Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan are two players whose careers, dominance, and influence spread over multiple eras. Both are Hall of Famers, with five NBA championships, and are undisputed legends of not only their respective franchises and cities but the game of basketball itself.
That, no one can argue. But what can be argued is how these two stack up once we compare them against each other, which of course we must do because this is the NBA.
When looking at Bryant and Duncan’s careers things are remarkably close. The best way to approach the argument will be to separate it to their on-court play, hardware, and overall influence on the game and culture.
NBA Versus: On the Court
This one is obvious; it’s Kobe, right? Don’t be so sure.
While Bryant was an outstanding scorer and defender, Duncan’s impact is right there with him, albeit in a different way. Bryant was truly amazing with the ball; he was as close to a carbon copy of a Michael Jordan scorer as the game has ever seen and will probably ever see again. He holds the 2nd-place record for most points scored in a game with 81, second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s historic 100. And made 12 All-Defensive teams over his 20-year career.
As for Duncan, his scoring never reached the heights that Bryant’s did. He topped out in his 2002 season at 25.5 per game, compared to Bryant’s career-high average of 35.4 in 2006. Duncan made up for it, though, on the glass. In that same 2002 season, he averaged 12.7 rebounds per game and then topped it the very next year with a career-high 12.9. In fact, Timmy averaged over 10 rebounds for the first 13 seasons of his career and over 11 for the first eight. Plus, over his 19-year career, he made a whopping 15 All-Defensive Team appearances.
Just watching the two plays, Bryant was clearly more entertaining, but Duncan was probably more consistent. Not to mention that Bryant wasn’t his team’s best player during the Lakers 2000–02 three-peat. Shaquille O’Neal was their number-one option and leading scorer until the 2003 season, which was coincidentally his last year in Los Angeles before the team was officially handed over to Bryant.
But while Duncan was the most important player for the Spurs throughout his tenure, he wasn’t the number-one option for every championship either. As San Antonio continued to dominate from the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s, more players joined the ranks and developed alongside Duncan. Including Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leanard, and LaMarcus Aldridge.
The big difference, though, is that Bryant demanded the keys to the franchise, and Duncan was happy to let others drive if that was what was best for the group. Both found success, but both fell short a few times. Therefore, it’s a nearly dead-even argument thus far.
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Author: Eric Fritts
September 18, 2023 | 12:00 pm
