Tim Duncan > Kobe Bryant

[The Oldtimer]

I would say Duncan's Teams have been more consistent.

It all comes down to what you value most.

Silent leadership, consistent winning, very good numbers across the board.

Vs.

Brash polarizing, killer instinct with a tremendous scoring ability.

I'll take Timmy.

Not sure my answer would be the same if Kobe wore another jersey though....

Gotta love you. At least you tell it like it is. You are a Laker hater.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

There's a lot of reasons to like and prefer Duncan over Kobe.

1. Duncan took less money so that the Spurs could go out there and get more players that would give them a better shot at a title - Result - the Spurs never missed the playoffs in 16 years and usually in the top five teams. That's a good thing for your team.

2. Duncan played team ball considerably better - didn't shoot up bricks all night long when he knew he was missing them. He knew how to adjust his game and make everyone better.

3. On the Lakers and Popovich, I can only fantasize at what the Lakers could have done. But if there is a consolation prize - Kobe as a leader without Shaq made it really interesting and did bring us two more championships in comparison to Tim Duncan was a leader of four of his titles - Only one of those titles was with Robinson as the leader.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Just to start some shit I will throw this here:

LeBron > both of those guys

^^^This guy knows what he is talking about

 

[WiggyRuss]

LeBron > both of those guys

i thought that was understood as fact....

 

[larryjohn]

...

Having said the above, I rate Timmy higher, but I wouldn't complain about having either to build a team around.

Interesting to compare their last year in the NBA. Kobe was jacking up everything he touched -- and Timmy was fading into the background handing the reigns to Leonard & Aldridge.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

i thought that was understood as fact....

The guy has averaged over 50% from the field for the past 7 years and is one of the best playmakers I've ever seen. The only thing you can really knock is his lack of a filter and the occasional flop.

But, people enjoy perfection so unless he ends up with like 9-10 Finals appearances, the fact that people vehemently hate him will most likely hold him back from being the GOAT. At least that's what I feel like the perception of the general public will be.

 

[trojanfan12]

Interesting to compare their last year in the NBA. Kobe was jacking up everything he touched -- and Timmy was fading into the background handing the reigns to Leonard & Aldridge.

Not all that interesting or surprising, imo, considering where the 2 teams were at. The Spurs were trying to contend for a championship. The best way for them to do that was for Timmy to have a diminished role. The Lakers were trying to compete for lottery balls while still putting butts in seats. The best way to do that was to tell Kobe to shoot until his arms fell off.

 

[Kold]

Who's the best of their generation? As a lifelong Lakers and Kobe fan, I've often viewed it as a toss-up. But, after much thought I've come to a conclusion that most basketball fans would view as obvious. Tim Duncan was the better person, leader, as well as the more consistent player.

It''s ironic that the thing that ended up ending Kobe's career was his selfishness and lack of trust in his teammates. If he had trusted the system and his teammates more perhaps he could have avoided his career ending injuries.

The proof is in the pudding, Magic Johnson often said that his strategy was to get the worst player on the team going. Kobe's strategy was to demean that player and treat him as though he were nothing. Tim Duncan is a far better leader in that aspect. Further proof is shown in Luke Walton's recent comments about Kobe wanting to help the team; he would only contact Kobe if the team was in need of tough love. That's all you need to hear in regards to Kobe's personality as a player.

Kobe had the potential to become his generation's Bill Russell but his selfishness and arrogance lead him to chase Shaquille O'Neal (one of the most dominant Centers in NBA history) out of town, as well as derail the Lakers' rebuild by demanding the ball and ignoring the development of the future of the franchise. Of course, some of the blame lies with Byron Scott, who showed no shame in being Kobe's fanboy during his final years with the Lakers. Kobe accomplished much during his career but could have been much more. In the same vein that we often view Shaq as having untapped potential due to being lazy, we have to view Kobe in the same light due to his arrogance.

In conclusion, there is no more doubt in my mind as to who was the greater person, player, and leader. Tim Duncan wins this one in a landslide.

