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Hi, it seems that Duncan has nice stats, but they don't make him a top-10 EVER player. When you look at currently active players... for the last 3 years... you definitely don't see Duncan as a top-10 player active in the NBA.

Why is he top-10 ever? Because of his importance in winning the rings of SA? Or has his performance really been to warrant a place in top-10 ever?

Are you serious?

Wait...what?

Dudes, I believe he is great, but when you look at the last few years... there have been great players, I just don't see Tim Duncan being among the best of them over the last few years.

Duncan has won 4 championships, 2 without David Robinson. That makes him a top-10 player.

interesting opinion.... maybe it is the two mvps, maybe it is never averaging less than a double double his entire career. Maybe it is because he never needed another all time great to win a title (i.e. garnett needed pierce and allen, shaq always has had either penny, kobe, or wade), maybe it is because he has 4 rings and has done it without forcing trades to get to talent rather making his teammates around him better.. the goes on and on. If you think Duncan isn't a top ten player that is a difficult opinion to keep. Ask any gm if they could piece together a team now with any ten guys in the league not thinking about years left in the tank but just the year ahead I promise 99 percent would want Duncan on that Roster. All time greatness, name me a better PF than him and we can look at stats, mvps, and championships and not even Karl Malone comes close. Better name me ten guys in NBA history that are better, not taking era into consideration. Don't come with George Mikan because that would be ridiculous. I can think of five right away then it gets fuzzy. Magic, Bird, Jordan, Wilt, Russell, after that it is a debate.

bishopospurs wrote:interesting opinion.... maybe it is the two mvps, maybe it is never averaging less than a double double his entire career. Maybe it is because he never needed another all time great to win a title (i.e. garnett needed pierce and allen, shaq always has had either penny, kobe, or wade), maybe it is because he has 4 rings and has done it without forcing trades to get to talent rather making his teammates around him better.. the goes on and on. If you think Duncan isn't a top ten player that is a difficult opinion to keep. Ask any gm if they could piece together a team now with any ten guys in the league not thinking about years left in the tank but just the year ahead I promise 99 percent would want Duncan on that Roster. All time greatness, name me a better PF than him and we can look at stats, mvps, and championships and not even Karl Malone comes close. Better name me ten guys in NBA history that are better, not taking era into consideration. Don't come with George Mikan because that would be ridiculous. I can think of five right away then it gets fuzzy. Magic, Bird, Jordan, Wilt, Russell, after that it is a debate.

Can't put it any better than this.

OP, if you actually have to question why TD is a Top 10 player, you'll probably never know.

Imagine if he played in LA or NY - he'd be a lock for Top 5 all-time.

bishopospurs wrote:interesting opinion.... maybe it is the two mvps, maybe it is never averaging less than a double double his entire career. Maybe it is because he never needed another all time great to win a title (i.e. garnett needed pierce and allen, shaq always has had either penny, kobe, or wade), maybe it is because he has 4 rings and has done it without forcing trades to get to talent rather making his teammates around him better.. the goes on and on. If you think Duncan isn't a top ten player that is a difficult opinion to keep. Ask any gm if they could piece together a team now with any ten guys in the league not thinking about years left in the tank but just the year ahead I promise 99 percent would want Duncan on that Roster. All time greatness, name me a better PF than him and we can look at stats, mvps, and championships and not even Karl Malone comes close. Better name me ten guys in NBA history that are better, not taking era into consideration. Don't come with George Mikan because that would be ridiculous. I can think of five right away then it gets fuzzy. Magic, Bird, Jordan, Wilt, Russell, after that it is a debate.

Well said bishopospurs, if this is not enough then I don't know what to tell you OP.

Season W L %
2008-09 54 28 .659
2007-08 56 26 .683
2006-07 58 24 .707
2005-06 63 19 .768
2004-05 59 23 .720
2003-04 57 25 .695
2002-03 60 22 .732
2001-02 58 24 .707
2000-01 58 24 .707
1999-00 53 29 .646
1998-99 37 13 .740
1997-98 56 26 .683

Duncan joins Spurs

-------------------------------------------

1996-97 20 62 .244

I think the better question is "why ISN'T Duncan a top-10 player that ever played in the NBA?"

That would've been more of a challange.

Ok *cracks neck*
Since TD joined the Spurs they have had the highest winning percentage of ANY US sports team in either the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL.
He has won four titles since 1999 only the Lakers have matched that feat in the same period and that team was loaded with Shaq and Kobe.
He has been selected to an ALL NBA Team and ALL NBA Defensive team in every year he has played.
He's has never averaged less than Double Double, most of his season averages are 20/10, he has a career average of 21 and 11.
He's been an All-Star every year I believe, ROY, B2B MVP, 3 time Finals MVP and should have at least one DPOY.

He's never had a bonefide all time great next to him other than the admiral, he's always made his team mates better, you never here him demanding trades or that the FO office do more for him etc.

Anything else?

There is one more thing to add, Tim Duncan isn't finished yet. The five best players of all time I mentioned I would put above tim as it stands now were much older than Duncan when they retired. The only one who was relatively young when he retired was Bill Russell at 35. The rest, Bird- 37, Magic- 37, Chamberlain- 37, and Jordan- 40. If Duncan plays three more years, the way the roster and front office are working this summer he has a legitimate shot at 3 more championships. If the spurs when at least 2 more championships I would almost squeeze Tim Duncan in the top five over Wilt Chamberlain.

I don't know how we can give historical perspective to a career that isn't done yet. Duncan has the potential to play to 40, he was never the most athletic, jump out of the building player. He is a tough, fundamentally sound, cerebral player. Kareem lasted to 42, and without injury I think Duncan has a shot to hit at least 38. That is five more years. So why not come back then and ask that question about top ten consideration, though I believe by then you may be saying top five consideration.

I think the simplest way to put it is the man knows how to win.

I agree completely with all arguements that he is among the best. Not having a losing record once in his career and not missing the play-offs once in the same time period is ridiculous. Just doesn't happen too often. As far as PFs go, I'm going to declare him the GOAT. Am I wrong?

^^^ Not at all. Sounds about right to me.

I am not a Spurs or Duncan fan but you have got to give him his props. He is the best powerforward ever and would be top ten center. In order of greatness I would say
1. Jordan
2. Wilt
3. Kareem
4. Magic
5. Oscar
6. Russell
7. Bird
8. Shaq
9. West
10 Duncan

honorable mention/ Kobe, Malone, Erving, Havlicek

My list:

1. Jordan
2. Majic
3. Russel
4. Wilt
5. Kareem
6. Shaq
7. Duncan
8. Kobe
9. Olajuwon
10. Stockton

Edit: made 6-10 better ordered plus i forgot about Kareem so peace Malone .

Malone, Stockton and Kobe above TD? GTFO with that crap.

Turnover King wrote:Malone, Stockton and Kobe above TD? GTFO with that crap.

aha it was hard thinking of top 10 of all time so when i got the names i didnt really spend too much time on order...stockton and malone i'll give you but kobe is debatable over duncan. i think i would put olajuwon above stockton now i think of it.

LOL, Malone and Stockton could never be over Duncan for the simple fact that Tim won 4 titles and Malone and Stockton 0.