan Aston

MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 09: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz is blocked out by Malcolm Brogdon #13 and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of a game at the Bradley Center on December 9, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 09: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz is blocked out by Malcolm Brogdon #13 and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of a game at the Bradley Center on December 9, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks are both on pace to break a record that has stood for more than a decade.

On Monday night, the Utah Jazz (20-20) and the Milwaukee Bucks (27-11) will do battle in what feels like a measuring stick game for Rudy Gobert and company. More than that, though, it will be a battle between two stars who are currently vying for the same piece of history.

It may not be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s all-time scoring record or Wilt Chamberlain‘s 100-point game, but it’s definitely noteworthy. Especially in a day and age where the NBA revolves around the three ball.

Gobert and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo have both been attacking the rim at an incredible rate and efficacy this season. So much so that each is on-pace to break Dwight Howard‘s record for total slam dunks in a single campaign.

Howard set the record more than a decade ago; way back during the 2007-08 season. As the focal point of an Orlando Magic offense that finished fourth league-wide that year, the former MVP candidate threw down an incredible 269 jams. That equates to about 3.3 throw-downs per game.

Through 40 games, Gobert has logged 150 dunks; a rate of 3.75 per contest. If he continues to dunk at current pace and doesn’t miss any games (that one could be a big if), he’ll finish with around 307 for the year.

Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, has missed a couple of games, but has actually been slightly more prolific at the rim, notching nearly 4.1 slams per contest on average. He sits at 147 for the season and would finish up with around 326 dunks if he were to compete in all of the Bucks’ remaining 44 games at that rate.

I’d be shocked if at least one of them doesn’t finish with more than 300 and break Howard’s record.

It feels like kismet that the Stifle Tower and the Greek Freak are connected here. After all, both players were overlooked as ultra-long, international prospects during the 2013 NBA Draft. Milwaukee snatched their All-Star at No. 15 overall, while Gobert slipped all the way to 27th, where the Jazz dealt for his draft rights.

They’ve both become basketball royalty since entering the hallowed halls of the Association.

Next. Prediction: The Utah Jazz will be in eighth by Saturday. dark

If one were to go back and re-draft that class, we’re definitely talking Nos. 1 and 2 for these guys. Which player gets that hypothetical top spot probably differs depending on who you talk to. It’s only fitting that the two are now duking it out for an actual top spot in the NBA record books.

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