Kevin Garnett would be better than Tim Duncan if they both debuted today

[AlexJones]

Duncan would still be effective but whatever offensive edge he had over KG is gone in this era. No post ups. KG would shoot 3's. KG is just as good of a rim protector as Duncan and he can also SWITCH onto smaller guards without issue. Duncan would actually require a bit of scheming to be as effective of a defender. But yeah, Garnett would fit onto any team without issue. Both would of course play C.

[Dirks_Finale]

I don't know...Tim was pretty spry when he first came into the league. And he had a jumper so i think he'd develop a 3 point shot fairly quickly. Plus their basketball I.Q.'s are not even comparable as Tim blows him away in that department.

I do think Tim's career is cut short in this era though and KG still lasts 2 decades.

[KobesAchilles]

You do realize KG came into the league at 18 years old and sucked his rookie year....

[TimDunkem]

Someone doesn't remember how mobile and skilled young TD was. He could close out and hit the outside jumper. He would just be moved over to center full-time sooner, and dominate there.

[Arcadian]

You're not factoring in one thing: Garnett shrinks in the big moments, and Tim shines. That's true regardless of era.

[MultiTroll]

Duncan would still be effective but whatever offensive edge he had over KG is gone in this era. No post ups. KG would shoot 3's. KG is just as good of a rim protector as Duncan and he can also SWITCH onto smaller guards without issue. Duncan would actually require a bit of scheming to be as effective of a defender.
Less post ups doesn't mean no post ups. And I still remember Duncan picking Lebrons pocket at mid court in the Finals.

[i'm_still_beta]

I don't know...Tim was pretty spry when he first came into the league. And he had a jumper so i think he'd develop a 3 point shot fairly quickly. Plus their basketball I.Q.'s are not even comparable as Tim blows him away in that department.

I do think Tim's career is cut short in this era though and KG still lasts 2 decades.

Why Duncan's I.Q. blows KG's? I think they're equal

Still Duncan>Garnett regardless of era

[Kawhitstorm]

Joel “No Knees” Olajuwon literally dominates games when he isn’t fucking around & he doesn’t even have as good a footwork or B-ball IQ.

KG was nothing more than a taller Draymond with Vucevic’s offensive skills, tbh.

[Rummpd]

Premise of OP is not fully thought out - Garnett was a decent all around player while TD top 7 ever and he would thrive any era.

[Chucho]

LOL, fail thread.

[Spurtacular]

Today's soft NBA would turn HOF careers into Boban careers.

Just to name some:

1. Moses Malone
2. Robert Parish
3. Dave Cowens
4. Patrick Ewing
5. Hakeem Olajuwon

[spurraider21]

KG's game was better suited for today's NBA, no doubt. beautiful game version of duncan, with the youth of his prime would have been just fine tho

[daslicer]

Duncan would be great in this era. His post up game would still be unstoppable. Look at how unstoppable Jokic is in the post. He's the only current big man I see that can actually back down guys in the post in today's NBA.

[ElNono]

Since we're fishing, Manu >>>> Doncic > Dirk

[KobesAchilles]

Since we're fishing, Manu >>>> Doncic > Dirk
I think it’s pretty safe to say that Doncic is the greatest Mav player of all time

[Texas_Ranger]

Since we're fishing, Manu >>>> Doncic > Dirk

looking at them all at what they did til 21, Doncic is a god compared to those two. especially Manu.

[ElNono]

looking at them all at what they did til 21, Doncic is a god compared to those two. especially Manu.

meh Manu was 3x Italian champ, Euroleague champ and Euroleague MVP at 23, did it on a relatively modest ballclub... and, he wasn't even born in Europe...

Not taking anything away from Doncic, but playing on the hype machine that's Real Madrid certainly helped raise his stock, tbh... not to mention the NBA doesn't see Euro guards as weaklings anymore...

He's young though, hopefully he can join up with a superstar, and win some rings.

