Higher peak in today's league (assume good health): Duncan or Kawhi

[Tomtolbert]

Who do you think would peak higher in today's league? Assume both stay healthy.

[rrravenred]

Honestly think this depends on how you think Duncan's traditional big man game transitions to the modern era. Peak Duncan was certainly mobile enough to provide great post protection and solid offensive production. Doubt he would (even with modern coaching) have extended his range all the way out to the 3, but his inside game and middies would definitely a valued skillset. He's also the quintessential system player, which I think is key to being valuable in today's x and o driven game, without being an amazingly intuitive passer.

Kawhi (even in his dotage) remains the model of a modern wing offensively and remains able to create his own offence in a variety of ways with terrific efficiency. At his peak, think you can reasonably argue that he surpassed Duncan's production (impact is a separate question). Defensively a smothering black hole of annoyance, especially valuable in an era of perimeter-led offenses. Leonard's offensive and defensive peaks remain distinctly separated by some years, which (compared to Duncan 2003) arguably marks him down.

Peronally, think I still take Duncan, although his relative value at peak is arguably a bit lower than it was in his time, but both are (injury/load-management/fictitious shell companis aside) great franchise centrepieces.

[MiamiBulls]

Kawhi Leonard.

Tim Duncan in today's NBA would be a role player Offensively. No team in the 2020s runs the bulk of their Offense through the Low Post & Peak Duncan was a poor outside shooter.

[penbeast0]

They don't run the bulk of the offense through the low post but with the floor spread, many teams use a big as a hub and scorer once they spread the floor with the other 4. Meanwhile Duncan provides more defense and more leadership.

Now, if Kawhi had his best offensive seasons and best defensive seasons at the same time, plus good health, I could take him but he didn't focus nearly as much on defense in his best offensive years.