Well first off, Kobe carrying that 2012 team on his back/Dantoni running him into the ground is what ended his career.
He was too ruthless as a teammate at times, but he is one of the top whatever guys when it comes to leading by example when it came to his work ethic. Also, you look at the players that we won with in that repeat, and I'd say that Kobe had a lot to do with Farmar, Shannon Brown, Ariza, etc. being contributors.
Moving on, Shaq ran Shaq out of town. He damanded 30 mil, and Jerry Buss wasn't having it. Also, Kobe did his part in beefing with Shaq, but let's not act like Shaq didn't instigate most of that stuff. I'd like to see what type of leader Tim would of been if David Robinson would of slapped him, and called him out of his name as a rookie. Also didn't help that Phil would do his part to keep them on edge.
As for the future of the lakers, Kobe's farewell tour was the deodorant to a team that stunk, and a team full of players that weren't in a system nowhere close to what Luke's is now.
As for Kobe vs Duncan, I wouldn't say that anyone is wrong for taking Duncan, and for me it's hard to compare a big guy to a guard, but I take Kobe pending on how we're comparing, because there are a lot of things that Kobe had to overcome that Duncan didn't

 

[msgkings322]

Interesting to compare their last year in the NBA. Kobe was jacking up everything he touched -- and Timmy was fading into the background handing the reigns to Leonard & Aldridge.

Not to mention Kobe's all-about-him Farewell Tour vs Timmy just playing out the year and quietly calling it quits after the season. Perfect encapsulation of both men.

 

[trojanfan12]

Not to mention Kobe's all-about-him Farewell Tour vs Timmy just playing out the year and quietly calling it quits after the season. Perfect encapsulation of both men.

Here's a Lakers history lesson for you.

Kobe's "all about him farewell tour" was orchestrated by the Lakers, specifically Jeanie Buss. She made that decision back when Magic had to retire early and didn't get the farewell tour that he deserved (and that Kareem got).

She decided back then that if the Lakers ever had another "once in a generation player" like that, she would make sure that he got the send off he deserved and that's what she did.

Add to that the fact that the team still needed to make money even though they sucked and it was the right move all the way around.

Also, for the record, Kobe stated several times that he didn't really want the farewell tour, he went along with it at Jeanie's behest.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Well first off, Kobe carrying that 2012 team on his back/Dantoni running him into the ground is what ended his career.
He was too ruthless as a teammate at times, but he is one of the top whatever guys when it comes to leading by example when it came to his work ethic. Also, you look at the players that we won with in that repeat, and I'd say that Kobe had a lot to do with Farmar, Shannon Brown, Ariza, etc. being contributors.
Moving on, Shaq ran Shaq out of town. He damanded 30 mil, and Jerry Buss wasn't having it. Also, Kobe did his part in beefing with Shaq, but let's not act like Shaq didn't instigate most of that stuff. I'd like to see what type of leader Tim would of been if David Robinson would of slapped him, and called him out of his name as a rookie. Also didn't help that Phil would do his part to keep them on edge.
As for the future of the lakers, Kobe's farewell tour was the deodorant to a team that stunk, and a team full of players that weren't in a system nowhere close to what Luke's is now.
As for Kobe vs Duncan, I wouldn't say that anyone is wrong for taking Duncan, and for me it's hard to compare a big guy to a guard, but I take Kobe pending on how we're comparing, because there are a lot of things that Kobe had to overcome that Duncan didn't

Great points all around (as usual). You got me on that - Kobe did not run Shaq out of town but he also did nothing to try to keep him. For some reason I remembered Kobe saying "It's me or Shaq", but I don't think there's any actual proof that he said that. He was also known for criticizing the triangle as being too simple, only to later repair his relationship with Phil and won 2 more championships under it.

It was just two men who loved each other and who couldn't get over their egos.

Doc Rivers called it "the biggest travesty in sports history". Had they both been a little more like Timmy, who knows what they could have accomplished together.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

"If Tim Duncan gets five rings, then that gives some writer the chance to say 'Duncan is the best,' and I can't have that." - Shaq

Well, he won 5, and came damn close to 6.