[Texas_Ranger]

meh Manu was 3x Italian champ, Euroleague champ and Euroleague MVP at 23, did it on a relatively modest ballclub... and, he wasn't even born in Europe...

Not taking anything away from Doncic, but playing on the hype machine that's Real Madrid certainly helped raise his stock, tbh... not to mention the NBA doesn't see Euro guards as weaklings anymore...

He's young though, hopefully he can join up with a superstar, and win some rings.

Luka was a 3X Spanish league champ, Spanish league MVP, Euroleague champ, Euroleague MVP and Final 4 MVP and European champion by 19. Ohh and Kinder Bologna was by far the best club in Europe when Manu was there. I remember them very well. From 97 - 02 they were Euroleague champs twice and finished 2nd 3 times.

A lot of players go to Real Madrid at 13 from all over the world, but you have to be very special to stay there. Luka was one of the best young player that ever played in Spain and at 18 he was the best player in Europe. NBA also probably thought he was too slow for a guard and I think most teams wanted to play him at the 2 or as a forward. Thats probably the reason 2 retarded teams passed on him.

Manu is my fave player of all time, but Luka so far has been on another level.

btw, manu was not a 3X Italian champ. Just one time.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

garnett :lmao

we not done with this ish yet?

[ElNono]

Luka was a 3X Spanish league champ, Spanish league MVP, Euroleague champ, Euroleague MVP and Final 4 MVP and European champion by 19. Ohh and Kinder Bologna was by far the best club in Europe when Manu was there. I remember them very well. From 97 - 02 they were Euroleague champs twice and finished 2nd 3 times.

A lot of players go to Real Madrid at 13 from all over the world, but you have to be very special to stay there. Luka was one of the best young player that ever played in Spain and at 18 he was the best player in Europe. NBA also probably thought he was too slow for a guard and I think most teams wanted to play him at the 2 or as a forward. Thats probably the reason 2 retarded teams passed on him.

Manu is my fave player of all time, but Luka so far has been on another level.

btw, manu was not a 3X Italian champ. Just one time.

I messed up, he was 3x Italian league All Star... (1999, 2000, 2001)

[IronMexican]

Since we're fishing, Manu >>>> Doncic > Dirk
Really, man? I hope. You're joking.

[TDfan2007]

Really, man? I hope. You're joking.

Have you met Nono? Lol

As for this thread, maybe he would've been...maybe not. If we're playing pretend, what if Timmy never tears his meniscus in year 3, the injury that led to his bum knee later on? He would've been more explosive in his prime and even better later in his career.

For a taste of what Timmy would've done against small ball in today's NBA, look at his performance against the 2005 and 2007 Sun's. Spoiler alert: he destroyed them, and the Spurs won.

[ElNono]

What a choke by Doncic against the Rockets... smh

[Dirks_Finale]

I wish I had a dollar for every time I saw KG deferring to Wally Szczerbiak or whoever in critical moments. He just didn't seem to know when to take over games. Players like Duncan and Bird were playing chess while everybody else was out there playing checkers.


Why Duncan's I.Q. blows KG's? I think they're equal

Still Duncan>Garnett regardless of era

[Dirks_Finale]

We cant stop anyone, though. Might as well pull Don Nelson off his couch and let him run and fun with this squad.


What a choke by Doncic against the Rockets... smh

[i'm_still_beta]

I wish I had a dollar for every time I saw KG deferring to Wally Szczerbiak or whoever in critical moments. He just didn't seem to know when to take over games. Players like Duncan and Bird were playing chess while everybody else was out there playing checkers.

I think it's because both TD and Larry had superior scoring skill. Bill Russell's bball iq was higher than bball iq of Kyrie Irving, but because latter has superior scoring skill it looks like he playing chess and Russell, well, don't

[Dirks_Finale]

Was KG capable of taking over in the 4th? Or do you think his game was not polished enough for that?


