It’s taken a long time, but I’m finally ready to admit that Cody Zeller may (not “is”, but “may”) be better than Tyler Zeller. I’ve been on the “Tyler is way better than Cody” wagon for as long as both of them have been in the league, but now I am finally stepping off. Regretfully. And I am willing to get right back on again if the NBA as a whole takes its collective head out of its collective bootyhole and starts giving Tyler a real role again (preferably along with Rajon Rondo).
The truth of the matter is this: Cody ended up on a team that, for one reason or another, liked him enough to keep him around for seven whole years, an eternity in this era of constant roster turnover. Tyler, on the other hand, has bounced around from team to team, sometimes ending up out of the league entirely (like right now, god damn it Nuggets). Through no fault of his own, he has failed to find the team that will have full confidence in him.
Consistency helps a lot when it comes to role-players like the Zeller bros. Cody has had a nice, consistent situation, getting to stay in the same place and get used to things without having to worry about being traded or whatever. And with that consistency has come steady production over time. So even though Tyler is a way better offensive player and has a way better hairline, Cody has ended up as the more impactful player overall.
God damn it. I hate being wrong.