If Kobe never existed Duncan would probably be considered like top 3 all time tbh.
Duncan has I believe a minimum of 3 more finals appearances(2001,2004,2008) and a lock one more title(2001). No Kobe means they win the WCF in 2001 and they go on to defeat the Sixers in the Finals. I don’t think they can get past the Kings in 2002 but 2004 I believe they beat the Wolves and have a really good shot in the 2004 finals against the pistons. Do they beat them? I’m not sure I mean they beat the same core the next year.
NotManyBuses
Yes, however Kobe won their playoff head to head and seemed to play the Spurs really well.
Pickleskennedy1
It is interesting that when Kobe played, at least through both of their times being top ten players Kobe was almost universally seen as better.
I think you could argue for either one, but I do think Duncan has gone up in consensus ranking after he was done playing
HS941317
I bet Shai doesn’t even have Tim Duncan top 15 in his list
Western_Candidate31
Norris Cole fun fact: Won rings his first 2 seasons in the league on the 2012/2013 Heatles
gridironk
Kobe and Duncan have very similar bodies of work and their careers basically overlapped.
Both won 5 rings, both played for one franchise for a hella long time, both made a ton of All NBAs and All Defense teams.
It’s kinda like the 2000s version of Magic vs Bird.
captain_ahabb
Wow an r/nba thread about how Tim Duncan is underrated and Kobe is overrated
Valeficar
I hate when people downplay Tim because of Pop or Manu or Parker, but will gas up players like Magic or Kobe who had fellow top 10 talents on their teams. Totally ridiculous.
ActualAdvice
TIM DUNCAN BRO
dash_44
Timmy doesn’t get enough respect and I think it’s because…
– *He wasn’t a guard so no one did the “Him vs MJ?” thing*
– *His game wasn’t flashy enough.*
– *They never repeated.*
– *He wasn’t a star off the court in the way Kobe, Shaq, MJ, Bron were.*
– *He never had cool shoes.*
– *He took a back seat offensively later in his career instead of demanding shots.*
Some of these things sound trivial but I think they matter when it comes to cultural impact and how people perceive players later.
motherseffinjones
We all know he’s great but yet he’s still underrated
JabezMakaveli
He ain’t wrong
Mycooljr
Looks like very young Denzel lol
aligreaper19
it was still kobe’s era
MyContentIsTrash
Tim is top 10 easily
NefariousnessLeast21
Lets go dude
Bonesawisready5
Manu doesn’t foul Dirk in game 6 WCF 2006, spurs three peat imo
127crazie
*Sorts by controversial*
carasc5
I have Duncan above Kobe all time.
Borktista
Been saying this to everyone in my life whenever they only bring up Kobe. TD is top 10 all time
GetDownDamien
I absolutely hated the lakers when I was kid, I always rooted for the spurs in those finals match ups, was my dad’s favourite team back then
Savings_Fig_6233
Reddit is gonna eat this up
brucewayne1935
Tim > Kobe pretty easily imo
turdfurgy69
Finally! We’ve all been waiting for Norris Cole to chime in
moserftbl88
Is this the weekly Duncan is actually underrated post that seems to be happening now?
EGarrett
Said it before and I’ll say it again. Tim Duncan won the first title after Jordan, and the last title before Steph Curry. So if anybody divided the “Grindy 90’s” and “Pace & Space,” it’s Tim Duncan.
AggroPro
Yall Kobe stans have really turned him into one of the most overrated players in the history of the league.
LemmingPractice
Lol, there is no such thing as the Kobe Era. How exactly does a one-time MVP winner purport to have an era anyways?
Kobe was like the 4th or 5th best player of that era, with Duncan and Shaq being clearly better and more accomplished, while Dirk and KG are the disputable ones.
Terraldo_
Duncan was definitely the man! I remember when I was younger I didn’t appreciate it him that much cause he wasn’t flashy. It was until his last 4 years where I really started to like him. He is definitely the greatest power forward ever
DigOlBick99
Tim has been waiting for Norris’ flowers for years
youngstunnaserg
Why doesn’t he get brought up for longevity? Man is easily top 8 ever.
Repostbot3784
Tim > kobe in all ways. Also im totally not biased at all.
Electrical-Mule-2057
As a Spurs fan, I got nervous when Spoelstra put Cole in the lineup during the Finals. Dude was a fantastic bench player that could go off any minute.
