Can you make the case that Duncan is top-7 all time?

Hook_Em · Post #1 » by **Hook_Em** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 1:48 am

Russell
Wilt
Kareem
MJ
LeBron
Magic
…………..Timmy?

5x titles
3x f-mvp
elite prime (b2b mvp’s & 4 titles)
elite longevity (made all-nba in 98’ & 15’)
15x all-nba
15x all-defense
no drama & great teammate
.

Post #2 » by **G R E Y** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 1:51 am

YES.

Hugely unjust he never won DPOY either.

As pointed out in another thread, one of only a handful of players in NBA history to have won five titles with the same team.

Dr Aki · Post #3 » by **Dr Aki** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 1:51 am

Post #4 » by **Texas Chuck** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 1:54 am

There's no case he isn't. There is a clear best 5 and he's undoubtedly a part. He has a stronger case for

than 8th

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Post #5 » by **cupcakesnake** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 2:01 am

I have Duncan at #4 all-time and I think you can reasonably argue him higher than that.

Very iron-clad resume of accomplishment with tons of statistical evidence of massive impact that stacks up against anyone.

He's not the greatest offensive player ever, but he was pretty incredible with his resilient post-scoring game + all the intangibles he brought as a screener, cutter, and passer. Then on defense, he's in the GOAT discussion there. He's sort of the inverse of Kareem in this way.

wemby · Post #6 » by **wemby** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 2:01 am

Russell? Magic? I get that Duncan may not reach the cultural icon status those 2 had, you can argue they had a bigger impact on basketball as a game... but as a player, if I had to build a team I pick Duncan 10/10.

zeebneeb · Post #7 » by **zeebneeb** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 2:22 am

Starting 5.

Magic
Jordan
Bird
Duncan
Wilt

Yes, he is top 5, all-time.

Bornstellar · Post #8 » by **Bornstellar** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 3:26 am

Easily. He's top 5 imo

Bush4Ever · Post #9 » by **Bush4Ever** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 3:26 am

It's a pretty easy case to make.

I think once you get outside of Rushmore (Lebron, Russell, Kareem, MJ), there is a gap and then a chunking that doesn't have obvious candidates. To me, making an argument he should be higher than Bird/Magic/Wilt/Shaq is not complicated. It might not be a total slam dunk, but it wouldn't be difficult to make a reasonable one.

Johnny Tomala · Post #10 » by **Johnny Tomala** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 3:28 am

Not in my top 7.

MJ, KAJ, Russell, LBJ, Wilt, Magic, Bird, Hakeem all higher than him. I have him 9th all time then Shaq 10th.

Frank Dux · Post #11 » by **Frank Dux** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 3:40 am

Tier 1:
Lebron
MJ
Kareem

Tier 2:
Bird
Magic
Duncan

That is my top 6. I think you can make the case for Duncan at #4. Better longevity than Magic and Bird. I also have him above Russell and Wilt, those guys played during the NBA’s infancy and I think the game has progressed quite a bit since. Hakeem is close to Duncan, but Duncan has better accolades and longevity. Shaq had the higher peak but dropped the being a lazy goofball, and Duncan continued to put in the work.

I’m pretty comfortable saying Duncan is in the top 7

tmorgan · Post #12 » by **tmorgan** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 3:50 am

If you’re trying to use team success, individual accolades, and some degree of longevity, the only guys I can’t make an argument against as behind Timmy are Mike, LBJ, and Kareem. That doesn’t mean he’s a lock for 4th best of all time, but you can certainly construct a reasonable argument.

Special_Puppy · Post #13 » by **Special_Puppy** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 3:52 am

Its harder to make the case that he's NOT top 7 all time. Just an absurd resume with an absurd statistical portfolio

Hero · Post #14 » by **Hero** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 3:56 am

You can make this case sure. After the top 3 there's a lot more room for discussion on where you place the others.

realball · Post #15 » by **realball** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 3:59 am

Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, Hakeem, and Duncan all have a claim to being the best big man of all time. Can't go wrong picking anyone of them over the other. For me, it's a six-way tie for 3rd best, with MJ and Lebron above, and Magic and Bird right after.

bstein14 · Post #16 » by **bstein14** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 4:02 am

Duncan won 5 titles without another top 10 teammate in an era where he had to face Shaq/Kobe and Lebron Heatles. I think he's clearly ahead of guys like Shaq/Kobe all-time and I think he's right there with Magic at #4/#5 but Duncan was a better defender and had a much longer career.

The other thing about Duncan is he might be the GOAT leader because he always raised up his teammates never said he needed more help never was trying to play GM.

WarriorGM · Post #17 » by **WarriorGM** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 4:11 am

Far more interesting is to make the case for top 1. It actually can be made.

SlimShady83 · Post #18 » by **SlimShady83** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 4:20 am

Dude he my top 4 and I'm Kobe/Laker fan

Iwasawitness · Post #19 » by **Iwasawitness** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 4:21 am

WarriorGM wrote:Far more interesting is to make the case for top 1. It actually can be made.

You do know we're talking about Duncan, not Curry right?

SlimShady83 · Post #20 » by **SlimShady83** » Wed Mar 19, 2025 4:22 am

zeebneeb wrote:Starting 5.

Magic
Jordan
Bird
Duncan
Wilt

Yes, he is top 5, all-time.

Take out Wilt add In Russell, basically my top 5