Usually, when the basketball GOAT conversation comes up, there are two camps, the legendary Michael Jordan versus LeBron James. A small percentage of people claim Kobe Bryant is the GOAT and an even smaller percentage claim Tim Duncan is their GOAT.
Tim Duncan had a highly decorated 19-season-long career in the NBA from 1997 to his retirement in 2016. He played for the San Antonio Spurs throughout his career and is considered by many as the greatest power forward ever in NBA history. His numbers and consistency over his long career put him up with the best in the game and have made some people regard him as their GOAT.
Duncan was the Spurs’ overall first pick in 1997 and with his teammate David Robinson formed the Twin Towers that dominated the league that season. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1998.
Duncan was a rather quiet player and his style of play was not very flashy but highly efficient. Maybe this is why he is often overlooked in the GOAT debate. He was never as big a character as Michael Jordan or LeBron James and he largely stayed out of the public eye.
Playing in the same era as Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and LeBron James means he could not be the face of the NBA. There were so many other stars in the spotlight that it was easy to look over him and the numbers he was putting up.
STATS
Tim Duncan averaged 19 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game over his 19-year career. He is also third in most games won with 1001 victories.
CAREER AVERAGES
Games Played
1392
Minutes per game
34.0
Field Goal percentage
50.6
Three-point percentage
17.9
Field Throw Made-Attempted per game
69.6
Rebounds per game
10.8
Assists per game
3.0
Blocks per game
2.2
Steals per game
0.7
Fouls per game
2.4
Turnovers per game
2.4
Points per game
19.0
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Tim Duncan is a five-time NBA champion, 15-time All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defence Team selections. He won two regular season MVPs, two finals MVPs, and the Rookie of the Year award in 1998. Duncan is 15th in most points scored, sixth in rebounds, and 5th in blocks. These numbers and accolades may get him into the GOAT conversation but his case becomes weak when compared to the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem, and Bill Russel.
GOAT ARGUMENT
Duncan was selected to the All-Star team in his rookie season, led the entire team in double-doubles, and was named in the 1997/1998 All-NBA First Team. No other rookie has been named to the All-NBA first team since Duncan.
In his second season, he was pivotal to the San Antonio Spurs winning their first NBA championship. Duncan came clutch in the finals that year dominating the New York Knicks with bank shots, jump hooks, rebounds, and defense earning him the nickname “The Big Fundamental”.
He has five NBA rings, that’s one less than Michael Jordan, the same as Kobe Bryant and more than LeBron James. So in terms of rings, he is right up there with the greatest.
Tim Duncan played 19 seasons in the NBA for the Spurs. Only eight other players have played longer entering the 2022/2023 season. In that time he was selected to 15 All-NBA First Team; the same as Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Only LeBron James has more All-NBA selections with 18.
He has 15 selections to the NBA All-Defensive Team; the most for any player in NBA history. He was dominating on both ends of the basketball court.
His 15 All-Star Game selection is tied for the third most in NBA history. Only LeBron, Kobe, and Kareem have more.
Duncan is one of only 35 players to have won an NBA MVP and he won it twice which is more than Kobe.
In the end, while Tim Duncan may not be the objective GOAT as no one would put him over Michael Jordan or LeBron James, he is a top-ten basketball player of all time. He’s not the GOAT but he makes a compelling case for being in the GOAT conversation.