Do you now rank LeBron ahead of Duncan on all time rankings?

[hitmantb]

Unfortunately, most media now rank LeBron ahead of Duncan after the legendary 2016 NBA finals, he is considered top 5 all-time and bumped Duncan out of Mount Rushmore which for most writers, is Jordan, Kareem, Magic and either Russell or Wilt, depend on whether you value legendary individual stats or rings on a stacked team in NBA's infancy.

If you compare MVP + FMVP + Rings, they are basically even except LeBron has 2 MVP's vs Duncan's 2 FMVP-less rings.

LeBron has record breaking stats in most categories and a body for the ages, six straight trips to the finals (even if it is in the Eastern Conference) with a seventh one in the bag barring major injuries. And he is ten-times more business savvy than Tim, makes great investments in Beats, Liverpool FC, billion dollar contract from Nike. More importantly, his business a en makes him the first player in NBA history to play GM role and assemble superstar teams around him. First Miami Heat, then even in a small market like Cleveland he managed to put together a loaded team and slapped Pat Riley in the face. You also can't question his leadership as both Irving, Love matured before our eyes. He even made the type of players Spurs shy away from, JR Smith a great producer. We all laughed about the big contract Tristan Thompson got with 8 points and 8 rebounds, and after the 2016 finals, wow what a steal!

LeBron is an emperor, a king who takes control of his own fate and builds his own empire, exactly the way he wants it, every castle, every piece, must be micro managed. When they were down 1-3, he knew he had to do something to turn this around, and shrewdly stepped over Dreymond Green and got him to retaliate/get banned. And it triggered the dominoes of Bogut injury, Iguodala back injury, and Curry's injury worsening. It gave him a chance to win a historic game 7 and he delivered The Block and few will remember Iguodala's back injury, Green's ban or even Curry's playoff injury. They will just remember LeBron's greatness. More than beating an (injured) 73-Wins team and The Block on someone who could barely stand two nights ago, I will always remember The Step, but everyone else will just remember how he led both teams in every single stats category.

Duncan is a monk, a saint, someone who trusts the organization and leaves it all to Pop/RC Buford. Duncan is my idol, he does things the morally correct way, the old fashioned way. The fact that Spurs looks like a potential championship contender in 2016-2017 WITHOUT HIM, is the testament of his greatness and lasting impact on Spurs culture. He worked with less star power than any all time-great with 3+ championships and seriously offers so many intangibles on both end of the floor. But people will be skewed into thinking it is Pop that makes the Spurs great.

But LeBron, as much as I hate to say it, will win the individual rank over him. You may be able to argue for a tie, but at age 31, he has 50% chance of #2 all time beating Kareem and 10% chance to catch Jordan with another three-peat. And he is the first player to have complete control over his own destiny while doing so. And if any NBA player can run for the president, he is the chosen one whether you believe his public persona or not. The "City of Cleveland, I am here to save you" thing can easily turns to a campaign to save America, 20 years down the road.

[Ice009]

Not in my book. Not even close (unless they want to bump someone else out). Tim is in the top 5 after 2014. He got himself there in 2013 (he would have been the MVP of the finals as he got them in position to win it, but his teammates ed it up for him) and cemented himself there in 2014 (was the Spurs' best player in the playoffs). Then he backed it up yet again in 2015 by being the Spurs' best player in the playoffs going against a super athletic front court of DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin. He almost got us over the line against them too, but unfortunately he had no help from his front court teammates. Who knows how far the Spurs could have gone that year too if they had of gotten past the Clippers.

To me, it's been all about Tim's teammates. He's always had to carry a heavy load and I wasn't too happy with him having to do it still as late as 2015. If his teammates took some more of that load off up to that point, we might not be having this conversation.

Lebron needs to do a little bit more to get him above Tim in my book.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

All time LeBron might be at the worst top 2-3 all time. He'll never overtake Jordan though.

[apalisoc_9]

Lebron is already the greatest Basketball player of all time.

TD is top 5 though.

[RD2191]

Tim has 5 rings. Tim played in the West against nba giants. How many rings would TD have if he had played against LeBrons compe ion out east from the last decade? How many rings would Tim have if he had left the Spurs to join up with two stars in their primes? (I know about Orlando)

[Robz4000]

Still have Tim ahead, but if Lebron rings this year he surpasses him.

