Poll: Which, if any, NBA Players Were Better Than Tim Duncan?

[Thomas82]

Jordan, Russell, Chamberlain, Jabbar.

equal to Bird and Magic and ahead of Olajuwon on my ballot.

GTFOH Karl Malone....

I can't argue with that.

[mystargtr34]

Jordan
Magic
Kareem
Wilt
Russell
Bird

Those guys are generally considered as the untouchables - people seem to always make a case for Oscar, but i dont buy into the stat hype with the pace of games in those days.

[HarlemHeat37]

Jordan, Kareem, Wilt, Russell, Bird, and Magic aren't arguable..they are all clearly better than Tim from a career perspective..Hakeem and Shaq are arguable..that's where I would end it..I'd have Timmy at #9 all-time, and I'd have him at 7 with another ring..

[duncan228]

Jordan, Kareem, Wilt, Russell, Bird, and Magic aren't arguable..they are all clearly better than Tim from a career perspective..Hakeem and Shaq are arguable..that's where I would end it..I'd have Timmy at #9 all-time, and I'd have him at 7 with another ring..

Just curious, what's the criteria for Bird being above Duncan?

[Thomas82]

Just curious, what's the criteria for Bird being above Duncan?

IMO, that le in 2007 is what leapfrogged Tim over Larry.

[HarlemHeat37]

Duncan is my favorite player, but I really can't put him ahead of Bird..

While Timmy has consistently been at or near the top of the best in the NBA list since he entered the NBA, he never had the peak of a Larry Bird..Larry won 3 consecutive MVP's in the Golden Era of the NBA..he was arguably the best closer in NBA history, he has the les to back him up..

Duncan has a clear defensive and rebounding advantage over Bird, but that's probably where it would end..Duncan is one of the best playoff performers of all-time, but Bird was even better..Bird has the statistics edge, and he was even more efficient than Timmy %-wise..

[duncan228]

Duncan is my favorite player, but I really can't put him ahead of Bird..

While Timmy has consistently been at or near the top of the best in the NBA list since he entered the NBA, he never had the peak of a Larry Bird..Larry won 3 consecutive MVP's in the Golden Era of the NBA..he was arguably the best closer in NBA history, he has the les to back him up..

Duncan has a clear defensive and rebounding advantage over Bird, but that's probably where it would end..Duncan is one of the best playoff performers of all-time, but Bird was even better..

Thanks for the input.

Bird is the reason I'm an NBA fan, I started watching full time in his rookie year.

I try to be as objective as I can when placing Duncan on all-time lists, but when I get to Bird it gets harder for me. For most of Duncan's career I had him below Bird, but lately I've moved him above Bird.

Bird was incredible, I agree with your assessment of him. But I think the edge Duncan has defensively moves him over Bird. The extra Championship also helps, as does the extra Finals MVP.

I really don't care where Duncan ends up in the history books. His resume speaks for him, he's earned his place among the greats. I'm just thrilled to be his fan and to have had the opportunity to watch his amazing career.

[Thomas82]

thanks for the input.

Bird is the reason i'm an nba fan, i started watching full time in his rookie year.

I try to be as objective as i can when placing duncan on all-time lists, but when i get to bird it gets harder for me. For most of duncan's career i had him below bird, but lately i've moved him above bird.

Bird was incredible, i agree with your assessment of him. But i think the edge duncan has defensively moves him over bird. The extra championship also helps, as does the extra finals mvp.

I really don't care where duncan ends up in the history books. His resume speaks for him, he's earned his place among the greats. I'm just thrilled to be his fan and to have had the opportunity to watch his amazing career.

+1

[Sec24Row7]

Russel wouldn't even be a starter on some teams now.

[z0sa]

Russel wouldn't even be a starter on some teams now.

i don't think that's the case, although the whole 11 championships thing would never happen in a league with 30 teams as opposed to 8.

[HarlemHeat37]

Russel wouldn't even be a starter on some teams now.