I think it's because both TD and Larry had superior scoring skill. Bill Russell's bball iq was higher than bball iq of Kyrie Irving, but because latter has superior scoring skill it looks like he playing chess and Russell, well, don't

[i'm_still_beta]

Was KG capable of taking over in the 4th? Or do you think his game was not polished enough for that?

His game was not polished enough for that

[Dirks_Finale]

Not as polished as Duncan obviously, but I thought it was polished enough to get it done in crunch time. He just seemed to maybe lack confidence to attempt to do it, imo. Might sound ridiculous for a guy who was as animated as he was, but I think some of that rah-rah stuff was a front to cover for his own insecurities.




His game was not polished enough for that

[ElNono]

We cant stop anyone, though. Might as well pull Don Nelson off his couch and let him run and fun with this squad.

I hear you. We're on the same boat, tbh... just nowhere near an explosive offense.

[R. DeMurre]

And if Duncan and Garnett both debuted in 1965, Duncan would've be better... Neither guy had a dependable three point shot, so I'm guessing if they were coming up now, the work they'd do to improve in that area would be part of the difference. I'd argue Duncan showed that he shined in the big moments his whole career, regardless of the opponents' style of basketball. A lot of this debate comes down to temperament and image. Garnett had the brash personality, the trash talking, the exaggerated "passion" on the court. For some observers, that probably played better on TV and in the media. He fits the generic mold of badass, with attitude. But Garnett also has a long history of alienating teammates, of beefs with players and coaches, of trade demands, etc... Duncan had none of that. And Duncan leads 5-1 in rings. In the same era. Duncan was pretty impressive as a 37 year old playing on a bum knee in 2014, where he was an important cog in the championship winning "Beautiful Game" scheme that beat LeBron, Wade, and Bosh in their prime. Garnett never pulled off something like that.

[i'm_still_beta]

Not as polished as Duncan obviously, but I thought it was polished enough to get it done in crunch time. He just seemed to maybe lack confidence to attempt to do it, imo. Might sound ridiculous for a guy who was as animated as he was, but I think some of that rah-rah stuff was a front to cover for his own insecurities.

Agree with you.

KG could take over in the 4th from time to time, but I think he couldn't do it as well and consistently like Dirk for example. He was good shooter and post player, but it wasn't enough. He couldn't shoot contested shots as well as Dirk and he coudn't score and drew doubles in the post as well as Timmy. Maybe he was too unselfish, maybe he knew his abilities well and smartly decided to deffer or maybe he was afraid. Maybe it's combination of some or all of those factors. I don't know. He was definetely worse at scoring than Dirk and TD.

What I disagree with you is that Timmy had much higher bball iq. They were equal. Garnett's rotations on defense were sharp, he was communicator, mlb on defense. On offense he made sharp, lightning-quick decisions with the ball, great passer. His awareness on both ends of the floor was fantastic.

I think Bill Russell deffered on offense too and for a reason. But he was one of the smartest players ever. Nobody says he had low or average bball iq because of that. Same thing with KG

On the side note, let's just appreciate KG. He was fantastic. Scoring, rebounding, passing, defense - it's joy to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iiai4sjV698
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiSlZrNCTgM

In the second clip KG is taking over ... with his defense and passing :tongue ;). And he often contributed that way :). I think people to focused on scoring in the clutch .

[dbreiden83080]

Speculation like this changes everything for me..

Fuck You Tim Duncan..

[Dirks_Finale]

Agree with you.

KG could take over in the 4th from time to time, but I think he couldn't do it as well and consistently like Dirk for example. He was good shooter and post player, but it wasn't enough. He couldn't shoot contested shots as well as Dirk and he coudn't score and drew doubles in the post as well as Timmy. Maybe he was too unselfish, maybe he knew his abilities well and smartly decided to deffer or maybe he was afraid. Maybe it's combination of some or all of those factors. I don't know. He was definetely worse at scoring than Dirk and TD.

What I disagree with you is that Timmy had much higher bball iq. They were equal. Garnett's rotations on defense were sharp, he was communicator, mlb on defense. On offense he made sharp, lightning-quick decisions with the ball, great passer. His awareness on both ends of the floor was fantastic.

