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http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/766 ... lue-part-2

10. Dirk Nowitzki


I can't remember another NBA superstar having his personality transformed by an NBA title; if it happened with, say, Hakeem Olajuwon, I don't remember reading about it. Dirk's next few years will be interesting for historical purposes: In my basketball book, I ranked Bird, Duncan, Havlicek, Baylor, Erving, Pettit, Malone and Barkley as the greatest forwards of all time (in that order). Dirk already leapfrogged the last three; he's about to jump the next three; and if that happens, suddenly he's one of the best 12 or 13 players of all time by any calculation. He's also the greatest international basketball player ever — and actually, you could argue that the distance between Dirk and the next best foreign guy (Gasol, Ginobili) is more like a chasm.

Meaning only Duncan is considered better now according to Simmons.

That title run has really made people overrate Dirk.

I like Bill, but where the hell is Kevin Garnett?

Sedale Threatt wrote:I like Bill, but where the hell is Kevin Garnett?

My thinking. Garnett may be debated, but I'd say he clearly outranks Barkley at least.

McHale
Barkely
Malone
Garnett
Duncan (yes he's a PF)


so which one of these guys is Dirk better than ? I'll wait all day.

Dirk IS the 2nd best PF ever.

WHAT
WHAT
THAT THAT THAT IS BLASPHEMOUS
THAT IS BLASPHEMOUS
BILL SIMMONS SHOULD BE BANNED FROM THE THE US FOR A DAY
FOR A DAY
DIRK IS THE 2ND GREATEST PF OF ALL TIME?
Now don't get me wrong, Dirk is an amazing player and easily a Top 10 PF, BUT TO SAY HES THE 2ND GREATEST PF OF ALL TIME? DID WE FORGET ABOUT KEVIN GARNETT? KARL MALONE? CHARLES BARKLEY? AND DON'T TELL ME KEVIN MCHALE ISN'T GETTING ANY LOVE
Dirk's resume is very impressive and its certainly not complete yet but theres no way hes the 2nd best PF of all time as of yet

Kobe2ndFiddle wrote:McHale
Barkely
Malone
Garnett
Duncan (yes he's a PF)


so which one of these guys is Dirk better than ? I'll wait all day.

Mchale easily. Barkley maybe. Malone, probably not.

Kobe2ndFiddle wrote:McHale
Barkely
Malone
Garnett
Duncan (yes he's a PF)


so which one of these guys is Dirk better than ? I'll wait all day.

McHale?

He probably just forgot KG. I would say that Dirk is in the conversation. He has a strong case to be pretty much equal to KG in his career. Many people have KG as the second best PF ever. I would take Dirk over Malone. IMO Karl Malone the most un clutch player in league history maybe. I might take him over Barkley as well.

isn't duncan better than garnett?

Jay10 wrote:isn't duncan better than garnett?

yes, definitely

5DOM wrote:McHale?

I'll second that. McHale was a great player when he was healthy and in his prime, but unfortunately for him that wasn't very often. Nowitzki's on a completely different level -- better and way, way more durable.

Kobe2ndFiddle wrote:McHale
Barkely
Malone
Garnett
Duncan (yes he's a PF)


so which one of these guys is Dirk better than ? I'll wait all day.

Is that a joke? McHale does not belong in that list by any means. And Nowitzki had overtaken Barkley before the championship run. It is always funny when people are talking about defense and then completely overlook that Barkley was as good defensively as a guy like Stoudemire with the exception that Barkley was at least a great defensive rebounder.

Duncan, Malone and Garnett are ahead of Nowitzki. Neither was really that much better in terms of peak level impact, but all three have an edge in terms of longevity. And as it looks right now Nowitzki is not going to continue very long on his current level. But well, maybe Nowitzki is picking it up again in the playoffs like he did the last view seasons.

In other words, Simmons doesn't really think like a logical, rational analyst...which we already knew. He's still funny.

PippenAintEasy wrote:

Kobe2ndFiddle wrote:McHale
Barkely
Malone
Garnett
Duncan (yes he's a PF)


so which one of these guys is Dirk better than ? I'll wait all day.

Mchale easily. Barkley maybe. Malone, probably not.

is this a joke ?

I am now starting to realize that any superstar who wins a championship in this era will become GREATLY overrated. Even my favorite player has fallen victim to the media and fans overrating him to high heavens.


This bullshh has to stop immediately, Dirk is not better than ANYONE I listed, at all.

richboy wrote:He probably just forgot KG. I would say that Dirk is in the conversation. He has a strong case to be pretty much equal to KG in his career. Many people have KG as the second best PF ever. I would take Dirk over Malone. IMO Karl Malone the most un clutch player in league history maybe. I might take him over Barkley as well.

Does him not being clutch, a term that is subject to anyone's interpretation, cancel out his massive career achievements?

so he had
1)bird
2)duncan
3)Havlicek
4)Baylor
5)Erving
6)Pettit
7)Malone
8)Barkley
9)Nowitzki
and has dirk just jumping the last 3. if he leadfrogs 3 more, doesnt that put him at 3rd best?

5DOM wrote:

Kobe2ndFiddle wrote:McHale
Barkely
Malone
Garnett
Duncan (yes he's a PF)


so which one of these guys is Dirk better than ? I'll wait all day.

McHale?

Agreed.

There is just no way Dirk is better than KG, Barkley or Malone.

the fact that Dirk was referred to as a "bust" early on in his career should disqualify him from even being mentioned in the top 3.