Is this even a question? Shaq without a doubt.
Both have MVP's, both have finals MVP's, both were the premier bigmen of the decade.
Who's career has been better so far, and which one's career will be better when its all said and done.
Is this even a question? Shaq without a doubt.
You forgot to use blue text.
Duncan. He never had the stupid drama bull that Shaq had, always finished the season with at least 50 wins and made the playoffs, stuck with one organization, much more respected, etc. He's done this with guys like Matt god damn Bonner and an old and hobbled Antonio McDyess as starting bigs. FWIW Shaq's also played with more incredible individual teammates as well and most were in their prime like Bryant, Wade, LeBron, Amar'e, etc.
Shaq was the most dominant player the modern NBA has ever seen though, but Duncan's consistency and intangibles like staying with one organization, sacrificing some $$$, and not stirring up stupid are priceless qualities for superstars. Duncan's personality aged better in addition to his game which is based more around skill and IQ than being an insane beast like Shaq's game.
Shaq is more of a superstar off the court though and much more recognizable across the world. KAZAAM!
Without analyzing right now, it depends on what you value more and how you make your all-time lists IMO..
If you value peak more, than you go with Shaq..his actual peak was one of the best ever in NBA history, where he was a completely unstoppable beast of a scorer, a great rebounder, and he was even a good defender for those years..
Duncan has the longevity factor and the more overall accolades..he obviously has the advantage in the intangibles/leadership/quality as a teammate categories..
It's close either way, so it depends on what you value the most..
Duncan has never appeared in a ty film about a rapping Genie either.
I think Shaq has marred his career with burning bridges at every stop, becoming a mercenary player trying to tag on rings by riding the coattails of other great players (mostly unsuccessfully), and his lack of desire to stay in great condition where he could have been even more dominant had he. If you look at pure numbers and accomplishments, it's close either way. But when you factor some of the less tangible things as I mentioned above, Duncan's overall career would appear to be greater and greater by a good (not great, but good) margin.
I would agree that peak dominance would go to Shaq. But I think Duncan has had the better career.
even at their peaks, duncan was only a small margin behind shaq. duncan was the finesse player who scored, rebounded, and defended as well as shaq. shaq was more dominant in the sense that he could not be guarded physically. however, duncan was pretty much unstoppable on offense as well during his peak with his brilliant post moves. he just couldn't just muscle his way into the low post, do a right handed jump hook every time, and score at will. he used his variety of post moves and knowledge of the game to destroy his opponents.
of course, when taking into account the entire career, duncan wins.
"If you are going to judge it based off of play you will have to go with Shaq...
Olympic Gold
4 les
3 Finals MVP's
3-peat
And Shaq has the bigger name than TD. The only thing TD has done that Shaq hasn't is stay on the same team and a bit more consistent. At the end of the day Shaq was bigger than TD, but TD was the better player. If TD had the co-stars as Shaq, (Penny, Kobe, Wade, Nash, James) he'd have 8 les."
^Luva, gettin' his magnanimous on.
Shaq was a more dominant force, but Timmy was the better player and leader.
IMO, Timmy is top 5 all time.
MJ
Kareem
Timmy
Kobe
Magic
Farley, take a lap ........
I have always said that it is a crime that Shaquille O'Neal only has one MVP to his name. It is also a crime that this dude never took his profession as serious as Jordan or Bryant.
You take the work ethic or Jordan and put it in Shaquille's body, you have the greatest player of all-time. Funny to think that the biggest man in the NBA has never led the league in blocked shots or rebounding. I'll say Shaquille's was better but not by much.
Duncan worked with what was given to him and ran with it. The Bank Shot is the easiest shot in the game and if you master it, you will do serious damage. Just love how this dude goes to work and handle's his .
Last edited by Ashy Larry; 07-21-2010 at 06:21 PM.
Duncan was never as dominant as Shaq was a la 2000.
I think O'Neal has been a more dominant force. We are talking about the last big man to lead the league in scoring. Duncan has been out-played in the NBA Finals. It was Robert Horry and Manu Ginobili in 2005 that got the Spurs wins and it was Tony Parker that shredded the Cavliers in 2007.
Duncan, for all his talent and skill, has not been dominant throughout a season. I prefer to watch Duncan operate, but he's much more a team player. Individually, I have to go with Shaq.
It's suprising how similar their resumes are and how differently they played the game.
lol, Duncan is slowly getting old and starting to digress a little bit but he's still one of the best big men in the league, Shaq has fallen off a ing cliff...
The better question would have been Hakeem vs Shaq on the real...
sodomites' views IMHO. Shaq is undeniably the better player than Tim Duncan. Both have loads of honours achieved as an individual or part of a great group, but Shaq had been the only dominant power for almost a decade at the position he played, while Duncan never dominated the position he played thanks to the existances of KG, Dirk, etc.... TD just got a little bit more luck than the likes of KG and Dirk, and he succeeded in converting the good luck into a buddle of personal honours which doesn't mean he's the better player than KG or Dirk.
The greatest of all time IMHO should be:
MJ
Magic
Chamberlain
Kareem
BR
Kobe once scored the 2nd highest point scored in a single game of NBA history, but it still doesn't change the fact he's just a little whining who deserves to go nowhere.
breakdown the top centers/big men ...... the top three are set: Russell, Wilt, Cap in no particular order ......
the next three would probably be Dream, Shaquille and Duncan. Who's fourth? I would have to go with Shaquille. If you take their primes, Shaquille was just unstoppable .....
Set a 10.![]()
Shaq says hi.
Just a great movie ......![]()
On the real huh??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ8AmN2XaIM
You crab crackaz know the deal.
A Piston's fan who doesn't know his own teams history? Where the did you come from? Compare what TD did to Ben and Sheed combined that finals.
In 285 minutes VS 509,
- TD put up 36 FTA vs their 25 (he was drawing more fouls),
- TD got 33 Oreb to 40, and 99 rebounds to 111 overall.
- TD got 15 Assists to 20.
- TD committed 16 PF to 49 for the Wallaces...
- TD scored 144 pts to 151.
He basically played the Pistons starting front line even by himself! In 60% of the minutes! That's being "outplayed"?
As far as the Cavs series goes... That series was a joke. He was by far the best big man on floor. While Tony had a great series - the Cavs had no one who had a hope of covering him; I still thought the MVP was Duncan. Tony could have gone down injured, and we still would have won that series, because Lebron was not getting it done against our D. Who keys that D? Duncan and Bowen. And Bowen obviously had less value on the offensive end.
........and that's the problem when you stay too long. Your legacy is tarnished. They've both loitered and they're both paying a price.
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