[sananspursfan21]

just jordan, magic, and chamberlain

[symple19]

Scola

tools shouldn't post

[Galileo]

Note - This poll included all the NBA players who had a total of 10 or more MVPs, Final's MVPs, rings, and 1st-Team/All-NBA selections:

Jordan 27

11 total MVPs
6 rings
10 1st team selections

Jabber 24

8 MVPs
6 rings
10 1st team selections

Magic 20

6 MVPs
5 rings
9 1st team selections

Russell 19

5 MVPs
11 rings
3 1st team selections

Duncan 18 (could be 19)

5 MVPs
4 rings
9 1st team selections (could be 10)

Bird 17

5 MVPs
3 rings
9 1st team selections

Cousy 17

1 MVP
6 rings
10 1st team selections

Shaq 16

4 MVPs
4 rings
8 1st team selections

Chamberlain 14

5 MVPs
2 rings
7 1st team selections

Karl Malone 13

2 MVPs
11 1st team selections

John Havlicek 13

1 MVP
8 rings
4 1st team selections

Bob Pet 13

2 MVPs
1 ring
10 1st team selections

Jerry West 12

1 MVP
1 ring
10 1st team selections

Kobe Bryant 10 (will be 11)

1 MVP
3 rings
6 1st team selections (will be 7)

Hakeem Olajuwon 11

3 MVPs
2 rings
6 1st team selections

Oscar Robertson 11

1 MVP
1 ring
9 1st team selections

Sam Jones 10

10 rings

Elgin Baylor 10

10 1st team selections

In addition, Scottie Pippen was listed as the most recent person with 9:

6 rings
3 1st team selections

Moses Malone also had 9:

4 MVPs
1 ring
4 1st team selections

So did George Mikan:

4 rings
5 1st team selections

It should also be noted that only Kobe and Duncan are active and can add to their totals.

Shaq is technically active, and could theoretically get another ring if he lands on the right team.

[duncan228]

Note - This poll included all the NBA players who had a total of 10 or more MVPs, Final's MVPs, rings, and 1st-Team/All-NBA selections...

Thanks for the list.

Just curious, why no All-Defensive selections?

[Galileo]

Thanks for the list.

Just curious, why no All-Defensive selections?

The list is for awards that supposedly weigh both offensive and defensive skills. That is also why NBA scoring leaders are not included either.

[Admiral]

Are you out of your ing mind? Russell ok although he was a little one dimensional but can't argue his rings and his impact on his team. But Malone give me a break he had Stockton for his whole career and did'nt win . Duncan only had Drob at the end of his career. And malone was as dirty as they come.

Duncan had Robinson, Elliott, AJ, Elie, etc. for the '99 le. Playing with DRob was an outstanding benefit to Tim. That was a lot of talent and leadership Duncan benefited from - something David and few other stars ever had the luxury of. Plus, the above mentioned lineup plus some good bench players made for an outstanding supporting cast.

Later, Duncan had Parker and Ginobili. Again, those two guys help Tim a LOT. Simply having other players you can count on to step up and make big plays is huge as the go-to guy. When you don't have them, it makes it nearly impossible to play to your own capabilities. Anyone who was a Spurs fan through the 80s and 90s knows exactly how bad it can be when your superstar has an inadequate supporting cast.

Not to be ignored here is the importance of good coaching. Pop is an outstanding coach. He brings out the best in his players, and has also done a great job in the draft and via free agency also. Tim benefited greatly from his control and decision-making.

Tim's MVPs and clutch performances in the playoffs place him in an elite category of power forward. Did he ever lead the league in any statistical category? I can't recall one...

[nhan]

I put Jordan and Kareem at #1 and #2 on my list. Then, I have Russell and Chamberlain as the #3a. Magic and Bird as #3b. Then, Duncan, Shaq, and Hakeem as #3c. The reason for this is its hard to compare an era in which Russell and Chamberlain played with the era now. Regardless, all the players I mentioned are in the Top 10.

[Sean Cagney]

Scola

GOOD JOKE! Jordan.

[peskypesky]

Scola

[Thomas82]

Tim's MVPs and clutch performances in the playoffs place him in an elite category of power forward. Did he ever lead the league in any statistical category? I can't recall one...

The only thing I can think of is double-doubles.

[Thomas82]

Very common misconception. Next someone will say that everyone who played in the 60s was 6 feet tall, white and un athletic. That also would be wrong.

People need to have a sense of history. Wilt went up against many great players who were in the 6'9 to 7' range, and every team had a tough forward/center that could play in today's game. Plus if a 25 year old Wilt Chamberlain played in today's game I can bet several things he would easily do off the top of my head and give good reasoning.

