Top 10 of all time NBA: I include Tim Duncan, do you?

[Mavs<Spurs]

Let me ask you this. Do you think if instead of drafting Duncan...if you had picked up Barkley, Malone or KG as rookies ,under identical cir stances, that the Spurs would have been more or less successful with rings in the next 10 years?

Less successful.

Now with Olajuwon, they might have been almost as successful. Hakeem's pinnacle was not long (only a couple of years). However, at that time, he was amazing and virtually unbeatable.

With Garnett, Barkley and Malone, we would not have won championships.

Our defense won championships and that because of Tim Duncan (Robinson was not healthy for 2003 and not even present in 2005 or 2007). Barkley and Malone, clearly, would have had no chance at protecting the paint as well as Duncan.

Garnett doesn't have the consistent low post scoring threat which opens up the floor for others. His teams don't always make the playoffs. Tim's made the playoffs with minimal help (e.g. 2003) and won it all.

[TDMVPDPOY]

top10 all time?

he could make a case for himself for top5....i think magic/bird/dream/shaq are overrated

[Lakers999]

With a few of these names, I could understand your position and it might be somewhat rational. However, you are not going to be in the mainstream of basketball thought with many of these names (when you say that you think that they are better than Tim Duncan).

Many of these picks just seem indefensible, positions that one would take only to be argumentative, not because the position is actually believed or held.

And Kobe as a top ten or even ahead of Tim Duncan is not something that most Laker fans would probably agree with and outside of the Laker fans you would fan very little agreement with that position at all.


Kobe Finals MVP never.
Kobe regular season MVP once.

Stockton never won a le. And he played with another HOFer, Karl Malone.
And he didn't impact the game in the way that Duncan did as one can see not only by his championships and Finals MVPs, but also by the defensive strength of the Spurs as measured by field goal percentage and points allowed.

Charles Barkley ? Don't be stupid.

And by the way, when even Jerry Sloan agrees (Karl Malone's coach) that Tim Duncan is the better of the two players, then you're in over your head clearly and not even being intellectually honest.

oh stfu!!! obviously jerry sloan and I are two different people so our opinions are gonna be different which doesnt make any of us less intelligent. I do think that Karl Malone would have prolly found more success if he played his prime years in the post MJ era.... Karl played against the toughest teams to ever play this game and he averaged 25+ points per game and defensively he was a beast. just becuase he didnt win anything doesnt make him less of a player than tim duncan... you put timmy in that era and he would have bombed miserably i garuntee that....

also

Stockton never impacted the game? look I dunno what pipe Jerry SLoan was smoking when He said that but clearly a player that averaged more assists in his career than Magic Johnson desrves some recognition.

also
Barkley? Okay you may be right Duncan may be better than Barkely but in some retrospect its all about eras... he played against the greatest players of all time.... johnson, bird, KJ, MJ, ewing, lambeer, KAJ... etc... for you knock him caqs of his profile or because he didnt win anything is just absurd... if you had him in his prime, along with manu and tony the Spurs would have pounced on pretty much any team that crossed their way.


and finally Kobe...
Your just a hater so why even bother breaking this down for you...

enjoy the second round elimination

[baseline bum]

Let me ask you this. Do you think if instead of drafting Duncan...if you had picked up Barkley, Malone or KG as rookies ,under identical cir stances, that the Spurs would have been more or less successful with rings in the next 10 years?

Barkley - less
Malone - far less
KG - far less

[Lakers999]

Less successful.

Now with Olajuwon, they might have been almost as successful. Hakeem's pinnacle was not long (only a couple of years). However, at that time, he was amazing and virtually unbeatable.

With Garnett, Barkley and Malone, we would not have won championships.

Our defense won championships and that because of Tim Duncan (Robinson was not healthy for 2003 and not even present in 2005 or 2007). Barkley and Malone, clearly, would have had no chance at protecting the paint as well as Duncan.

Garnett doesn't have the consistent low post scoring threat which opens up the floor for others. His teams don't always make the playoffs. Tim's made the playoffs with minimal help (e.g. 2003) and won it all.

and your argument for this is that KG, barkley, and Malone are not as good of defenders than tim duncan? wasnt it KG that lead the finals in most blocks and boards per game?

[baseline bum]

and your argument for this is that KG, barkley, and Malone are not as good of defenders than tim duncan? wasnt it KG that lead the finals in most blocks and boards per game?

Obviously Malone and Barkley aren't the defenders Duncan is.

