OT: Tim Duncan Retires

[ghsartin]

Top 5 center all time.

I like that you recognized him as a center. The best power forward ever talk regarding Duncan is total nonsense. He is over 6'11 (in shoes) and in college was already regarded as a 5. The only reason he played the 4 during his early seasons in the NBA was the presence of David Robinson. Even at the time, though, one could make a case that Duncan was the truer center of the tandem, due to the fact that Robinson spent much of his time in the high-post. Anyway, basketball-reference.com has Duncan spending 70% of his time as a 5 since 2000-01, the season in which they start to track the players' position.

As a center, I would rank Duncan right after Olajuwon in an all-time list: Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, O'Neal, Olajuwon and then Duncan. It may seem a sacrilege, but I would certainly let Russell out of it. He was a subpar offensive player (15 ppg and a FG% of .440) and the league consisted only of 8 teams during his first championship and 14 during his last.

 

[LoPo]

Duncan was no doubt a center. Robinson was the better athlete and always guarded the 4 when they were both on the court. People are so fascinated with best this best that. The guy was awesome, but just because Pop listed him at PF doesn't mean he was one. If Pop listed him at SF, would we be calling him the best SF of all time today?

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[FabioJazz]

Malone was better.

 

[ghsartin]

I didn't watch Malone through his prime but got to see all of Duncans, for those that saw both would you really objectively take Malone over Duncan? Duncans rim protection would hard to pass up.

Even though Duncan was a better defender and rebounder, Malone was much better offensively. He was his team's clear go-to guy until his last season with the Jazz, his penultimate overall, while Duncan was his team's clear go-to guy for only a handfull of years. In other words, Malone in general assumed a much more difficult role - and probably with less talent to begin with, not to mention size. The Mailman left out on court everything that he had. During his last two seasons with the Jazz, it was clear that his energy level was lower than before, but even so he was able to averaged 22.4 and 20.6 points per game.

One could compare Duncan's game and career with Olajuwon's; one could not really compare Malone's with anyone. I would take Malone over Duncan.

 

[green]

I've said this a lot:

The Jazz and NBA should be in the same place. I think a lot of pettiness would go away if we had more to talk about.

Keep posting General NBA stuff here. Fight the POWER!!!

 

[LoPo]

Duncan was a better rebounder and defender for the centers he got to defend. He always guarded the worst athlete on the floor. He was damn good, but people never point that out.

I will always remember this about Duncan - he wouldn't have lasted 19 years if they called him the same way they called Shaq. Duncan was the only big man I've ever seen get called as softly/closely as a guard. You couldn't touch the guy or he was gonna throw his hands up, bug eye the ref and get every call.

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[VINYLONE]

It's sad, but it's time.

I feel privileged to have gotten to watch him play for the past 19 years. Happy well-deserved retirement!

Please check your privilege.


Also, I wonder if Sean Elliot is sad that he won't have any players to fellate after games.

 

[JazzGal]

Please check your privilege.


Also, I wonder if Sean Elliot is sad that he won't have any players to fellate after games.

I've been checking my privilege a lot lately. Not this time.


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[FabioJazz]

Why people in the United States overestimate the rings? I know, it's important to win championships. But it's not an individual sport. You can be the best and not win.



I know, everyone knows his milestones. But they forget...
Duncan was center. Duncan choked vs Heat (Clean layup vs Battier) Duncan was terrible in Olympics 2004. 13 ppg in a year. Last season he was done.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

It is fascinating to me to compare Duncan's and Kobe's careers. They are surprisingly similar in some ways, and yet the way they each approached their final NBA season, so perfectly demonstrates just how different these two superstars were. In 20 seasons (Kobe) and 19 seasons (Duncan) each finished with 5 rings. Kobe was league MVP once, Duncan twice. Kobe was finals MVP twice, Duncan three times. Before his final NBA season, Kobe announced far and wide that it would be his last, so bring on the Farewell to Kobe show, which made a complete mockery of the season and the once proud Laker organization. On his way out the door, Kobe took the franchise to a fantastic (at least from a draft pick stand point) record. The team was left with limited talent, partially because Kobe would never give the Lakers a discount, and partly because he was so toxic to play with. There was never any doubt throughout his 20 seasons that it was always about Kobe. Duncan, no farewell tour. He just showed up and did his job every night, even when he was no longer the star. He helped to Spurs to a fantastic regular season (albeit a disappointing playoffs). Toward the end of his career, he took discounts every season for a number of years to help keep, or bring in younger talent. With his exit, the Spurs still have to be considered a top 4 team in the West and probably in the league. Although I hated his incessant whining and that look of incredulity every time a foul was called on him, the game was never about him. As exciting and electric as Kobe could be, if I had to start a franchise, give me Timmy all day long!! Even if Karl Malone was the better power forward.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[fishonjazz]

I didn't watch Malone through his prime but got to see all of Duncans, for those that saw both would you really objectively take Malone over Duncan? Duncans rim protection would hard to pass up.

It's close. I watched mostly all of each of their careers. I think malone is the best power forward ever. Duncan could play center position better though.
And me thinking malone was better probably has some homerism sprinkled in there.

 

[fishonjazz]

It is fascinating to me to compare Duncan's and Kobe's careers. They are surprisingly similar in some ways, and yet the way they each approached their final NBA season, so perfectly demonstrates just how different these two superstars were. In 20 seasons (Kobe) and 19 seasons (Duncan) each finished with 5 rings. Kobe was league MVP once, Duncan twice. Kobe was finals MVP twice, Duncan three times. Before his final NBA season, Kobe announced far and wide that it would be his last, so bring on the Farewell to Kobe show, which made a complete mockery of the season and the once proud Laker organization. On his way out the door, Kobe took the franchise to a fantastic (at least from a draft pick stand point) record. The team was left with limited talent, partially because Kobe would never give the Lakers a discount, and partly because he was so toxic to play with. There was never any doubt throughout his 20 seasons that it was always about Kobe. Duncan, no farewell tour. He just showed up and did his job every night, even when he was no longer the star. He helped to Spurs to a fantastic regular season (albeit a disappointing playoffs). Toward the end of his career, he took discounts every season for a number of years to help keep, or bring in younger talent. With his exit, the Spurs still have to be considered a top 4 team in the West and probably in the league. Although I hated his incessant whining and that look of incredulity every time a foul was called on him, the game was never about him. As exciting and electric as Kobe could be, if I had to start a franchise, give me Timmy all day long!! Even if Karl Malone was the better power forward.

Great post