What will it take to get the average sports fan to give Tim Duncan his due? What does it take to be considered one of the all-time greats?
Would he need multiple championships? What about averaging 20-10-2.5 plus for his career? All-NBA first team for an unprecedented 8 times in the 8 first years of his career? Could Duncan get some respect if he made an all-defensive team for nearly a decade consecutive? Start in the All-Star game for many years in a row? Or if he was among league leaders in scoring, shooting percentage, rebounding, getting to the free throw line, and blocking shots for that same time period? What if he showed the heart to score 41 points and 15 rebounds in a game 7 as his team is eliminated in one of the closest and most grueling playoff series of all time?
2006-07-14 04:39:25 · 11 answers · asked by #15mwu 5 in Sports ➔ Basketball
Given the numbers, the awards, the signature performances, and the entire body of work, Tim Duncan is an NBA legend in the making. He should have the same one-name recognition as Michael, Larry, Magic, Wilt, and Oscar. If O'Neal is this generation's Chamberlain, Duncan is the new Bill Russell - a suffocating defender who controls the game by frightening the entire opposing offense, all the while dominating but showing the utmost humility and lacking self-aggrandizement. He's Bill Russell but a better scorer.
2006-07-14 04:40:22 · update #1
Can you really not consider Duncan great because he whines too much to the officials or that he is a slightly-below-average free throw shooter? More MVPs and legends have much bigger holes in their character or game: Jordan was a philanderer and constantly ripped his teammates - he even drove out his coach; Nash couldn't guard BLEEP Bavetta; Bird couldn't guard Red Auerbach; Magic was an average shooter; according to Karl Malone, Karl Malone never committed a foul; Cousy and Iverson have shooting percentages approaching the Mendoza line; Kobe turns the ball over far too often and is a sub-par three-point shooter; and the list goes on. Duncan's flaws, while he should make every effort to improve on them, are far outweighed by his overall greatness.
2006-07-14 04:40:55 · update #2
One might argue that the MVPs, the All-NBAs, and rings are all the recognition Duncan could want; he'd probably agree with you. But does Duncan not get the recognition as one of the all-time greats from the casual fan because he plays in San Antonio? Or because he doesn't flex his muscles after blocks, doesn't get his name in the police blotter, doesn't wave his arms to the crowd, doesn't create controversy? How can an NBA fan not revere a man with so many basketball accomplishments, but also is a role model in the community, generously donates his time and money to myriad causes, embodies professionalism and work ethic, supports his teammates on and off the court, respects authority, treats others with courtesy, treats his opponents and the media with respect and dignity, recognizes his personal accomplishments as a function of team success, and is by most measures everything we expect and hope a professional athlete would be?
2006-07-14 04:41:13 · update #3
Duncan's accomplishments dwarf those of Walton, Wilkins, Thomas, Ewing, Olajuwon, Barkley, Miller, Payton, Kidd, Iverson, Bryant, King, Gervin, Robinson, Robertson, and most everybody on the NBA's 50 Greatest Players list - and he still has plenty of mind-blowing basketball left in him. It's time the casual NBA fan realizes that Duncan is not only great, but one of the best ever to play the game of basketball.
2006-07-14 04:41:32 · update #4
The reason why Tim Duncan does not get as much media attention? Because he has some semblance of modesty and does not need to have a big ego. Other star players like to showboat and that is not his game. He has a great game and is one of the best players in the NBA. And, he does have the respect of other players, writers, and coaches. He is not as marketable because he rarely loses his cool and doesn't need to bash teammates. That is what I respect from him. Sure, some people may say he is boring, but he is clearly one of the best power forwards to play the game. He will be up there in the top 50 players of all-time barring injury. He did have some help from David Robinson early in his career and I really think that helped him mature into the All-star that he is. It would be good to see Duncan show a little more emotion though in the playoffs....but he is still a great player.
2006-07-14 05:16:33 · answer #1 · answered by Mav17 5 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Keep dreaming, Duncan will NEVER become an NBA legend. Although he is a great player, never a legend. And hes not in the making either. He hasn't set any memorable records. No MVP's, no recognition.
The reason why Tim Duncan does not get as much media attention? Because he has some semblance of modesty and does not need to have a big ego. Other star players like to showboat and that is not his game. He has a great game and is one of the best players in the NBA. And, he does have the respect of other players, writers, and coaches. He is not as marketable because he rarely loses his cool and doesn't need to bash teammates. That is what I respect from him. Sure, some people may say he is boring, but he is clearly one of the best power forwards to play the game. He will be up there in the top 50 players of all-time barring injury. He did have some help from David Robinson early in his career and I really think that helped him mature into the All-star that he is. It would be good to see Duncan show a little more emotion though in the playoffs....but he is still a great player.
he will have to get one more ring until the will even cosider has much as u hate it it is all bout the rings
The answer is Yes on both counts. I do think Duncan gets his share of respect though. It doesn't make news or interesting conversation to analyze how decent and classy an individual is. And let's remember another thing...he stayed all 4 years at Wake Forest when he could have easily come out earlier. Plus he has the sweetest bank shot I have ever seen.
