Tim had comparable talent to K.G. (arguably inferior) surrounding him the early part of this decade, yet somehow managed to always get out of the first round.
Tim, for the most part, was surrounded by role players for his first six years or so. (Oh, and Derek Anderson
)
We all love Dave, and most know how historically great he was, but that's not who Tim had playing alongside him. Don't get me wrong, Dave was still a very good player (especially for Tim's first few years), but nothing compared to the pre-injury/surgery player. It's not a knock on Dave, but it's relevant to point out when people want to somehow downgrade Tim by saying he's played with so much more talent than others.
Until 2005 when Manu made the All-Star team, it had been about five years that Tim played with another All-Star. IIRC Dave's last appearance was 2001, but even that had more to do with his past than his present. That's not to say, that all worthy of being All-Stars are selected, but Tony and Manu weren't playing at that level back then. Sure there were flashes from time to time, but all the optimism in the world couldn't have foreseen the players they would both become.
Stephen Jackson came up huge for the Spurs, and was a big part in their second championship, but there weren't people beating down his agent's door with lucrative contract offers. He'd later develop and make some regret that decision, but it was completely understandable at the time. I think it was Bill Walton (of all people) who said, "Jackson is the type of player, that at the end of a game, you have to ask yourself... Was he more beneficial to his team or the opposition?" Afterall, Jack was just as capable of shooting you out of a game, as he was to shoot you into a game.(That's if he didn't turn the ball over before you got to see which one it would be.)
Of the players you mentioned, (Kobe, LeBron, Wade, and Jordan) you could make an argument for Jordan and LeBron having comparable (if not less) talent around them for about the first six years of their careers. Kobe came into the league with a team that sent 4 All-Stars to the game in his first or second year.(Not to mention forming maybe the most dominant duo, relative to the compe ion, ever.) Wade came into the league with Odom and Butler (not bad for the relative weakness of the conferece at the time) and would play with Shaq, Alonzo, (basically Wade's D.Rob) and a few former All-Stars along the way.
These last few years have been the most talented teams the Spurs have ever had, (imo) but that doesn't change the fact that Tim had 2 championships, 2 Finals M.V.P.'s, 2 regular season M.V.P.'s, an All-Star M.V.P., and was named a first or second team All-N.B.A/ Defensive Team his first six years in the league, and at a minimum, advanced to the second round of the playoffs every year he was on the court. (But I guess we'll never know his ceiling...)
To say, "Tim never had to carry some pathetic team to prove his greatness" is weak, to say the least.
Besides, I'm not sure a team with Duncan in his prime could ever have it's players referred to as pathetic.
T.D. tends to make even poor to average players look good.
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