[Kawhitstorm]

Lebron is already the greatest Basketball player of all time.

You can't be the best player of all-time when you get outscored by Jason Terry in a playoff series at the PEAK of your career.



Imagine, Jason Terry talking smack to Jorn & coming out on top:

[Arcadian]

Nope. Both top 5, but I still got Duncan > James.

[100%duncan]

Honestly, Im biased so I have tim above but Im not mad when they put lebron ahead. Not like he's kobe or something

[SuperCam]

To LeKing's credit, he has beaten two teams in the finals -- '13 spurs and 73-9 warriors -- that are vastly superior to any team Tim beat in the finals. If he plays the '99 lockout knicks and the Kidd nets in his first two finals he is sitting at 5 rings right now easy, let alone that Cavs team with Larry Hughes as the second best player

[Proxy]

LBJ solid 2

[spurraider21]

Honestly, Im biased so I have tim above but Im not mad when they put lebron ahead. Not like he's kobe or something

[r0drig0lac]

when all is said and done Lebron will have a top 3 career, Duncan still always have the advantage in h2h

[Obstructed_View]

I couldn't find the "lol" option.

[Spurtacular]

Lebron is already the greatest Basketball player of all time.

TD is top 5 though.

Wouldn't expect a less sh** take from the worst poster on ST, tbh.

[BillMc]

You actually asked two different questions. In the thread le you say "Do you now rank LeBron ahead of Duncan"? To that question, I say 'no", because of Timmy's 5 rings, 5-1 finals record (2-1 against LeBron) and defense, I put Duncan ahead.

But the poll question says "Who will be ranked higher in all time greats?" That has a future tense, as well as broadens the pool from the personal (the "you" in the le) to the general. In other words, while I personally hold Timmy higher, I suspect the media and fans at large will remember LeBron as greater than Duncan. This has more to do with hype, personality, branding, style of play, raw points, etc. It's why some fools think inefficient Kobe is even in the same breath as Duncan (or LBJ for that matter). So, I would predict that LBJ will be remembered as greater than TD by the public at large.

Anyway, I voted for TD.

[Horse]

no 2 of his rings came from 2 massive choke job and a head coach with his head up his ass

[SASdynasty!]

You can't be the best player of all-time when you get outscored by Jason Terry in a playoff series at the PEAK of your career.



Imagine, Jason Terry talking smack to Jorn & coming out on top:

Well, to be fair Terry mings completely dominated Jordan in the playoffs. And considering Jordan had a losing record for 1/3 of his career, it's not that far-fetched to think. Also, to think Jordan pretty much couldn't win a playoff game until he got a good team around him and definitely couldn't sniff a le until he got the GOAT coach puts some things in perspective. No one is invincible. Maybe if Lebron would have retired a few times in the middle of his career he may have avoided '11.

[Phenomanul]

One played in the "LEastern Conference" his entire career...

'nuff said...

[Brazil]

Honestly, Im biased so I have tim above but Im not mad when they put lebron ahead. Not like he's kobe or something

[Fireball]

do not know about right now, but when Lebron ends his career he will be ... sad as it is

[SuperCam]

no 2 of his rings came from 2 massive choke job and a head coach with his head up his ass

And two of Tim's rings came from the 99 knicks and 07 Cavs... some of the worst teams to ever make the finals.


LBJ has had the hardest finals opponents overall of any player since Magic, tbqh. '14 Spurs and '16 Warriors alone are much better than any team that MJ, Tim, or Kobe ever faced off against...

[lilbthebasedgod]

Anyone who has thought Duncan was better is a massive player fan.

[cd98]

Duncan has done more over a longer period of time, but Lebron gets closer every year. It's no shame because Lebron is definitely an all-time best and If he is ahead of Duncan it's because of his stellar performance last year in the finals. That Cav team, even with its talent, would struggle to make the playoffs without Lebron.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

WHO CARES!!!!

Totally different positions, Totally different type of players. Duncan should only be compared to other big men.

5 championships (should have been 6), to me, and as a fan, Tim will always be the best. Outside of Jordan/Bird and possibly Magic, (being I wasn't around in prime Kareem/Russell/Wilt etc. I really don't give a about the other players.