FlyLikeATachyon
When did /r/NBA become a floral sub
TrillCozby1980
People love to say “Every other domicile player was able to eat on Lebron’s watch” yet, Duncan has 5 rings DURING Kobe’s run. Fuck it, let’s not count the one from 97. That’s still 4.
needaburnerbaby
Fucking finally. Never understood the Kobe stans. How could the man be the greatest of all time when he’s not even the best player of his own era, or the team he played for. Madness.
37 Comments
kobe had a better PR team
If Kobe never existed Duncan would probably be considered like top 3 all time tbh.
Duncan has I believe a minimum of 3 more finals appearances(2001,2004,2008) and a lock one more title(2001). No Kobe means they win the WCF in 2001 and they go on to defeat the Sixers in the Finals. I don’t think they can get past the Kings in 2002 but 2004 I believe they beat the Wolves and have a really good shot in the 2004 finals against the pistons. Do they beat them? I’m not sure I mean they beat the same core the next year.
Yes, however Kobe won their playoff head to head and seemed to play the Spurs really well.
It is interesting that when Kobe played, at least through both of their times being top ten players Kobe was almost universally seen as better.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1ljevb/better_basketball_player_hakeem_olajuwon_or_tim/?rdt=44684
I think you could argue for either one, but I do think Duncan has gone up in consensus ranking after he was done playing
I bet Shai doesn’t even have Tim Duncan top 15 in his list
Norris Cole fun fact: Won rings his first 2 seasons in the league on the 2012/2013 Heatles
Kobe and Duncan have very similar bodies of work and their careers basically overlapped.
Both won 5 rings, both played for one franchise for a hella long time, both made a ton of All NBAs and All Defense teams.
It’s kinda like the 2000s version of Magic vs Bird.
Wow an r/nba thread about how Tim Duncan is underrated and Kobe is overrated
I hate when people downplay Tim because of Pop or Manu or Parker, but will gas up players like Magic or Kobe who had fellow top 10 talents on their teams. Totally ridiculous.
TIM DUNCAN BRO
Timmy doesn’t get enough respect and I think it’s because…
– *He wasn’t a guard so no one did the “Him vs MJ?” thing*
– *His game wasn’t flashy enough.*
– *They never repeated.*
– *He wasn’t a star off the court in the way Kobe, Shaq, MJ, Bron were.*
– *He never had cool shoes.*
– *He took a back seat offensively later in his career instead of demanding shots.*
Some of these things sound trivial but I think they matter when it comes to cultural impact and how people perceive players later.
We all know he’s great but yet he’s still underrated
He ain’t wrong
Looks like very young Denzel lol
it was still kobe’s era
Tim is top 10 easily
Lets go dude
Manu doesn’t foul Dirk in game 6 WCF 2006, spurs three peat imo
*Sorts by controversial*
I have Duncan above Kobe all time.
Been saying this to everyone in my life whenever they only bring up Kobe. TD is top 10 all time
I absolutely hated the lakers when I was kid, I always rooted for the spurs in those finals match ups, was my dad’s favourite team back then
Reddit is gonna eat this up
Tim > Kobe pretty easily imo
Finally! We’ve all been waiting for Norris Cole to chime in
Is this the weekly Duncan is actually underrated post that seems to be happening now?
Said it before and I’ll say it again. Tim Duncan won the first title after Jordan, and the last title before Steph Curry. So if anybody divided the “Grindy 90’s” and “Pace & Space,” it’s Tim Duncan.
Yall Kobe stans have really turned him into one of the most overrated players in the history of the league.
Lol, there is no such thing as the Kobe Era. How exactly does a one-time MVP winner purport to have an era anyways?
Kobe was like the 4th or 5th best player of that era, with Duncan and Shaq being clearly better and more accomplished, while Dirk and KG are the disputable ones.
Duncan was definitely the man! I remember when I was younger I didn’t appreciate it him that much cause he wasn’t flashy. It was until his last 4 years where I really started to like him. He is definitely the greatest power forward ever
Tim has been waiting for Norris’ flowers for years
Why doesn’t he get brought up for longevity? Man is easily top 8 ever.
Tim > kobe in all ways. Also im totally not biased at all.
As a Spurs fan, I got nervous when Spoelstra put Cole in the lineup during the Finals. Dude was a fantastic bench player that could go off any minute.
When did /r/NBA become a floral sub
People love to say “Every other domicile player was able to eat on Lebron’s watch” yet, Duncan has 5 rings DURING Kobe’s run. Fuck it, let’s not count the one from 97. That’s still 4.
Fucking finally. Never understood the Kobe stans. How could the man be the greatest of all time when he’s not even the best player of his own era, or the team he played for. Madness.