As big guys that were defensive sieves, while great players, I think they're slightly overrated from a historical standpoint. Both were great efficient scorers and decent playmakers from the 4 spot. Dirk has the range and Barkley had the rebounding. I'd probably take Barkley's peak over Dirk's but Dirk's range has helped him be productive for much longer.
not being a homer cuzz sir charles was a rocket at one time, but barkley by a slight margin. Dirk is up there though.
Dirk, but not by much and Barkley had a much better prime. I would have taken Barkley not long ago, but it would have been based on projecting a normal decline for Dirk and he's both staying healthy (already up 3000 points/7 winshares on Barkley) and continuing to be spectacular. If Dirk's career ended today there's a good argument but I think 3 years from now Dirk will probably have put the cap on this argument with another 3500 points and 1000 boards.
Dirk isn't nearly as bad defensively as people make him out to be. He's got legit size, good hands and good positioning. He just doesn't make any highlight plays and looks unathletic on that end. I think Dirk is better because of his impact off the ball on offense. Pretty much every guard he plays with gets a huge boost.
Dirk benefitted greatly from the contact rules... and while he could shoot close to as good as Bird did, he wasn't nearly as great all-around, which says he may not have been as successful in the Barkley era. Still remember T-Mac playing "tough" defense on Dirk... when all he really did was get a little physical with him. Dirk would have faced that sort of physicality every night in the 80's and early 90's, and would never sniff the line as much without a low-post game or dribble-penetration.
Either or. Dirk was the better shooter and Charles was the better rebounder. Both were average defenders at best. Dirk will create separation as he's still averaging 21ppg.
They're both freaks of nature. On a a 7 foot perimeter player with awesome skills. The other is a 6'5" rebounding champion.
LOL@ people saying Barkley. Barkley was just lucky he played in an era where people weren't athletic freaks of nature yet, you really think his 6'5 ass without any conditioning will be a rebounding champ against today's NBA? The big men Barkley faced in the 80's had solid skills but apart from standouts like Hakeem they weren't all that athletic, resulting in him being able to compete despite being only 6'5. In today's NBA though where even the average NBA player is extremely athletic I don't think Barkley will be considered a superstar, esp. since the PF spot is the glamor position of the NBA with the like of KG, TD, Dirk, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love etc.
Exactly. .. because TD, Dirk, and Love are athletic freaks. There's a few more obvious ways to destroy your post, but I'll wait until Saturday if no one does before then.
Dirk embarrassed Lebron in the playoffs pretty good never got to see Barkley play, but from the clips I saw, he was pretty dominant too for a few years.
