Tim Duncan or Shaq O'Neal

[Purple Reign]

SHAQ O'NEAL
Post Season
14 Playoff Appearances in 15 Seasons
4 NBA Titles
6 NBA Finals Appearances
25.5 PPG
12.1 RPG

Regular Season Stats (in history)
25.9 PPG (7 in history)
11.6 RPG (24 in history)
2.5 BPG (13 in history)

Honors
NBA MVP (1) - 2000
NBA Finals MVP (3) - 00, 01, 02
NBA All Star Game MVP (2) - '00 shared w/Duncan
1993 Rookie of the Year
1st Team All NBA (8) - 98, 00-06
14 Time NBA All Star


TIM DUNCAN
Post Season
10 Playoff Appearances in 10 Seasons (DID NOT PLAY IN '00 DUE TO INJURY)
4 NBA Titles
4 NBA Finals Appearance
23.8 PPG
12.5 RPG

Regular Season Stats
21.8 PPG (31 in history)
11.9 RPG (21 in history)
2.5 BPG (13 in history)

Honors
NBA MVP (1) - 2000
NBA Finals MVP (3) - 99, 03, 05
NBA All Star Game MVP (1) - 2000
1998 Rookie of the Year
1st Team All NBA (9) - 98-'05, '07
9 Time NBA All Star

Miscellaneous
Shaq arguably the greatest offensive force in NBA History
Duncan 1st Team All Defensive 7 times
Duncan's nickname "The Big Fundamentals" (ironically given to him by....Shaq)

 

[KP]

Very tough, but gotta give the nod to the Diesel. Couldn't really argue with either choice though.

 

[chrisnu]

The better player now is clearly Duncan, but the better player of the first half of this decade was Shaq. I'm not sure if three more years of Duncan being the better player is going to make up for that.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Since the poll question is player of the current decade I'm going with Duncan. A fair amount of Shaq's physical prime was spent in the 90's and he's been steadily on the decline so you'd have to give it to Duncan for this decade assuming that the remaining 3 years play out at their current trajectory and none of the other also-rans in this discussion take over in that time.

If we were to go with who was best/most dominant at the peak of their career I think I'd give the slight edge to Shaq but since Shaq couldn't or wouldn't take care of himself it appears Duncan will have a far longer prime period and the more substantial career.

 

[Gary]

How did they both win MVP in 2000?

 

[kingsfan916]

How did they both win MVP in 2000?

it was the all star game and multiple players can win it
Stockton-Malone

 

[JoMama]

Not even close - Shaq. Nobody dominated like Shaq during his healthy years. Kobe would be ringless without Shaq.

 

[Bricklayer]

Of the 2000s? Hmmm...that might be Duncan, although he is back in the getting overrated spiral he sometimes takes. Just better positioned with his prime right throught the decade. Shaq's prime ws really late 90's.

As an aside, cute little smallball note:

The last 9 NBA titles have gone 4 to teams with Shaq, 4 to teams with Duncan, and 1 to a team with the 2 Wallaces.

 

[Purple Reign]

Of the 2000s? Hmmm...that might be Duncan, although he is back in the getting overrated spiral he sometimes takes. Just better positioned with his prime right throught the decade. Shaq's prime ws really late 90's.

Shaq's most dominant and best three to four years of his career were 99-03. Us Kings fans ought to know that.

99-00 29.3 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.2 BPG, 40.0 MPG, .574 FG%,
00-01 28.7 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 39.5 MPG, .572 FG%
01-02 27.2 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 36.2 MPG, .579 FG%
02-03 27.5 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 2.4 BPG, 37.8 MPG, .574 FG%

3 Rings, it wasn't until 03-04 did we start to see the decline of Shaq.

 

[grego]

Duncan still has some good years left (to win at least one more along with add some more stats). Shaq's likely not going to do as much any longer.

This finals, TD passed Shaq for 2nd most blocks in NBA finals.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Shaq's two best seasons may very well have been his 2nd and 3rd season in the league. The injuries began the following season. Only in 3 seasons following those 2 has he played in more than 70 games (not counting playoffs). In his rookie season he was debatedly as strong as 01-02 and 02-03 (less PPG, more rebounds and blocks, played 81 games). In either case he has spent the majority of the current decade on the decline.

 

[DaMan]

Its got to be shaq. Even in his current declince nobody could ever change a game like he did, prime example of this was the heat's title game.

