Tim Duncan

Ehhh. He's definitely one of the greatest forwards to play the game but it's debatable if he gets 5 titles to include him amongst the greatest to ever play the game.

One of those titles was during a player strike that shortened the season if I recall...without being a google tard.

[Cannon Shell]

He has been a center for a long time. I have no idea why he is considered a forward except it is far easier to be considered one of the best Power forwards of all time as opposed to one of the best centers.

Don't think so? Ask yourself who is the last Center who started for the Spurs since David Robinson? Seriously? Who is the starting Center for the Spurs this year?

[Calzone Lord]

To this day -- I've never seen one person wear a Tim Duncan jersey.

Granted, I don't get out much.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

To this day -- I've never seen one person wear a Tim Duncan jersey.

Granted, I don't get out much.

Well he didnt ever play for the River Hawks or whatever they are called

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

He has been a center for a long time. I have no idea why he is considered a forward except it is far easier to be considered one of the best Power forwards of all time as opposed to one of the best centers.

Don't think so? Ask yourself who is the last Center who started for the Spurs since David Robinson? Seriously? Who is the starting Center for the Spurs this year?

Good point. If you were to look at him as a center, where would he rank? The top group has to include Abdul-Jabbar, Russell, Chamberlain, Olajuwon, Malone, and O'Neal. I think the second group would include Lanier, Robinson, Ewing, Gilmore, Bellamy, and Thurmond. Where would Duncan fit in there? I'd say fifth or sixth.

[Calzone Lord]

Basketball wasn't as big a deal both here and Internationally until recently...like stated to take off after the Jordan, Magic, Bird era.

So -- the competition should have spiked as a result.

Has anyone had a more valuable player type career as a whole than Duncan since the Post Jordan with Bulls era?

I don't watch or follow it. Just curious.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

He has been a center for a long time. I have no idea why he is considered a forward except it is far easier to be considered one of the best Power forwards of all time as opposed to one of the best centers.

Don't think so? Ask yourself who is the last Center who started for the Spurs since David Robinson? Seriously? Who is the starting Center for the Spurs this year?

It was DeJuan Blair, now it is Boris Diaw. Duncan has center size, but he plays either position just as well.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

It was DeJuan Blair, now it is Boris Diaw. Duncan has center size, but he plays either position just as well.

They play more power forward than Duncan, especially Diaw, who's basically a small forward.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

It was DeJuan Blair, now it is Boris Diaw. Duncan has center size, but he plays either position just as well.

Lol Blair is 6'7" and Diaw is not a center regardless of how they try to spin it. Duncan is a center and has been since Robinson retired. They kept insisting he was a power forward because of one reason, Yao Ming. They realized that he would never be an all star starter as long as Ming was playing. But he guards centers, is guarded by centers and the offense is run through him as a center.

[Calzone Lord]

Even in his old age -- Duncan just seems like he can do it all.

He can score well, play great defense, rebound, block shots, draw fouls, I think he's an ok passer too... but I don't know for sure, because I don't watch basketball.

I looked at the box score (the max extent of my efforts to follow the NBA --- as I refuse to even watch the highlights on Sports Center) and I saw Duncan was a +18 last night. He had the highest +/- of any Spurs player. Parker was 2nd at +14.

Well that's why he's known as groundhog day. He's a true professional. Can't see the Heat beating a team that is all business. It's not about flinging baby powder in the air and acting like you're Captain Swag.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Lol Blair is 6'7" and Diaw is not a center regardless of how they try to spin it. Duncan is a center and has been since Robinson retired. They kept insisting he was a power forward because of one reason, Yao Ming. They realized that he would never be an all star starter as long as Ming was playing. But he guards centers, is guarded by centers and the offense is run through him as a center.

I believe your reasoning makes sense but I'd add another reason; Shaquille O'Neal.

[Calzone Lord]

Shows how little I know about basketball -- but wasn't Yao Ming an overhyped bust?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Shows how little I know about basketball -- but wasn't Yao Ming an overhyped bust?

Not really...he was very, very good, just too many injury problems.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I believe your reasoning makes sense but I'd add another reason; Shaquille O'Neal.

Yao Ming was voted starting Center for the West every year he was on the ballot including 2011 when he played 5 games. When they started having internet voting Yao was almost always going to win.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Yao Ming was voted starting Center for the West every year he was on the ballot including 2011 when he played 5 games. When they started having internet voting Yao was almost always going to win.

That is true. But for the first five years of Duncan's career, it was Shaq that was the leading vote getter at the center spot for the West and it was Shaq that was the first team all-NBA center each of those years (even up until 2006) with the sxception of 1999, when he was second team. That's why I say it was first cause of Shaq then Ming kept it going.