jimboiitmac
miami pride
SLAM Magazine's Greatest 500 players of all-time got me thinking about a Tim Duncan versus Kobe Bryant comparison.
While SLAM is just a publication and doesn't have that much significance, I still think their rankings were interesting, and some were on the money. Duncan was ranked #8 and Kobe was ranked #10, both falling below the highest ranked active player Shaq who jumped in at #4 (I think Shaq's ranking is way too high, but let's stay the course).
Here are some random "arguments" that could be used for both players, then below that I'm going to put their career achievements for comparison.
Kobe should be higher because:
- He is the greatest Laker of all-time
- He is/has been a more dominant scorer than Tim Duncan
- He has been underrated for his years when people said he relied on Shaq
- He is the most competitive player we have seen since Michael Jordan
- He is the most similar player to Michael Jordan in history
Tim should be higher because:
- He is the greatest Spur of all-time
- He is the best at his position all-time, something Kobe cannot boast
- He has been underrated because he's not flashy like Kobe
- He has not been involved in any controversies throughout his career
Career Achievements
Tim Duncan
- 4 x NBA Champion
- 3 x NBA Finals MVP
- 2 x NBA Most Valuable Player
- 1 x Rookie of the Year
- 13 x NBA All-Star
- 9 x All-NBA 1st Team
- 3 x All-NBA 2nd Team
- 1 x All-NBA 3rd Team
- 8 x All-Defensive 1st Team
- 5 x All-Defensive 2nd Team
- 1 x All-Rookie 1st Team
- 1 x NBA All-Star Game MVP
Kobe Bryant
- 5 x NBA Champion
- 2 x NBA Finals MVP
- 1 x NBA Most Valuable Player
- 13 x NBA All-Star
- 2 x NBA Scoring Champion
- 8 x All-NBA 1st Team
- 2 x All-NBA 2nd Team
- 2 x All-NBA 3rd Team
- 8 x All-Defensive 1st Team
- 2 x All-Defensive 2nd Team
- 1 x All-Rookie 2nd Team
- 4 x NBA All-Star MVP
Career Statistics
Tim Duncan (1044 games)
Averages: 20.6 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.3 BPG, 50.7% FG, 68.7% FT, 35.9 MPG
Totals: 21530 points, 11943 rebounds, 3276 assists, 2364 blocks (9th all-time), 37497 minutes
Career PER: 24.8 (highest 27.1)
Kobe Bryant (1089 games)
Averages: 25.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 45.5% FG, 83.8% FT, 36.4 MPG
Totals: 27479 points (6th all-time), 5762 rebounds, 5089 assists, 1633 steals, 39663 minutes
Career PER: 23.5 (highest 28.0)
---------- Post added 16-03-2011 at 05:17 PM ----------
Based on this I voted for Tim Duncan.
Kobe has slightly more impressive career statistics (especially in points), but Tim Duncan has a higher PER; meaning he's been more efficient more consistently. Duncan's career achievements trump Kobe's too as he has more All-NBA and All-Defensive selections, and despite one less ring, more Finals MVP Awards and twice as many MVP's.
Add in the fact that Duncan has been the perfect teammate and team player, never uncoachable or with any disputes, and you can see why I choose him.
While SLAM is just a publication and doesn't have that much significance, I still think their rankings were interesting, and some were on the money. Duncan was ranked #8 and Kobe was ranked #10, both falling below the highest ranked active player Shaq who jumped in at #4 (I think Shaq's ranking is way too high, but let's stay the course).
Here are some random "arguments" that could be used for both players, then below that I'm going to put their career achievements for comparison.
Kobe should be higher because:
- He is the greatest Laker of all-time
- He is/has been a more dominant scorer than Tim Duncan
- He has been underrated for his years when people said he relied on Shaq
- He is the most competitive player we have seen since Michael Jordan
- He is the most similar player to Michael Jordan in history
Tim should be higher because:
- He is the greatest Spur of all-time
- He is the best at his position all-time, something Kobe cannot boast
- He has been underrated because he's not flashy like Kobe
- He has not been involved in any controversies throughout his career
Career Achievements
Tim Duncan
- 4 x NBA Champion
- 3 x NBA Finals MVP
- 2 x NBA Most Valuable Player
- 1 x Rookie of the Year
- 13 x NBA All-Star
- 9 x All-NBA 1st Team
- 3 x All-NBA 2nd Team
- 1 x All-NBA 3rd Team
- 8 x All-Defensive 1st Team
- 5 x All-Defensive 2nd Team
- 1 x All-Rookie 1st Team
- 1 x NBA All-Star Game MVP
Kobe Bryant
- 5 x NBA Champion
- 2 x NBA Finals MVP
- 1 x NBA Most Valuable Player
- 13 x NBA All-Star
- 2 x NBA Scoring Champion
- 8 x All-NBA 1st Team
- 2 x All-NBA 2nd Team
- 2 x All-NBA 3rd Team
- 8 x All-Defensive 1st Team
- 2 x All-Defensive 2nd Team
- 1 x All-Rookie 2nd Team
- 4 x NBA All-Star MVP
Career Statistics
Tim Duncan (1044 games)
Averages: 20.6 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.3 BPG, 50.7% FG, 68.7% FT, 35.9 MPG
Totals: 21530 points, 11943 rebounds, 3276 assists, 2364 blocks (9th all-time), 37497 minutes
Career PER: 24.8 (highest 27.1)
Kobe Bryant (1089 games)
Averages: 25.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 45.5% FG, 83.8% FT, 36.4 MPG
Totals: 27479 points (6th all-time), 5762 rebounds, 5089 assists, 1633 steals, 39663 minutes
Career PER: 23.5 (highest 28.0)
---------- Post added 16-03-2011 at 05:17 PM ----------
Based on this I voted for Tim Duncan.
Kobe has slightly more impressive career statistics (especially in points), but Tim Duncan has a higher PER; meaning he's been more efficient more consistently. Duncan's career achievements trump Kobe's too as he has more All-NBA and All-Defensive selections, and despite one less ring, more Finals MVP Awards and twice as many MVP's.
Add in the fact that Duncan has been the perfect teammate and team player, never uncoachable or with any disputes, and you can see why I choose him.