I love Duncan but he would come second on this poll. And I even think if KG had a supporting cast like Duncan had, he too would be on this poll.

 

[AleksandarN]

See i look at this way. Shaq needed a superstar to win the 'ship where as Duncan doesn't. Shaq may be better offensve force but Tim is way better defensely than Shaq. I also have to say Duncan is also way more clutch them Shaq is. Duncan is a better winner period. If you Gm and wanted to win it all I would take Duncan given what all I stated above. Plus Duncan does not have an ego like Shaq so he is not as high maintence as Shaq.

 

[VF21]

There's a lot of wiggle room here because there isn't a clearly defined question, IMHO.

I think Shaq will be remembered long after Tim Duncan as a/the dominant force. They're different types of players in pretty much every single way.

Duncan is as reserved as O'Neal is outgoing, for example.

After a lot of thought, I had to go with O'Neal.

 

[NewMonkey]

Of the 2000s? Hmmm...that might be Duncan, although he is back in the getting overrated spiral he sometimes takes. Just better positioned with his prime right throught the decade. Shaq's prime ws really late 90's.

As an aside, cute little smallball note:

The last 9 NBA titles have gone 4 to teams with Shaq, 4 to teams with Duncan, and 1 to a team with the 2 Wallaces.

I read this somewhere (here?) but couldn't find the original reference. If my count is right, 25 of the last 27 NBA titles have been won by seven players:

• Magic (80, 82, 85, 88)
• Bird (81, 84, 86)
• Isiah (89, 90)
• Hakeem (94, 95)
• Jordan (91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98)
• Duncan (99, 03, 07)
• Shaq (00, 01, 02, 06)

The only two outliers in the last 27 years are Dr. J's 1983 76ers team and the 2004 Detroit Pistons. Doesn't give me much hope when I think about it that way.

 

[VF21]

I read this somewhere (here?) but couldn't find the original reference. If my count is right, 25 of the last 27 NBA titles have been won by seven players:

• Magic (80, 82, 85, 88)
• Bird (81, 84, 86)
• Isiah (89, 90)
• Hakeem (94, 95)
• Jordan (91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98)
• Duncan (99, 03, 07)
• Shaq (00, 01, 02, 06)

The only two outliers in the last 27 years are Dr. J's 1983 76ers team and the 2004 Detroit Pistons. Doesn't give me much hope when I think about it that way.

I don't understand.

Kobe was on the 00, 01, and 02 teams. Why isn't he on that list? Not to mention guys like Scottie Pippen, etc. Am I missing something?

 

[RS189]

I don't understand.

Kobe was on the 00, 01, and 02 teams. Why isn't he on that list? Not to mention guys like Scottie Pippen, etc. Am I missing something?

I think there's just one person from each of those championship teams and the more prominent name is listed, it sorta makes sense i guess.

 

[Bricklayer]

I read this somewhere (here?) but couldn't find the original reference. If my count is right, 25 of the last 27 NBA titles have been won by seven players:

• Magic (80, 82, 85, 88)
• Bird (81, 84, 86)
• Isiah (89, 90)
• Hakeem (94, 95)
• Jordan (91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98)
• Duncan (99, 03, 07)
• Shaq (00, 01, 02, 06)

The only two outliers in the last 27 years are Dr. J's 1983 76ers team and the 2004 Detroit Pistons. Doesn't give me much hope when I think about it that way.

There is a reason I so frequently emphasize the need to get a superstar, somehow, some way, even if you have to tank and win 20 games to do it. We were so so close with Webb. Best player we have ever seen in Sacto, adn we were right there, although obviously not overwhelming. And even he was ont he weak side. So so hard to get it done without somebody at least as good as that on the roster. This is also why I want us to roll the dice and find a way to move up, maybe snag Jianlian and hope he's as good as Dirk (whihc still may not be quite good enoguh, but at least can get oyu in the conversation). But don't just sit at #10 and be satisfied taking a "good" player.

 

[JJ_Evans]

snack o meal

 

[NikateeN]

I dont like Duncan, and i really dont think hes all that special, yea hes good but not on Shaqs level.

 

[VF21]

I think there's just one person from each of those championship teams and the more prominent name is listed, it sorta makes sense i guess.

Ah...

Thanks.