[Lakers999]

I think the OP is putting it in regards of how many Championships these players brought to their teams. Rather then all time statistics and accomplishments. Or atleast heavily weighting it.

absolutely correct

[Lakers999]

Obviously Malone and Barkley aren't the defenders Duncan is.

basing this on what.... becuase they lost in all their finals appearance against the best players to ever play the game

[baseline bum]

1. Michael Jordan
2. Magic Johnson
3. Larry Bird
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5. Wilt Chamberlain
6. Shaquille O'Neal
7. Hakeem Olajuwon
8. Tim Duncan
9. Oscar Robertson
10. Charles Barkley

[anonoftheinternets]

... you put timmy in that era and he would have bombed miserably i garuntee that....

ok please explain ur "garuntee" ....

another bag laker fan with no clue about basketball.......

[Lars]

Sorry, I believe your Spur's pride is diluding you, which is understandable. Duncan is a terrific player but I think he was blessed with some great cir stances, which is causing you to vastly over rate him.

[medacen2004]

1. Michael Jordan
2. Magic Johnson
3. Larry Bird
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5. Wilt Chamberlain
6. Shaquille O'Neal
7. Hakeem Olajuwon
8. Tim Duncan
9. Oscar Robertson
10. Charles Barkley

[baseline bum]

basing this on what.... becuase they lost in all their finals appearance against the best players to ever play the game

Based on Malone being an extremely weak shot-blocker and significantly weaker rebounder than Duncan even though he played in an era with more possessions and rebound opportunities per game. Based on Barkley's own admission that only Larry Bird saved him from being the worst defender in the league.

[Mavs<Spurs]

oh stfu!!! obviously jerry sloan and I are two different people so our opinions are gonna be different which doesnt make any of us less intelligent. I do think that Karl Malone would have prolly found more success if he played his prime years in the post MJ era.... Karl played against the toughest teams to ever play this game and he averaged 25+ points per game and defensively he was a beast. just becuase he didnt win anything doesnt make him less of a player than tim duncan... you put timmy in that era and he would have bombed miserably i garuntee that....

also

Stockton never impacted the game? look I dunno what pipe Jerry SLoan was smoking when He said that but clearly a player that averaged more assists in his career than Magic Johnson desrves some recognition.

also
Barkley? Okay you may be right Duncan may be better than Barkely but in some retrospect its all about eras... he played against the greatest players of all time.... johnson, bird, KJ, MJ, ewing, lambeer, KAJ... etc... for you knock him caqs of his profile or because he didnt win anything is just absurd... if you had him in his prime, along with manu and tony the Spurs would have pounced on pretty much any team that crossed their way.


and finally Kobe...
Your just a hater so why even bother breaking this down for you...

enjoy the second round elimination

And yet Hakeem has his two les.

And Malone was not the centerpiece of a Jazz defense. He could strip the ball, but that was it.

And it's not like Malone retired in 1999.

But Duncan won it.

And I'm not saying you aren't intelligent.

I'm just saying that I think that you are giving some of these takes not just because you believe them but because you are trying to say some things that are not even reasonable.

And Stockton was a great player. But what Tim Duncan did for our defense and it was at this level well after David was healthy or even present for the Spurs (e.g. 2005) is something that Stockton could not do for the Jazz. And yes Stockton was a pg and so he could not by nature of his position defend the paint like Tim Duncan, but that is the opportunity that a great big man has in order to dominate the game. And Tim Duncan did that. And John Stockton as a guard could not do it, even though he was a good defender.

If someone is a top 10 of all time and they play with another player who is arguably a top 10 or top 20, then they should win championships together.
If they didn't and they had a teammate that was a top 20 caliber, then I doubt that they were really one of the top 10 players to ever play the game.

That's how I look at it.

And again, stats reflect systems, who your teammates are, your opposition, your style of play, the era in which you played,...

So, I look at numbers, but not just numbers. I consider other factors too.

Kobe is a great player, but in my book, he has a ways to go to become a top 50 of all time.

On the other hand, I would have picked him over Steve Nash both times because Kobe is an excellent defender and Steve Nash isn't. I definitely think that the year before last Kobe deserved the MVP.

I believe that Kobe is a complete player. So, I'm not selling him short.

And he's still got some years left, more than Timmy.


And yeah, I don't expect to get out of the first round. So, if we lose in the second round, whatever.

We have had a great run, even if it is over.

[baseline bum]

Sorry, I believe your Spur's pride is diluding you, which is understandable. Duncan is a terrific player but I think he was blessed with some great cir stances, which is causing you to vastly over rate him.

