Charles Barkley vs Dirk Nowitzki...Who Was The Better Player?

[Milbuck]

Barkley had to go up against the Bulls.

Dirk beat Kobe, Lebron, Durant, Wade, and Westbrook in the same playoff run.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Dirk beat Kobe, Lebron, and Durant in the same playoff run.

Wade, Westbrook, Aldridge, Pau and Bosh as well

[Odinn]

BTW, Chuck should be 2nd. He won a well-deserved MVP against prime/peak Jordan and Hakeem. Also he could have won it in 1989-90 season against prime/peak Jordan and Magic, he's the only player in the history that got most 1st place votes but hadn't won the award.
He was that good. Karl Malone was never that good. I don't see Dirk winning an MVP against Jordan and Hakeem. Also Jordan needed to drop 41 ppg to defeat Chuck in 1993.

We are talking about level of play and accolades, Chuck is better in both criterias. He had the better level of play and his MVP results are better in a more challenging era.

[LBJFTW]

Barkley was a lazy bastard. He use to ride the stationary bike on the sidelines while eating pancakes yelling at his team during practice while bits of pancakes flew out of his mouth.

[Young X]

Dirk beat Kobe, Lebron, Durant, Wade, and Westbrook in the same playoff run.

Yeah and none of them are even touching prime Michael Jordan.

[raprap]

Flip a coin. I prefer Dirk tho.

[Round Mound]

Barkley was the superior player clearly. Dirk was lucky he played in this soft era.

[DMAVS41]

Barkley was the superior player clearly. Dirk was lucky he played in this soft era.

[ArbitraryWater]

Yeah and none of them are even touching prime Michael Jordan.

Barkley was a BS call away from getting bounced in the first round by the 8th seed Lakers, and then had overcame the Sonics in a heavily scrutinized game 7 with bad officiating.

Dirk climbed more of an uphill battle in 2011 than Barkley ever did, and in the 2006 Spurs beat another team that I would take over any team Barkley beat.

[Pointguard]

Very close, but I think Dirk.

Dirk played smarter imo and was better on defense. Dirk also cared more...he was a better teammate and made life easier on a coach...not harder.

Very very very close though...could go either way.

That's my main reason for giving it to Dirk. Barkley at his peak, was scary good. Could play at that exceptional rarefied air. But he just didn't care enough to keep doing it. I really believe he could have been a top three player all time. Dirk was the opposite, consistent, always ready, well integrated and always stuck with his strengths.

[stalkerforlife]

Dirk.

Period.

Carries teams better. Actually a better defender. Dirk and them boys had no business winning that ring against the most stacked team in NBA history.

Dirk is a better winner.

[Fallen Angel]

Dirk, really surprised people are debating about it

[Human Error]

Nowitzki. Equally good on offense and better / more versatile on defense.

[catch24]

Tossup.

At his absolute best, Barkley was scary good. Tough, physical, could score with the best of them (save for Jordan) and rebounded better than Dirk...a lot better.

Dirk's advantages = shooting, crunch-time play, better teammate, and that he's better on defense although not by much.

I'd argue Dirk for career, and Barkley in his prime.

[Fallen Angel]

When did Dirk become an inferior scorer compared to Barkley?