Spotlight: The Great Tim Duncan

[duncan228]

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/669805.html

DAILY TICKET: The Great Tim Duncan
Joe Garza

SPOTLIGHT | THE GREAT TIM DUNCAN

YEAH, HE'S GREAT, BUT HOW GREAT?

No matter what happens to the San Antonio Spurs during their playoff run, Tim Duncan's place in NBA history is secure. So secure, in fact, that he is already regarded as the league's greatest power forward. But is he really? Judge for yourself. Here's how Duncan stacks up against the players most commonly mentioned when discussing the best power forwards in NBA history:

Player: Tim Duncan | 6-11/260 | San Antonio 1997-present

Career averages: 21.6 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 50.8 FG %, 68.4 FT %

Best season: 2001-02: 25.5 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 50.8 FG %, 79.9 FT %

Credentials: MVP in 2002, '03 ... Rookie of the Year in 1998 ... Nine-time All-NBA first team ... NBA Finals MVP in 1999, 2003, '05 ... Holds NBA Finals record for most blocked shots, 32, in 2003 ... All-Star Game MVP in 2000 ... Member of championship team in 1999, 2003, '05, '07.

Player: Bob Pettit | 6-9/215 | Milwaukee/St. Louis 1954-65

Career averages: 26.4 ppg, 16.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 43.6 FG %, 76.1 FT %

Best season: 1961-62: 31.1 ppg, 18.7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 45.0 FG %, 77.1 FT %

Credentials: MVP in 1956, '59 ... Rookie of the Year in 1955 ... 10-time All-NBA first team ... Member of championship team in 1958 ... All-Star Game MVP in 1956, '58, '59, '62 ... Holds NBA Finals single-game record for most free throws made, 19, on April 9, 1958, vs. Boston ... The Hawks all-time leading rebounder with 12,851 ... Elected to Hall of Fame in 1970

Player: Karl Malone | 6-9/256 | Utah/LA Lakers 1985-2004

Career averages: 25.0 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.6 apg, 51.6 FG %, 74.2 FT %

Best season: 1989-90: 31.0 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.8 apg, 56.2 FG %, 76.2 FT %

Credentials: MVP in 1997, '99 ... 11-time All-NBA first team ... All-Star Game MVP in 89, '93 ... Utah Jazz all-time leading rebounder with 14,601 and scorer with 36,374 points.

Player: Charles Barkley | 6-6/252 | Philadelphia/Phoenix/Houston 1984-2000

Career averages: 22.1 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 3.9 apg, 54.1 FG %, 73.5 FT %

Best season: 1987-88: 28.3 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 3.2 apg, 58.7 FG %, 75.1 FT %

Credentials: MVP in 1993 ... Five-time All-NBA first team ... All-Star Game MVP in 1991 ... Elected to Hall of Fame in 2006.

Player: Kevin McHale | 6-10/225 | Boston 1980-93

Career averages: 17.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.7 apg, 55.4 FG %, 79.8 FT %

Best season: 1986-87: 26.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.6 apg, 60.4 FG %, 83.6 FT %

Credentials: Sixth Man Award winner in 1984, '85 ... All-NBA first team in 1987 ... Member of NBA championship team in 1981, '84, '86 ... Elected to Hall of Fame in 1999


http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x282/duncan228/great.jpg
Few power forwards can match up to Tim Duncan.

[polandprzem]

What is McHale doing here is beyond me

[ambchang]

McHale was unbelievable with his post moves, he belongs up here.

[Spurminator]

They forgot to list All-Defensive Team selections. IMO, that's what puts Duncan at the top.

[NoMoneyDown]

They also forgot to add rings and Finals MVP.

[duncan228]

They also forgot to add rings and Finals MVP.

The Championships are there. So are the Finals MVP's.

[Emanuel20]

Neither words nor numbers can describe what kind of a great player Timmy is.
The greatest power forward ever is just an understatement!

[NoMoneyDown]

The Championships are there. So are the Finals MVP's.

Yeah, for Tim, but what about the others?

[duncan228]

Yeah, for Tim, but what about the others?

McHale and Pettit's Championship's are there. Barkley and Malone never won.

[T Park]

What is McHale doing here is beyond me


Mchale was a fantastic player.

IMO doesn't get mentioned enough when compared with the other great power forwards of our time.

[NoMoneyDown]

McHale and Pettit's Championship's are there. Barkley and Malone never won.

Exactly my point. Thanks.

[dbreiden83080]

Mchale was a fantastic player.

IMO doesn't get mentioned enough when compared with the other great power forwards of our time.

Playing in Birds shadow will do that to ya.

[Brutalis]

Yep all of that I know 228. It's a wonder to think of him doing this on the Knicks, or the Celtics. He would have been ... just eclectic to the public eye and been more popular than Cheerios.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

Neither words nor numbers can describe what kind of a great player Timmy is.
The greatest power forward ever is just an understatement!

woot this is cute

[GrandeDavid]

Damn, I didn't realize what a great shooter McHale was!