 

[Dave McNulla]

i voted duncan, but i'm a homer. if you just went with the 00's numbers and left off 1999 and before, tim has more accolades and shaq has more titles.

i think the kings fans might be more impressed by the lakers because of the way the kings were eliminated by the lakers. spurs did what, beat a 7 seed in 6 games? not so impressive. but i think it's hard to separate the player from the team. lakers had shaq and kobe and a lot a good role players. but i have to respect anybody who picked shaq. some think he's the greatest of all players of all time. nobody has said that about tim duncan.

btw, monkey, magic won 5 titles.

 

[Ryan]

I remember people talking about drafting football players and guys from the WWF just to stop Shaq. I don't recall people doing the same for Duncan

 

[Bricklayer]

some think he's the greatest of all players of all time.

Nobody who doesn't consider textmessaging "kewl" a god given right.

He was, however, at his peak clearly more dominant than Duncan, or anybody else since MJ actually. The wording of this poll is all that gives me pause. You just say who has been the greater player, its Shaq. But you say who has been the greater play since 2000...well, the last 3 or 4 years have been Shaq in decline and no longer so dominant. Tim was falling off too, but is younger and has maintained more of himself. He's been the most consistently great during this decade.

 

[AleksandarN]

People over look ,even at his most dominant, he still needed another superstar to win it all whereas Duncan didn't.

 

[vladetomiller]

I didnt realize

David Robinson, Ginobili, Parker were role players. It must have been great effort from Duncan to get Parker the finals MVP unlike Shaq who rode Wade's superstar powers to win the ring.

For any championship team (apart from that pistons team ) you need one player who commands a double team, another who will hurt you without a double team or help defense at the least and few role players who play great defense and hit timely shots when left open.

Shaq got his rings at his prime whereas Duncan was handed his rings during his first few years, not because of his lack of talent but because there was a ready made team which could already win 50 games a season and they added him to the mix. They tanked that one season to get him and DRob was still a big force when Duncan joined him.

Shaq and Penny were too young and inexperienced to close the deal, Shaq and Kobe years were good, but not more because of Kobe but because the lakers really had a solid team but just couldnt get past the west. They had to wait for Phil to arrive to put the final touches and just then Kobe started coming around.

They both are great, but Shaq changed the game like no one else did and many believe the zone defense was just for him.

Duncan doesnt command a double team like Shaq does everytime

Shaq is not effective unless he can get the ball within 6-8 feet from the basket, whereas Duncan can create from even 12-14 feet.

But there are many that can do what Duncan brings, maybe not to that extent but comparable in Wallace, Webber, Dirk and Garnett. There is no one else in the past 10 years that can be compared to Shaq and the last person who was such a great force was MJ.

 

[NewMonkey]

I don't understand.

Kobe was on the 00, 01, and 02 teams. Why isn't he on that list? Not to mention guys like Scottie Pippen, etc. Am I missing something?

My point was that in the last 27 years of the NBA, if you didn't have a major, major superstar, you basically didn't have a chance to win a championship. It seems likely that the trend will continue.

 

[kyo2002]

This is an easy one: Shaq. It really depends on how you look at things. Duncan is more of a versatile player who can do many things from scoring down low to rebounding to playing defense. He's a finesse player who will mix in to a team. Shaq's physique alone means that he will always have to be a focal point of the team. Shaq has limitations like speed but he makes up for it by being so completely dominant that NBA had to make changes towards the game. He probably will not fit into many teams unless they adjust for him, but in the end a physically dominant player has more impact against whatever opposing team he may face than a talented and versatile player. People are more likely to adapt to Shaq's style of play whereas Duncan may have adapt to different styles of play.

 

[Bibby_10]

I read this somewhere (here?) but couldn't find the original reference. If my count is right, 25 of the last 27 NBA titles have been won by seven players:

• Magic (80, 82, 85, 88)
• Bird (81, 84, 86)
• Isiah (89, 90)
• Hakeem (94, 95)
• Jordan (91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98)
• Duncan (99, 03, 07)
• Shaq (00, 01, 02, 06)

The only two outliers in the last 27 years are Dr. J's 1983 76ers team and the 2004 Detroit Pistons. Doesn't give me much hope when I think about it that way.

you forgot 05 for Duncan.

Shaq.... The Kings would have defeated the Lakers in 2002 had the Lakers had Timmy instead of Shaq.

 

[VF21]

My point was that in the last 27 years of the NBA, if you didn't have a major, major superstar, you basically didn't have a chance to win a championship. It seems likely that the trend will continue.

Thank you. It makes perfect sense now that you've explained it.

D'oh.