1a
1b
And I ask this in all aspects of the Spurs organization. Wins, Importance, Community, Loyalty,....
This is not a slight to Robinson (which many always seem to take it as), but it's Duncan hands down. Duncan is widely regarded as one of the ten best players of all-time; Robinson is widely regarded as a fringe top twenty player all-time.
Out of respect for both of them, it's gotta be a tie.
On the floor, yes. But David saved this franchise. No David. No Spurs. Timmy would be playing in a different city right now. Spurs were ready to move when David came along. Just throwing that out there.
The problem is that TD probably had better players surrounding him that DR.
DR's stats blow timmy away. TD's accomplishments blow DR away, because he was the best player on 4 championship teams.
DR's athleticism was much better, and DR was widely regarded as a better defender by those on the team.
Both were clearly great.
I do think they were in different cir stances, and it is hard to compare that.
I feel bad that DR never got to win it as the lead dog.
I agree with the 1a 1b designation because I honestly don't think Robinson had the support that Duncan had in being successful. Doesn't take away the fact that Duncan is the greatest PF ever, but it does allow the argument that David was an all time great center in his own right.
You beat me to it... agree with your comments.
Basketball-wise, Duncan is the best player ever to wear a Spurs uniform. But David is the reason the Spurs are still in San Antonio and David's involvement in the community clearly adds an entirely different level to his greatness as a Spur. But, it's not really fair to Duncan to give David the edge as being the greatest Spur on those grounds because had Duncan got here first he very well could have been the guy to save the franchise and we don't know what Duncan's involvement with the Spurs and the San Antonio community beyond his playing days is going to be since he's still playing.
So, long answer short, it's an impossible question to answer.
On the court, Tim. No-brainer, and that's not a slight.
Off the court, David. Again, no-brainer, and again, not a slight.
The best answer yet.
/thread
I dont know if on the court, that Tim is that much better than David. David was a monster with no cast...just like another poster pointed out. He was as smooth as silk and playing in the panit. Never saw a center with his speed.
Robinson may have saved the franchise first, but that's only because he came along first. Duncan still saved them, though. Where would the Spurs be today if Duncan hadn't re-signed in '00? Would they even exist?
As for this argument about Robinson's stats, not to take anything away from him (his stats before before 96-97 are insane), but rather to put them into perspective, look at the era he played in.
No one in the league anymore averages even 3 bpg, let alone over 4. No big man puts up close to 30 ppg. Partially, that's due to the decline in great big men, but also because the game has changed. It's a guard oriented game now. I would argue that Duncan's numbers before 05-06 were at least close to Robinson's peak seasons if you adjust for era.
Since people bring up Duncan having played with better teammates, factor that in too. As we saw in the playoffs many a season, if Duncan needed/wanted to, he could have put up even better numbers than he did. You can't on the one hand praise him for his unselfishness, then on the other hand use it against him to prop up Robinson.
Agree with all this.
I don't think I can choose.
But let me ask it this way: going head to head, in their prime, surrounded by equal teamates, who gets the better of the individual matchup?
In their prime, I think David would overwhelm TD in a head to head match like that.
As for the surrounding talent duncan has won more championships with less talent then any superstar in history of the nba. Thats why he is by far the greatest player of this decade over kobe. However, he probably did have more talent then david. In their prime I think duncan would torch any big to ever play the game. He had so many moves offensively. Nobody could stop him not even david. David is like a much better KG though and a great big in his own right.
The TD of 2003 wouldn't be "overwhelmed" by any player ever.
Without Tim, no les.
Without David, no Tim.
This is one of those chicken-and-the-egg questions.
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