Does anyone not think Tim is better than KG

[CelticConcourse]

I like KG more, and I guess he's better too. *shrug*

[kagry]

I've never understood why Duncan is considered a PF. The only years that I potentially thought of him as a PF was when Robinson was still there and that was something the team was forced to do (obviously not a bad ting to have to deal with).  To me he's the closest thing to a bonafide C that the league has seen since the Olajuwon, Ewing and Robinson and later Shaq years. Had he been drafted by any other team he would have been officially a C his whole career.

[wdleehi]

I've never understood why Duncan is considered a PF. The only years that I potentially thought of him as a PF was when Robinson was still there and that was something the team was forced to do (obviously not a bad ting to have to deal with).  To me he's the closest thing to a bonafide C that the league has seen since the Olajuwon, Ewing and Robinson and later Shaq years. Had he been drafted by any other team he would have been officially a C his whole career.

After Robinson, they brought in Rasho Nesterovic to play C.
Then Rasho and Nazr. 

Then Elson and Oberto



Around 08, he played more C then PF.

[LB3533]

Pop said they been playing Duncan at Center for the last decade LOL.

[Roy H.]

Pop said they been playing Duncan at Center for the last decade LOL.

In San Antonio, the roles of PF and C are pretty interchangeable. 

[Fafnir]

Pop said they been playing Duncan at Center for the last decade LOL.

In San Antonio, the roles of PF and C are pretty interchangeable.

Which is why I rate Duncan as a C, he played over half his career at C with all the same duties as Russell/Wilt/Shaq in the offense and defensive schemes of San Antonio.

Doesn't diminish him as a player though, greatest player of his generation.

[Fan from VT]

Pop said they been playing Duncan at Center for the last decade LOL.

In San Antonio, the roles of PF and C are pretty interchangeable.

Which is why I rate Duncan as a C, he played over half his career at C with all the same duties as Russell/Wilt/Shaq in the offense and defensive schemes of San Antonio.

Doesn't diminish him as a player though, greatest player of his generation.

THIS is the biggest reason there's the myth of the Golden Age of Centers in the late 80s-90s. It's because Bigs became MORE skilled, but the same size, so they started calling themselves PFs. But they've still been C's, and are just as good as ever. In fact, it was mostly due to Shaq; no one wanted to go head-to-head vs him by being considered "centers," so they called themselves PFs and everyone went along.

[CelticConcourse]

Can we just call it the best frontcourt player?

Who do you guys think is the best big ever?

[wdleehi]

Can we just call it the best frontcourt player?

Who do you guys think is the best big ever?

Russel

[Roy H.]

Can we just call it the best frontcourt player?

Who do you guys think is the best big ever?

[edwardjkasche]

As players, Duncan and KG are equal.

Duncan (career): 20.2ppg, 11.2rpg, 3.1asp, 0.7spg, 2.2bpg
KG (career): 19.1ppg, 10.5rpg, 3.9asp, 1.3spg, 1.5bpg

They're the top-2 active players in Win Shares.

Duncan had the luck of playing on better teams with a better coach (Pop vs. Flip Saunders, not Pop vs. Doc (though that can be argued)) for the better part of a decade.  That is reason why he has 4 championships to KG's 1.  Duncan never languished in San Antonio the way KG did in Minnesota.

Both affect individual games in a positive way and both have affected the league in a positive way.

[Chelm]

As players, Duncan and KG are equal.

Duncan (career): 20.2ppg, 11.2rpg, 3.1asp, 0.7spg, 2.2bpg
KG (career): 19.1ppg, 10.5rpg, 3.9asp, 1.3spg, 1.5bpg

They're the top-2 active players in Win Shares.

Duncan had the luck of playing on better teams with a better coach (Pop vs. Flip Saunders, not Pop vs. Doc (though that can be argued)) for the better part of a decade.  That is reason why he has 4 championships to KG's 1.  Duncan never languished in San Antonio the way KG did in Minnesota.

Both affect individual games in a positive way and both have affected the league in a positive way.

Honestly... maybe you're right, maybe you're not, but we measure NBA stars in a very particular way.  In this way, Duncan outdoes KG.  I think this sums it up pretty well:

Duncan is still the best PF to ever play the game. 



Just about every award or honor KG got, Duncan got it more.

KG 1 time champ
Duncan 4 time (with three final MVPs)

KG MVP
Duncan 2 time MVP

KG all-nba team 9 times (4 times 1st team)
Duncan all-nba team 14 times (10 times 1st team)

KG all-def team 12 times (9 first teams)
Duncan all def 14 times (8 first teams)

KG does have a def player of the year Duncan does not.




And remember, KG made his 1st all-star game the year before Duncan entered the league.

[scaryjerry]

As players, Duncan and KG are equal.

Duncan (career): 20.2ppg, 11.2rpg, 3.1asp, 0.7spg, 2.2bpg
KG (career): 19.1ppg, 10.5rpg, 3.9asp, 1.3spg, 1.5bpg

They're the top-2 active players in Win Shares.

Duncan had the luck of playing on better teams with a better coach (Pop vs. Flip Saunders, not Pop vs. Doc (though that can be argued)) for the better part of a decade.  That is reason why he has 4 championships to KG's 1.  Duncan never languished in San Antonio the way KG did in Minnesota.

Both affect individual games in a positive way and both have affected the league in a positive way.

how are they equal when duncans numbers are slightly better and his success is significantly better..don't get it.

[GreenEnvy]

Forget about not being stuck in Minnesota for a decade, but I really wonder how much different a player and a person KG would have turned out had he went to college.

I know in that famous interview John Thompson talks about recruiting him to Georgetown, and what a blessing I believe 2-3 years there would have been for KG.

Duncan and KG are about as equally skilled all-time greats as you will find. One went to college and got a laughably good scenario to start his career with, while the other skipped college and went to a shockingly bad franchise for 11 years.

There is no doubt, like many others, that had KG went to the Spurs, they'd have won just the same. And had Duncan landed in Minny (or even Boston), he'd have no jewelry either.

[Chelm]

There is no doubt, like many others, that had KG went to the Spurs, they'd have won just the same. And had Duncan landed in Minny (or even Boston), he'd have no jewelry either.

You might be right, you might not be, but to say "There is no doubt" is a little naive.

EDIT:  for example, I'd argue that 2010 Tim Duncan may have led the Cs over the Lakers in the NBA Finals.  Playoff numbers that year:

TD:  19/10/2.6/52%
KG:  15/7/2.5/49%

Additionally, I don't see 2013 KG leading the Spurs over the Heat as easily, which very well may come to fruition.