With Game 1 of the NBA Finals going to the San Antonio Spurs, prior to the win many people many people have taken the time out to reflect on the career of Tim Duncan as he makes a run for his fifth NBA title.
Already widely considered the greatest power forward of all-time, a fifth championship would boost Duncan higher on the list of all-time greats that include Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and others.
However, leave to Miami Heat's LeBron James to cause controversy after stating his belief in Duncan being the greatest player of this generation, even placing him higher than Los Angeles Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant.
Probably one of the best players to ever play the game of basketball," he said of Duncan. "If I just look at the last 15 years, he's probably been the most consistent, most dominant player that we've had as far as 15 years all together. He's won four titles, multiple All Stars, MVP, and so on and so on.
There's no denying that Duncan has indeed been one of the most consistent superstars of his time, averaging at least 18 points and 10 rebounds in all of his first 12 seasons in the league.
But comparing the two is difficult being that both their accomplishments are very much so similar. Bryant, who has five rings over that time span, has 10 All-NBA First Team selections to Duncan's nine and nine All-NBA First Team All-Defense selections to Duncan's eight.
Duncan only has the edge when it comes to number of MVP trophies at two MVPs and three Finals MVPS compared to Bryant's one and two respectively.
Duncan currently has four rings and is playing for his fifth. With a fifth ring any doubters may have to reconsider their stance, maybe even joining James' stance.
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