Sporting News Poll: Who Is The NBA Athlete Of The Decade: Kobe Or Duncan?

[HarlemHeat37]

I really, REALLY hate when people argue against old timers, and ignore the HUUUUGE advantages that today's players have in EVERY way..training, transportation, financially, knowledge from learning from past players, and you can keep going..

today's players have incredible advantages over them..you can't compare players in the past and ignore that, it isn't fair to them..

[Nathan Explosion]

I'm fairly certain I could have been a factor during that time period. lol That's 100% honest too. I've seen the footage. These marginal players would get destroyed by today's NBA. Shaq would have obliterated Russell.

I think you're completely missing the point. Russell was a smart player. He admits that Wilt had the physical tools to destroy him, but Russell was much smarter and used it to his advantage to the tune of 11 rings.

Just because Shaq is new doesn't mean he's the best. Remember what Phila and myself said about Russell as an athlete.

[Nathan Explosion]

I really, REALLY hate when people argue against old timers, and ignore the HUUUUGE advantages that today's players have in EVERY way..training, transportation, financially, knowledge from learning from past players, and you can keep going..

today's players have incredible advantages over them..you can't compare players in the past and ignore that, it isn't fair to them..

Don't forget the rule changes. As great as Jordan was, can you even imagine how dominant he'd be today with the hand checking rules?

Once he figured it all out and got past the Pistons, he was unstoppable (ask Patrick Ewing and about 3 other Knicks). Throw in the rule changes and he could be 2-3 times better than he was, as amazing as that sounds.

[Nathan Explosion]

What people don't understand is that back then it was hard to be a player. The pay was low the conditions were bad and that's not even talking about game play. The old Boston garden used to be filled with smoke during games! The players wore old converse all stars, not nikes. The game was much more physical and defensive oriented. There was little flash in the game because it was fundamentals. The players of the 60s had all around games. They could pass shoot score defend and rebound. The game wasn't soft like it is today. If a player got slapped on the way up half the time it wouldn't be called. Today you can't touch the player with the ball, back then if a block attempt hit your forearm then too bad. It kept the game at a fast pase and made players tougher. Shaq back in the 60s would be pretty beastly, but people don't understand that Wilt was actually stronger than Shaq.

I think the question should be, with all the differences in rules, which players could play back then and handle the physicality?

Shaq and Duncan immediately spring to mind (Shaq for his strength and Duncan for his fundamentals). However, there are a lot of perimeter players who don't like the contact and cry whenever they're touched or fouled hard.

Gino, Parker are unafraid of hard contact. Dwayne Wade is the same way.

Anyone else? It's late and I'm getting tired so any omission isn't on purpose.

[cobbler]

I just love these guys talking about how players like Wilt couldn't play in todays game. Especially the morons who are not even old enough to have seen them play. Sports will always evolve and the players will always get better, bigger, stronger etc. The point is, at the time they played, they excelled. If you took Wilt out of a time machine and put him in today's NBA, he would make the current crop of centers look like fools. Take him out of the time machine and in addition give him the advantages players have today with nutrition, training, facilities etc and the gap would be even wider.

Phila_C brought up how Wilt played pickup games after he retired. He played many of those in Pauley Pavillion at UCLA. On one occasion, as Magic reiterated, they were playing and Magic called a cheap foul on Chamberlin. Wilt says, you will not score another basket. Magic, as hard as he tried, and one of the greatest in his prime, was blocked on every shot attempt thereafter. Not some.... EVERY.

All you who diminish the hall of famers who come from earlier eras and created the environment where players today have benefited have no clue.

I suppose in 40 years you will be saying Duncan could never play in todays NBA and diminish all his accomplishments. Oh maybe after 40 years you might actually have taken a step out of your fishbowl and realized what an ignorant fool you used to be.

[cobbler]

gotta love this one too..