A) Wilt could lead the NBA in scoring- So long as he got the touches Wilt would dominate any low post defender in today's NBA. Wilt was the strongest player to ever play the game, there are other reasons he would lead the NBA in scoring but I'll bring those point up to them as I get there.

B) Wilt would lead the NBA in blocked shots and rebounds. Wilt Chamberlain had a 50 inch standing jump without trying. Plus his hands went on forever and his timing was near perfect.

C) Wilt would be the fastest player for his position and a top 5 fastest player in the NBA. Wilt ran track and field and was very good at it. This would be a reason he would lead the NBA in scoring because he would beat any NBA player down the court in the fast break and just lay in or dunk the ball with little defensive resistance.

D) The rules of today are much softer compared to the rules of the 60s. There was no hand checking and soft fouls that we see all the time today would not be called. If Wilt got his forearm pushed/grabbed while releasing a shot he would not even think about complaining about a no call in the 60s. Wilt often came out of games beat up from the opponents' fouls, today if those kind of fouls were committed the player who did it would be ejected, back then a hard foul with no attempt at the ball was common to slow a player down.

E) Wilt could lead the league in assists. Since Wilt was the only center ever to lead the NBA in assists I could see it being easier for him today. Spread the court with the 3 point line, let the double team come and then kick it out to the 3 point shooter for an easy assist.

F) Wilt could easily lead the league in minutes played. Wilt actually holds the NBA record which will most likely never be broken for minutes per game in a career (45.7) and a season (48.5, that’s more than an entire regulation game!).

Any other questions?

I think you covered it all. This is why I have Wilt as the best player of all-time in my book.

[mathbzh]

Very common misconception. Next someone will say that everyone who played in the 60s was 6 feet tall, white and un athletic. That also would be wrong.

People need to have a sense of history. Wilt went up against many great players who were in the 6'9 to 7' range, and every team had a tough forward/center that could play in today's game. Plus if a 25 year old Wilt Chamberlain played in today's game I can bet several things he would easily do off the top of my head and give good reasoning.

A) Wilt could lead the NBA in scoring- So long as he got the touches Wilt would dominate any low post defender in today's NBA. Wilt was the strongest player to ever play the game, there are other reasons he would lead the NBA in scoring but I'll bring those point up to them as I get there.

B) Wilt would lead the NBA in blocked shots and rebounds. Wilt Chamberlain had a 50 inch standing jump without trying. Plus his hands went on forever and his timing was near perfect.

C) Wilt would be the fastest player for his position and a top 5 fastest player in the NBA. Wilt ran track and field and was very good at it. This would be a reason he would lead the NBA in scoring because he would beat any NBA player down the court in the fast break and just lay in or dunk the ball with little defensive resistance.

D) The rules of today are much softer compared to the rules of the 60s. There was no hand checking and soft fouls that we see all the time today would not be called. If Wilt got his forearm pushed/grabbed while releasing a shot he would not even think about complaining about a no call in the 60s. Wilt often came out of games beat up from the opponents' fouls, today if those kind of fouls were committed the player who did it would be ejected, back then a hard foul with no attempt at the ball was common to slow a player down.

E) Wilt could lead the league in assists. Since Wilt was the only center ever to lead the NBA in assists I could see it being easier for him today. Spread the court with the 3 point line, let the double team come and then kick it out to the 3 point shooter for an easy assist.

F) Wilt could easily lead the league in minutes played. Wilt actually holds the NBA record which will most likely never be broken for minutes per game in a career (45.7) and a season (48.5, that’s more than an entire regulation game!).

Any other questions?

When you see what Dwight Howard can do it is hard to argue Wilt would not be absolutely dominant.

[DAF86]

From what I saw/read:

Jordan
Russell
Kareem
Chamberlain
Magic
Bird
Duncan
Shaq

Duncan and O'neal are practically tied (with a slight edge to Tim) for me 'cause Shaq at his prime was better/more dominant than Duncan at his, but Duncan's longevity and overall career acomplishments puts him ahead of O'neal.

[Riverwalkman]

IMO:

Only Jordan and Russell are definitely better.

Duncan is equal to Bird and Magic,he's even better than Olajuwon and Chamberlain.Coz Jordan, Russell, Duncan, Bird, and Magic have been championship compe ors almost all through their careers.