Why Tim Duncan doesn’t get Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, or Dwyane Wade respectJanuary 06 09  Can Tim Duncan get some love? Forget, for a moment, that the Spurs have won 14 of 17. And forget that this injury-riddled crew suddenly has the second best record in the Western Conference and are capable of challenging the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Lakers. I’m talking about career love. Or even career recognition for his four NBA Titles, MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards, and being the building block for the best organization in pro sports. Duncan wins. Correction. San Antonio, Duncan’s team, wins. That’s what matters to the former first overall pick. Yet, in a results orientated business like the NBA, he gets less respect than a New Kids On The Block comeback or Rocky sequel. Duncan’s backers always have to justify his status as an elite player. If winning is the mark of greatness, the currency among the crème de la crème, elite players –that would be the Kobes, LeBrons, and D-Wades of this world- should have to justify why they are worthy of Duncan. That’s right: the lanky post is the bar others should aspire to. Not vice-versa. Duncan, arguably the greatest power forward of all-time, continues to be slept-on. Well, why? ‘The Big Fundamental’ nickname says it all. Casual fans are entertained by flash, glitz, and aerial antics, while even serious fans don’t always like razor sharp efficiency and methodical brilliance. Duncan’s technical genius is under-appreciated. Location. Location. Location. San Antonio is a quiet city and the Spurs are unable to get the same attention as bigger markets. The national media will always cover the Knicks’ on-going soap opera or the Lakers even though the Spurs deserve better. There is also the matter of perception. Most reporters think because Duncan plays like a robot, he lacks personality. One famous scribe even dubbed him ‘Timmy Robot’ after the Will Smith flick I-Robot. This perception is wrong. Duncan has a great sense of humour and an interesting perspective that doesn’t get nearly enough national attention. Of course, Duncan doesn’t care about getting love, which means he’ll continue to be overlooked. Hopefully, we will wake up. And hopefully, we will then recognize his accomplishments. Is Duncan as good as Bryant, James, and Wade? If so, why doesn’t he get more respect? Get at us in the comment box with thoughts and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of killbucky.
Posted by
Yao Ming
on 01.8.2009 | Mr. Oly Sandor, You are a real journalist with pure talent of the game. Not many journalists would take the time and talk about Tim Duncan, despite of the fact that he is probably the best and most accomplishment player today and one of the best in NBA history. I give you my full pledge respect for taking this issue into account and providing a well deserve exposure to perhaps the most underrated player in the game today. . | Posted by
Ross
on 01.8.2009 | Its not that people don’t appreciate Duncan eventhough he is probably the best player since Jordan’s retirement, its ESPN, FOX SPORTS,TNT SPORTS, CNN SI, and NBA TV are the ones who chooses not to pay attention to him because he doesnt sell nor influences a financial capital to many viewers. I find it amazing though that despite his poor publicity, he still leads the Western Forwards in All Star NBA voting. So the blame cannot be directed at the fans, it shoudl be directed at the media. . | Posted by
Im 50-50 if i should get married or not
on 01.8.2009 | 2208? are u ok man? None of us will be alive by then. And by the way, I agree with the rest of the guys here, Duncan career wise is better than Kobe, Lebron, KG, or Wade. Nobody said he is more skilled or talented, he is just plain better because his accomplishments cannot be reached by those four guys. Duncan is simply the best in this decade. No argument at all! . | Posted by
on 01.8.2009 | will any of us be around then? by then maybe eithopa will be olympic champs in hoops . | Posted by
Ruptors-Fan.
on 01.8.2009 | luls@ brandon.I’m pretty sure kobe, wade and lebron weren’t starters on the "2208" olympic team either. . | Posted by
Pedophile
on 01.8.2009 | How can you really compare 2-3’s. To a 4-5. That’s like saying is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as good as Michael Jordan. It would make more sense to compare Tim to KG, Shaq, and Dirk. KG being like DWade 1 ring, Shaq being like Kobe multiple rings, and LeBron like Dirk when to finals but lost. It’s always more likely that the guards are gonna get more love being more flasher and appealing. Look how much those 3 are marketed vs Tim. Hell even Shaq is popular but when it comes to appeal still isn’t on the levels of the guards. . | Posted by
Brandon
on 01.8.2009 | No, Duncan is not better than Bryant, James, or Wade. These three men are starters on the 2208 olympic gold medal team. i didn’t see Duncan in Beijing. Also those three players are all on a team with no other all-stars. Kobe brought the lakers to the finals last year. James took his team deep into the playoffs. Wade won the the championship a couple of years ago. Duncan works with Parker, who is an all-star, and Ginobli. Duncan shouldn’t be mentioned in the same sentence as those three olympic gold medalists. . | Posted by
FaSirius
on 01.8.2009 | Get off Duncan’s Doughnuts, he’s nice guy and player but let’s not go overboard . | Posted by
on 01.8.2009 | Tim duncan is a coaches dream and definately an elite player. He deserves some media love. But facts are Tim Duncan plays ball like a working cla-------guy. Get up, play ball, go home. Doesnt give anyone anything to talk about except his play on the court and thus no body cares about him cuz there’s no controversy or visiable emotion for that matter.So with all of that said if the spurs want some love gotta win in the post season. In the NBA and in sports in general its all about the present. . | Posted by
Vietnam Veteran
on 01.8.2009 | I am 45 years old and I have seen many changes in society. Being a nice guy, having morals, family values, ethics, and respect to the sanctity of the game is soft? What about winning 4 titles, 2 MVP, 3 MVP Finals, 1 ALL Stat MVP, winning an MVP and a championship at the age of 23, being in every year in his career at all nba first team and all nba defense team, or rejecting millions to finish college to keep his promise to his deceased mother, or rejecting millions more to allow the Spurs some financial flexibility? If you asked me, Duncan is a real man, and you critics are just prostitutes for this capitalist greedy society! . | Posted by
Im Asian but I am not Chinese!