Great cir stances? So do you consider Magic, Bird, Abdul-Jabbar, and Erving overrated too, considering they had supporting casts that would murder anything Duncan ever played with?

[medacen2004]

i agree with ur list it's pretty accurate accept if u put shaq you gotta add kobe now i am not a kobe fan but truth is truth so good-bye barkley sorry. And where is Mr. Russel? jUST THOUGHT I WOULD ASK

[Killakobe81]

I post this in honor of Tim Duncan passing David Robinson in rebounds and David's well deserved entry into the Hall of Fame !

1. Michael Jordan
2. Magic Johnson
3. Larry Bird
4. Oscar Robertson
5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
6. Bill Russell
7. Jerry West
8. Tim Duncan
9. Hakeem Olajuwon
10. Wilt Chamberlain

My starting five: Magic Johnson at point guard, Michael Jordan at shooting guard, Larry Bird at small forward, Tim Duncan at power forward, Kareem Abdul Jabbar at center.

This would be a great defensive team as well as an unstoppable offensive force !

http://www.nba.com/history/players/50greatest.html

I expect perhaps some gripes about Hakeem, but his unusual athleticism and unusual skill set means more to me than simply comparing numbers.

Numbers reflect the time, the system one played in and with, one's coach, the teammates that one had,...

My apologies if some don't care for the placement of this thread.

However, the point of this top 10 is that it places Tim Duncan as one of the top ten basketball players of all time.

Would you place Tim Duncan as one of the top 10 basketball players of all time?

What's your top 10 of all time ?




Go Spurs !

Go Spurstalk !

to our win !

Great list and our all-time 5's are identical but for top 10 of guys I actually saw play ...
1. Kareem
2. mj
3. Magic
4. Bird
5. Hakeeem
6. Duncan
7. Kobe
8. Shaq
9. Isiah
10. barkley/nique/Worthy

But 10 will be taken by Lebron soon anyway so that will bump barkley nique and worthy from this list

[baseline bum]

How about the great cir stance Olajuwon had when they dropped the 3-point line 2 feet in, making all of his role players far more dangerous? He didn't have too much success before or after it was reigned in.

[Lakers999]

ok please explain ur "garuntee" ....

another bag laker fan with no clue about basketball.......

hmm lets see..... an timid power forward/center playing against the likes of

Bill Walton
Bill Lambieer
KAJ
James Worthy
Kevin Mchale
Robert Parrish
Dennis Rodman
Dominque Wilkins
Patrick Ewing
Hakeem Olojuwan
Buck Williams

etc.. etc...

WHO is timmy real compe ion other than Shaq and KG?

dirk? LOL Gasol? according to some spurs fans on here he is nothing more than a soft player who timmy will eat up for lunch....


looks like your the one who cant see basketball prior to the mid 90's

[Lars]

Great cir stances? So do you consider Magic, Bird, Abdul-Jabbar, and Erving overrated too, considering they had supporting casts that would murder anything Duncan ever played with?

I won't lie, I was born in 82, and didn't really start watching till about 88. I have gone back and watched alot of older games. It's just my personal belief that Duncan had a great team in a weak era of the NBA so I just don't think he is as good as you do.

[medacen2004]

1. Michael Jordan
2. Magic Johnson
3. Larry Bird
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5. Wilt Chamberlain
6. Shaquille O'Neal
7. Hakeem Olajuwon
8. Tim Duncan
9. Oscar Robertson
10. Charles Barkley

[Killakobe81]

top10 all time?

he could make a case for himself for top5....i think magic/bird/dream/shaq are overrated

then you my friend are an idiot ...Shaq is the only one you could argue is overrated ...

[medacen2004]

If you look at the "big fundamental's" career stats they match up against anyone in nba history think about it the man has never lost a finals series he's willing to play second option if someone on "his" team is playing better than he is. Is'nt that the true definition of a winner and definite champion? And last but certainly not least he has 50 win seasons for every year the league has played 82 games? Enough said!!!!!!!!!

[Lakers999]

Based on Malone being an extremely weak shot-blocker and significantly weaker rebounder than Duncan even though he played in an era with more possessions and rebound opportunities per game. Based on Barkley's own admission that only Larry Bird saved him from being the worst defender in the league.

malone a weak shot blocker is correct but a weak rebounder is not... he averaged 10 boards a game his entire carreer and wasnamed to the NBA all team defense 4 times.....

and what barley said was a subtle jab at larry bird... his defense was above average during playoff situations

[Lakers999]

then you my friend are an idiot ...Shaq is the only one you could argue is overrated ...

how the can you say shaq the most dominate ever is overrated????