I think Bill Russell deffered on offense too and for a reason. But he was one of the smartest players ever. Nobody says he had low or average bball iq because of that. Same thing with KG

On the side note, let's just appreciate KG. He was fantastic. Scoring, rebounding, passing, defense - it's joy to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iiai4sjV698
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiSlZrNCTgM

In the second clip KG is taking over ... with his defense and passing :tongue ;). And he often contributed that way :). I think people to focused on scoring in the clutch .

Oh defensively, sure. He was just as good at reading an offense as Duncan was, and he covered more ground and was versatile enough to cover more players, imo... Was mainly talking about his offensive choices in crunch time that used to drive me nuts and have me screaming at the TV :lol. And I was no Wolves fan, I just felt as though he could have done better.

[DMC]

So only in some hypothetical alternate universe would KG ever be better than Tim.

[endrity]

KG was always good but not great offensively. He could do everything, but he wasn't absolutely elite at one specific skill. His jumper wasn't as pure as Dirk's, he couldn't quite handle the ball like Giannis, he couldn't dominate in the low post like Timmy. I don't think it was a mentality or I.Q issue, but simply a skills issue.

That was his main problem then, and it would be his main problem anytime. When you pay a supermax for a guy that can't quite close games down the stretch, it puts you at a disadvantage from a team building perspective. Because that means you have to use the second salary slot for a guy that isn't simply a second option, but more of a 1B. And that is hard to do, you need to get extra lucky to get a player that good for a type of discount. That is why KG's ultimate success came when TWO, not one, perennial All-Stars, at the tail end of their prime, decide to sacrifice money for the sake of a championship. And while KG was the best player on those Celtics, at the of the game the ball went either to Pierce or for a Ray jumper.

[lefty]

Better than Jordan tbh

[Dirks_Finale]

Better than Lebron tbh

FIFY

[lefty]

FIFY

Also true

KG >>>> LeBron >>>>> Jordan

[ElNono]

better than Porker

[lefty]

better than Porker
No shit

[Mark Celibate]

I'm not buying it tbh.

Duncan would be completely unstoppable down low which IMO gives him the edge even in this era. I dont get this whole "as a big you have to shoot threes to survive" meme. As long as you're mobile on defense, you can stay on the court in today's game (which is the main argument when ppl say Shaq couldn't play today). Giannis is the league MVP and is extremely unreliable outside the paint, so I don't see how Duncan would be any less dominant

[daslicer]

I'm not buying it tbh.

Duncan would be completely unstoppable down low which IMO gives him the edge even in this era. I dont get this whole "as a big you have to shoot threes to survive" meme. As long as you're mobile on defense, you can stay on the court in today's game (which is the main argument when ppl say Shaq couldn't play today). Giannis is the league MVP and is extremely unreliable outside the paint, so I don't see how Duncan would be any less dominant

Agreed. I look at a guy like Jokic who is slow as fuck but teams can't play small ball against him simply because his post up game is too strong to defend with small ball.

[Trainwreck2100]

duncan was able to keep up easily while he was older in the 2014 roster, he'd be fine today.

[DAF86]

40 year old Duncan was the best player of the best iteration of today's NBA: the 2014 Spurs. Imagine beast-mode prime Duncan. No contest.

[TDfan2007]

I'm not buying it tbh.

Duncan would be completely unstoppable down low which IMO gives him the edge even in this era. I dont get this whole "as a big you have to shoot threes to survive" meme. As long as you're mobile on defense, you can stay on the court in today's game (which is the main argument when ppl say Shaq couldn't play today). Giannis is the league MVP and is extremely unreliable outside the paint, so I don't see how Duncan would be any less dominant

Completely agree. Prime Timmy used to show on screens, then recover to the paint to block shots. And there isn't a player in the league now other than maybe Steven Adams who would've given him trouble on the other end.