on 01.8.2009 | Oly Sandor, I applaud your article. Finally a real basketball commentator gives props to the best player since the end of the Bulls’ dynasty. Tim Duncan, I repeat, is the best player today if you input his total career compared to others. ANyone who denies that is a liar, a con, a prick, and a baboon like Onion RIng and I’ll Dunk on Duncan. . | Posted by
Pom
on 01.8.2009 | Duncan is not soft. He has been in ALL DEFENSE FIRST TEAM all his career. Not to mention, he plays better D, than say Lebron, Wade, or Kobe. Onion Ring you must be out of your mind bashing the greatest power forward ever. Why dont you go back to school to increase your poor IQ and pitiful intelligence. . | Posted by
Tim Duncan is the Greatest Player Since Michael Jordan
on 01.8.2009 | How can Duncan be overrated when nobody pays attention to him. He has won four rings, a hall of famer, but you have Wade, LBJ, KG, and Kobe getting the attention. You must have a smaller brain than a mouse. AC Green or Laimbeer, are not on the same level as Duncan. Duncan will dominate them just like Duncan has dominated every big men he played against. Duncan is a great athlete and a proven winner. If your a Kobe the rapist fan or Lebron Gay-mes, you are over your thin skull, punk! . | Posted by
melo boy
on 01.8.2009 | yeah people more rumors! how can hoopsvibe prove kobe doesnt respect tim duncon? come on . | Posted by
Brad
on 01.8.2009 | Being a good person in this world doesn’t get you media or respect, same with any profession. . | Posted by
Onion Ring
on 01.7.2009 | He is softer than tissue. He makes cotton candy look hard. He’s got a lot of ring though, can’t take that away from him unless I steal them LOL! . | Posted by
I’ll Dunk On Duncan
on 01.7.2009 | Duncan is the most overrated player of all-time. He is softer than A.C.Green. I would never call him a Power Forward, more like a Princess Forward. He is lucky he plays in a soft generation. Lamibeer, McHale and others would have punched him in the face and shut him down having him crying on the bench please Pop don’t put me back in . | Posted by
ronh
on 01.7.2009 | Duncan does deserve respect. He has MVP’s and 4 rings. he is a real hall of fame. . | Posted by
There is such a thing as agony of success
on 01.7.2009 | It is true Duncan is probably not getting the credit, especially by the media. I have met people from the Virgin Islands, and many of them refuses to move to the U.S mainland, because they are afraid their kids might turn out to be too Americanize, which only means, divorce, teen pregnancy, depression, bipolarism, drug use among the youth, school drop out rates, and anxiety disorder, which the U.S leads the world in all categories. But if you check out the ALL STAR votes, Duncan is actually one of the leaders since his rookie year. There are still many people that like him because of his ill tempered, modest characte. In fact today, he leads the votes among all western conference forwards. It is not the fans who dislike Duncan, it is actually the media who purposely wants to ignore him because he’s not Americanize him like the conceited characters of Lebron, KG, Kobe, or Wade. . | Posted by
CP3
on 01.7.2009 | You guys are right. Thanks Oly for another great article on a grat athelete. Duncan is overall better than Kobe, Lebron, Wade, or KG, but the prob is Duncan doesnt act cocky and flashy which is what people like or suck up to. Look at James, he is very cocky and conceited that is why sporstcenter like Stewart Scott worship him. . |
No profanity or inaproppriate remarks. All i.p. addresses will be saved and abuse/hate posts will be reported to providers and authorities as part of the anti-spam act of 2003, thank you for posting comments on the articles only. | | | |
|  | About
Oly Sandor | Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More |
|
