Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Bob Cousy, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Julius Erving, Elgin Baylor, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Kevin McHale, Bob Pettit, Moses Malone, John Stockton, and Isiah Thomas.
Writing for Sports Illustrated, those are the players that Dan Shaugnessy says are better than Tim Duncan, historically speaking. And for my money, it's kind of ridiculous. Just yesterday, I was talking to one of my best friends about how underappreciated Duncan's been in the NBA, and that all things considered, his legacy is better than anybody in the league right now.
Luckily, that's all I have to say on the matter. Joe Posnanski can take it from there, as he puts together an expert defense of Duncan's historical credentials. Numbers-wise, he's as good a power forward as there's ever been. He's won titles. He makes people better. He stays healthy. In every category, Duncan measures out with the best in history.
Don't let his boring game fool you. In the NBA, Tim Duncan's about as good as it gets.
(And as for Mr. Shaugnessy: Chamberlain as the best in history? How 'bout you stop talking for a little while.)
MORE: SBN's Front Office Fans on Duncan.
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Shaughnessy's an idiot
Only an idiot Celtics homer would put Cousy in their top-10 and pick McHale over Duncan. Ohh wait that’s right Shaughnessy is from Boston. Seriously how can you be a sports writer and reasonably think that Duncan hasn’t been a better player than half the guys he listed.
This was my favorite part though.
“Oscar, Jerry West and Cousy — the holy trinity of old guards. You can certainly try to argue for Duncan over one or more of those three, but I’m not buying.”
Is this a joke? Yes. I actually will take the best power forward ever over Cousy about the 7th best point guard ever and I don’t think I need to make much of an argument but hell if you want just go take a look at Cousy’s shooting percentages and tell me if you think he might be a tad bit overrated.
by aramnath on Mar 30, 2010 1:45 PM EDT reply actions
I wrote this up yesterday on an SB nation blog.
http://www.frontofficefans.com/2010/3/29/1395527/tim-duncan-not-in-the-top-20
by aramnath on Mar 30, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Damn, Wish I'd Seen It
Good stuff there, and excellent Shaughnessy bashing.
by Andrew Sharp on Mar 30, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
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