Wow! Guess you're a Tim Duncan fan. I think he is one of the greatest to ever play. I really do. The championships help. But the problem? No one knows who he is. Not really a marketable guy---almost boring if you ask me. All of those guys that you named have a niche. The Iceman. Walton is the annoying hippy. Wilkins is the human highlight film. Tim Duncan? The Big Fundamental? C'mon. Another problem is that the PF of our time have historically been revered as the best--Barkley and Malone come to mind. Having said all that, Duncan would still be my #1 pick.
2006-07-14 05:23:18 · answer #2 · answered by chad.c 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Elliot Kalb's "Who's better, who's best in basketball" lists Duncan as the 9th best player of all time... that's probably a pretty accurate assessment.
The top 8, according to Kalb (Shaq, Wilt, MJ, Russell, Kareem, Bird, Magic and Oscar Robertson) all have some legitimate arguments to be called the best player ever... Duncan is ranked next, after Oscar, although no one after Oscar (#8) can really make that argument (to be called the best ever).
Duncan is probably the best forward ever to play the game, other than Larry Bird...
To the poster who said Duncan has no MVPs... um, Duncan's won two regular season MVPs, as well as three finals MVP awards... he's one of the few players to win back to back MVPs.
He has six double-doubles in All Star game play, barley missing a 7th, with 15 points and 9 rebounds in 2005... Not bad for his first 8 all star games. He's averaged about 15 points and 13 rebounds per game in All Star play, playing just 26 minutes/game.
He doesn't get a lot of ink, and because of that, he's probably the most underrated player in NBA history... whenever he's on TV, announcers will always acknowledge his greatness, but he'll never be talked about as being one of the most 'exciting' players in the league... all he does is win.
His career averages are 22 pts and 12 rebounds per game, along with about 2.5 blocks...
He ups that to 24 pts and 13 rebounds per game in post season play (and 2.7 blocks).
He might be the most un-trade-able player in the NBA.
2006-07-14 16:16:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! Guess you're a Tim Duncan fan. I think he is one of the greatest to ever play. I really do. The championships help. But the problem? No one knows who he is. Not really a marketable guy---almost boring if you ask me. All of those guys that you named have a niche. The Iceman. Walton is the annoying hippy. Wilkins is the human highlight film. Tim Duncan? The Big Fundamental? C'mon. Another problem is that the PF of our time have historically been revered as the best--Barkley and Malone come to mind. Having said all that, Duncan would still be my #1 pick.
2006-07-14 04:48:05 · answer #4 · answered by Batmen 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The answer is Yes on both counts. I do think Duncan gets his share of respect though. It doesn't make news or interesting conversation to analyze how decent and classy an individual is. And let's remember another thing...he stayed all 4 years at Wake Forest when he could have easily come out earlier. Plus he has the sweetest bank shot I have ever seen.
2006-07-14 05:03:22 · answer #5 · answered by jimel71898 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is just too boring. Plus he doesn't really want that much recognition. And, well, he doesn't get it. Most fans see him as your average power forward superstar. The all-star game might actually seem a bit awkward if Tim Duncan didn't start it. Everyone watching would be saying on the opening tip, "Hey wheres that Duncan guy?". He's one of those guys you don't know what ya got until he's gone.
2006-07-14 05:55:28 · answer #6 · answered by Big Z 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
MOS DEF legend...One of thee best ever...withought a doubt....hes modesty and compusure are oe make him who he is...he doesnt gave tochnage...and as long as hes with san antonio hes team will always be a contender for da a championship...u cant say dat for more players....only ones dat come to mind are shaq and mj....
2006-07-14 09:21:11 · answer #7 · answered by irondude2man 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. He is an NBA legend. He's got more MVPs than shaq, and a more titles than other NBA legends (Karl Malone).
2006-07-14 07:09:33 · answer #8 · answered by Jon 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Keep dreaming, Duncan will NEVER become an NBA legend. Although he is a great player, never a legend. And hes not in the making either. He hasn't set any memorable records. No MVP's, no recognition.
2006-07-14 04:46:04 · answer #9 · answered by K-Deeznuts 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
he will have to get one more ring until the will even cosider has much as u hate it it is all bout the rings
2006-07-14 05:15:39 · answer #10 · answered by trevor 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