Shaq and Hakeem are by far the best big men since KAJ. Duncan is another level below--he can fight with Mo Malone, Karl Malone, Barkley, DR in the next tier. Just look at their best statistical seasons and their best playoff runs. Titles don't say the whole story either, otherwise one would conclude Duncan is greater than Hakeem. But in their prime I don't think any thinks Duncan could have taken Hakeem at all, TD had a better cast and a weaker NBA for the most part.
I tend to agree with that analysis somewhat. I think another way to put it is as follows: when I think of all-time great big men, these are the names that immediately come to mind: Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Hakeem, and Shaq. As much as Duncan is great, I don't think he's quiet there yet, I can't honestly say that he was ever as dominant as any of those five names above were at one stretch of their careers. Another reason is just from a pure statistical stand point. TD failed to even record 20ppg last season. The guy is still in his prime. On the other hand, Shaq -- bad free throws and all and playing with guards who demanded the ball and liked to shoot it -- was on average always closer to 30ppg than 20ppg; he also did it shooting nearly 60% from the floor, which is as efficient as a player can ever get. IMO, we simply won't see another big man who will dominate the game from the Center position quiet like Shaq did. Dream dominated, Shaq dominated. I never think of Duncan and 'dominant' in the same sentence. I have seen Rasheed Wallace even outplay him in a playoff series. So I would say that he's very fundamentally sound and will certainly be remembered as a great player, just not in the upper echelon or 'top 5' of all time. I admit that part of the reason why is that he's never been 'the prolific scorer -- or 'prolific' at anything, really -- the way those guys were...with exception of Russell, of course (he was a prolific rebounder and won 11 rings, so that more than makes up for it).
Dominate is the word. It's about how much defensive attention the player commands for. NBA had to change rule to limit Shaq.
i cant believe how your trying to compare them, TD plays with fundamentals while shaq just overpowers the opposition with force. ive never even seen shaq shoot a jumper...id take a TD over shaq any day, but then agian we have yao, and we all know how well yao plays against shaq rofls at the way they like to play hack-shaq during the final minutes of the game...still i agree with the statement that TD has had less stars on his team. i mean granted hes had tony parker and manu on his team for his rings but hes never had a dwade, penny, or a kobe. its just not fair to compare these two. yao FTW, k thx.
I'd take a guy to whom you throw the ball near the board and he slams it down over jump shooter any day. They are two of the greatest players, howerver Shaq's numbers are to much for Tim to handle..
So then Duncan is better than Kareem right, because Kareem only won with Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson, and the year he played with neither he missed the playoffs alltogether. Please Duncan has had quality depth his entire career, a Prime Shaq could make any team a contender. Duncan 3 finals, Shaq 6
Wow, I am impressed with all the votes Shaq's getting. That's awesome. I was a huge fan of his during his Magic days, he and Penny anyway.
Shaq will go down as the best big man of the 1998-2006 span, but I don't completely agree. His body of work may be slightly better, but I think any team with Shaq on it would be better with Duncan. Shaq carried the load more often offensively, but Duncan was nearly as efficient, much more versatile, and in another league defensively. Shaq was really good at standing in the paint, and could never be considered a sieve, but Duncan was (is) much, much better beyond 5 feet defensively. It really comes down to personality and media spotlight, and Shaq has all of that.
