Who was the second best player in the NBA these years?

[Kblaze8855]

Do you not realize we had this discussion 20 years ago? That I listened to you tell me the Spurs did not have a better team and the lakers were going to make and win the fourth finals and we would all see that you were right when the playoffs arrived? I’m just asking. Right now you’re like one of those people who get on Facebook and talk like people don’t know them in real life.

you started on all that other shit after they lost.

[GimmeThat]

I’m just asking. Right now you’re like one of those people who get on Facebook and talk like people don’t know them in real life.

generally, it just sounds weak. the annoying part is how comfortable people are with it, then expects you to cuddle them when all they needed was some humility.

[SouBeachTalents]

2013 really sticks out like a sore thumb from this list. I'd genuinely like to know who else would even be argued over KD for this year, he really seemed to reach consensus top 2 by this point.

2023 is definitely Giannis for me. Sure, you "could" argue Embiid but deep down, nobody really thinks he's better than Giannis.

1994 Shaq had a monster year, but Robinson is the clear cut choice for me.

The rest are genuinely difficult to decide on.

1992 Hakeem & Barkley both missed the playoffs, so they're out of contention. This would come down to Drexler, Robinson, Malone & Ewing, if forced to pick, I'd choose Robinson.

1996 Shaq missed too many games, so he's out of contention. This would come down to Robinson, Hakeem & Malone, and I think I'd give Robinson the nod over Hakeem for winning 11 more games.

2000 might be the biggest gap between the best player and the 2nd best player in the history of the league. You could argue a handful of guys for this year, but I think I'd go with Mourning.

2003 is imo the most interesting one of the bunch. Duncan takes home BITW after his epic title run, but then you have Shaq, Kobe, KG & McGrady all coming off MONSTER seasons. This is the pick I'd feel the least confident in, but I think based off his regular season and dragging that dogshit roster to the playoffs, I just might go with McGrady.

[SouBeachTalents]

2005-07 would be extremely difficult to decide on who the best player was, let alone the 2nd best. You'd have Duncan, Wade, Kobe & Dirk all battling for those spots.

2008 would come down to KG or CP3.

2011 would also make for a very interest debate, I'm assuming Dirk would get the nod for the top spot, does LeBron take 2nd despite his Finals?

[WhiteKyrie]

92: Drexler
94: D-Rob
96: D-Rob
00: KG
03: Kobe / McGrady
13: KD
23: Embiid

[eliteballer]

Do you not realize we had this discussion 20 years ago? That I listened to you tell me the Spurs did not have a better team and the lakers were going to make and win the fourth finals and we would all see that you were right when the playoffs arrived? I’m just asking. Right now you’re like one of those people who get on Facebook and talk like people don’t know them in real life.

you started on all that other shit after they lost.

It feels like we blinked and 20 years passed.

[John8204]

92 - John Stockton (led the league in assists and steals, Jazz made the conference finals)
94 - Patrick Ewing
98 - Shaq
00 - Reggie Miller
03 - Jason Kidd
13 - Chris Paul - like Stockton led the league in steals and assists
23 - Jokic

[rmt]

The Spurs having a better team than an old Lakers team worn down from trying for a 4th Finals run in a row without a bench, and Kobe nursing a shoulder injury does not equate to Duncan being the best...hell Shaq put up better numbers than him in the series.

Duncan 28.0 pts
Shaq 25.3 pts

https://www.basketball-reference.com...-vs-spurs.html

[ShawkFactory]

The Spurs having a better team than an old Lakers team worn down from trying for a 4th Finals run in a row without a bench, and Kobe nursing a shoulder injury does not equate to Duncan being the best...hell Shaq put up better numbers than him in the series.

Did he..?

[elementally morale]

Some years face few arguments looking back as far as who the best player was, so I want to know who gets second place.

1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2013, 2023.

Jordan, Robinson
Hakeem, Shaq
Jordan, Hakeem
Shaq, Garnett
Duncan, Kobe
LeBron, Durant
Jokic, Giannis

[Carbine]

Alonzo second best player in '00 LOL

[Kblaze8855]

Alonzo second best player in '00 LOL

If you played or simulated a season on the original NBA 2K, he would always average like 26 and 12 and win MVP. So there’s that.

[Carbine]

Garnett was just better at that point. This was Duncan the season after he just won FMVP and was clearly a better player than Zo ever was for the simple fact it was proven you could run an offense through him and win big at this point. I could argue this was Duncan's physical peak season before the knee injury. He never looked better in terms of being an athlete.

Zo top 5? No problem.

[RogueBorg]

'92 - David Robinson
'94 - Shaq
'96 - Hakeem
'00 - Iverson
'03 - Duncan
'13 - Durant
'23 - Giannis

Robinson hadn't passed Ewing yet in '92.

[Xiao Yao You]

Robinson hadn't passed Ewing yet in '92.

he was always on a different level than Ewing