Is Tim Duncan the only top 10 player of all time that...

[livingby3's]

His longevity and consistency is something else though

[NBAplayoffs2001]

you guys honestly think he was better than 2003 Shaq?

Did you see Shaq's fitness in 2003? IMO his best physical peak years were late 1999 to the nba finals in 2001. 2002, he took a small step. But Shaq took a huge step down in 2003 and I don't blame Kobe having trouble trusting him since he sat out games and the Lakers had to be play catchup after going 11-19 in the start of the season.

[DaSeba5]

2003?

[Warners0]

From 99 to 2007 Duncan was clearly the best player in the league.

Duncan doesn't force offense like most superstars but he scored when he wanted.

When he had to score no one stopped him.

He was also a top defender who was screwed out of some defensive player of the year awards.

Had Duncan not gotten hurt in 2000 the Lakers dynasty might have never gotten started.

[Draz]

He's a god

[Legends66NBA7]

From 99 to 2007 Duncan was clearly the best player in the league.

Why do you say that ?

Are you talking about the specific, season by season or just the stretch overall ?

[Kvnzhangyay]

Can't think of one season where Kobe was the best player in the league

But Kobe isnt a top 10 player...

[GimmeThat]

was never the #1 best player in the league over the course of a full season? His best ranking would probably be during the early 2000's but even then he wasnt better than a prime Shaq

Yes, given the assumption that the best player in the league don't win rings.

because the best players in the league do something else besides winning rings.

as to what?

I sound drunk, don't I.

[BoutPractice]

Tim Duncan in 2003:

- NBA MVP
- Finals MVP
- All-NBA First Team
- All-Defensive First Team
- Top 10 in ppg, top 3 in RPG, top 3 in BPG
- Top 3 in PER, led the league in win shares
- Had no other All-Star on his team
- Played about as perfect all-around as a bigman can
- Averaged 23 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks per game on 51% shooting in the regular season
- Averaged 25 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists and 3.5 blocks on 53% shooting in the playoffs
- Averaged 28 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game on 53% shooting against Shaq's Lakers. Both Duncan and Kobe outscored Shaq in the series
- Averaged 24 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks on 50% shooting in the Finals, including a near quadruple double in the title clinching game

What more do you need? This was one of the most dominant seasons of all-time.

[fiddy]

Can't think of one season where Kobe was the best player in the league

Cant think of one post you are not the biggest fakkit on ish

[Anaximandro1]

Fans don't like watching the Spurs, so they're relatively unknown. Pay attention, OP.

A healthy Duncan was the #1 best player in the league from 1999 to 2007.

He was the best low post scorer in the game for a good chunk of the period and, on top of that, a terrific defensive anchor.




1999

Spurs (6 - 8) got destroyed by the Jazz (11 -2) early in the 1998-99 NBA season



Popovich was going to be fired. The Spurs' players knew that the game in Houston was Pop's last chance.

Duncan (23 pt, 14 rb, 5blk), Avery Johnson (18 pt, 13 as) and Robinson (15 pt, 9 rb, 3blk) saved Popovich.



It was the turning point for the Spurs franchise ... a few weeks later, Lakers and Jazz got totally owned by Duncan.

Las Vegas - Favorites to win 1999 NBA title (Feb 6, 1999)

The favorites are the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers at 7-2. The Lakers are at 3-1, followed by the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at 5-1, and the Houston Rockets at 6-1.

In 1999 the Jazz and the Lakers were heavily favored to win the NBA title. In fact, Malone won his second MVP in 1999.

Jazz (32-8) dominated the regular season until the Spurs (28-12) visited the Delta Center. Utah had beaten San Antonio in eight of the last nine meetings. The Jazz had eliminated the Spurs from the playoffs in 1994, 1996 and 1998.

The Spurs were obsessed with beating the Jazz

[aj1987]

Duncan's 03 Playoff run is one of the five greatest ever. Of course he was.

Shaq missed like twenty regular season games so by default Duncan was better. But in the Playoffs Duncan completely kills him. He went on Shaq's court and finished him with a 37/16 game.

I love Duncan, but you guys need to stop overrating him.

[Uncle Drew]

I love Duncan, but you guys need to stop overrating him.

He's right. Duncan won the damn thing on his own that year. The only two I can recall who did the same were Rick Barry and Hakeem.

[Unbiased_one]

06, 07, and 08 for sure.

But no. Maybe 08.

[Chizdog]

06, 07, and 08 for sure.

These kids doesn't even know who Lebron is.