"When challenged, Wilt could do almost anything he wanted. In 1961 a new star named Walt Bellamy came into the league. Bellamy was 6-foot-10, and was scoring 30 points a game. First time they played against each other, they met at half court. Bellamy said, ' o, Mr. Chamberlain. I'm Walter Bellamy.' Chamberlain reached for Bellamy's hand and said, ' o, Walter. You won't get a shot off in the first half.' Wilt then blocked Bellamy's first nine shots. At the start of the second half Wilt said to Bellamy, 'Okay, Walter. Now you can play.'"

[crc21209]

Kobe was a Superstar in those Championship years too. You put Duncan instead of Kobe on that team and he would still be second fiddle to Shaq too. You guys give no credit to Kobe, he was a very important piece on that team. You can't say Lakers shaq would have still won championships if you replace kobe with another guard, Shaq-Kobe was a great geat Duo, one of the greatest if not the best.

Shaq-Kobe was pretty much the team.

Kobe missed the Playoffs altogether in 05', and got knocked out in the 1st round TWO years in a row in 06' AND 07'. Duncan has NEVER missed the Playoffs, and had never been knocked out in the 1st round up until this past Season. Kobe, has also lost 2 Finals this Decade (04' and 08') in embarrasing fashion. Duncan is undefeated in the Finals (4-0) and also has 3 Finals MVP's to Kobe's 1. Shall I keep going?

[Rapper]

Kobe??

Come on, please

[Texas_Ranger]

I'd rather see Shaq in that pool and no Kobe.

[AnthonyM]

LMAO! This is great, I went out tonight and before I did it was like 1000 to 700 in favor of Kobe and I come back home and its 3500 to 1500 in favor of TIMMAYYYYYYY!

Rightfully deserved....

[mabrignani]

haha do you guys think that the increase of votes for duncan was done by us here at ST?

Here are the current vote counts:
Kobe Bryant
1498
30%
Tim Duncan
3495
70%

[Texas_Ranger]

@ mouse and his comments there.

[Dr Cox]

gottem coach




cox out!

[hater]

this is re ed. should be Shaq vs Duncan with Duncan winning by a small margin

[rascal]

Kobe missed the Playoffs altogether in 05', and got knocked out in the 1st round TWO years in a row in 06' AND 07'. Duncan has NEVER missed the Playoffs, and had never been knocked out in the 1st round up until this past Season. Kobe, has also lost 2 Finals this Decade (04' and 08') in embarrasing fashion. Duncan is undefeated in the Finals (4-0) and also has 3 Finals MVP's to Kobe's 1. Shall I keep going?

1999 is not considered part of the last decade.

[CubanMustGo]

be is making a comeback, keep voting!

Kobe Bryant 1836 33%
Tim Duncan 3651 67%

[Kobe™]

Voted for Timmy.

[duncan228]

Current results:

5626 votes

Kobe Bryant 1924 34%
Tim Duncan 3702 66%

[portnoy1]

its got to be Kobe, he is an obviously better athlete. Better Player part is debatable but not athlete.

[hater]

its got to be Kobe, he is an obviously better athlete. Better Player part is debatable but not athlete.

you are missing the point. by your logic the winner of the poll should be James White

[kace]

its got to be Kobe, he is an obviously better athlete. Better Player part is debatable but not athlete.

better athlete ? who cares ? there are dozens of better NBA athletes than kobe in the last decade.

[withcheese]

Start at 0:26.

That's Wilt (36 yo) ing Kareem (25 yo), swatting the out of his "unblockable" Sky Hook twice, once while it's at its apex. You fools who think that kind of athleticism and timing wouldn't translate to the modern game need to rethink your silly little opinions.

[UnWantedTheory]

Kobe is not the athlete of the decade over Duncan; that's ridiculous.

Someone help me throw the poll, I keep deleting cookies and voting again, but I'm seeing 2 more votes for Kobe for every 1 vote I add.

Its obviously rigged.

[UnWantedTheory]

Give me some Timmy on this one....

[Galileo]

Just voted.

Duncan is down to 63% but still way ahead.

What a joke. Kobe does not stand in Duncan's jockstrap.