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
Carlos Boozer
on 01.9.2009 | Duncan will get the love he deserves maybe when he retires and we all realized that we wasted our effort giving credit to guys that dont deserve it like Lebron, who’s got to be the most overrated player in NBA history. Duncan is by far superior in accomplishments than anyone in the NBA today. The basketball gods knows it! . | Posted by
Family Guy
on 01.8.2009 | Hey Oly, since you talked about some career love, there is no doubt in my mind that Duncan has had the best career than anyone in the NBA among all active players. . | Posted by
champion
on 01.8.2009 | yo duncan deserve respekt.yall know whatya mean? . | Posted by
THE BLACK MAMBA
on 01.8.2009 | EVEN AS A LAKER FAN, I RESPECT DUNCAN FOR HIS FEATS UNCOMPARABLE TO THE MANY ATHLETES OF HIS GENERATION. I DO WISH SOMETIMES THAT THE MEDIA TALKS MORE ABOUT HIM BECAUSE HE IS FOR REAL, NOT JUST HYPE. KOBE AND DUNCAN ARE SIMPLY THE BEST IN TODAY’S GAME! . | Posted by
TUCKER
on 01.8.2009 | Brandon, you are not a real basketball fan. DUNCAN IS BETTER THAN KOBE, KG, LEBRON, OR WADE. HE GETS MORE AWARDS, HE FILLS THE STATS, HE WINS MORE CHAMPIONSHIPS, HE MAKE HIS TEAM BETTER, AND HE IS THE BEST NBA MODEL FOR THE GAME OF BASKETBALL. . | Posted by
Give Duncan his damnn PROPS!
on 01.8.2009 | The Spurs, since the Duncan era has been ranked the best franchise in all of North American sports today. The reason being is they show compassion to the community, they win, and they are led by the greatest power forward and the greatest baller since Mike’s retirement. . | Posted by
Oly Sandor is a Realist!
on 01.8.2009 | This is a simple fact, Tim Duncan is more accomplished indivdiual and as a team compared to any other NBA player today. It is time he finally gets HIS FREAKIN DUE! . | Posted by
Tyerese
on 01.8.2009 | The problem why Tim Duncan is not getting the recognition he dearly deserves is exactly what the author said on this article, San Antonio is a small city compared to the likes of L.A or New York, Duncan is too nice, Duncan does not have a criminal record, Duncan doesnt show off, Duncan doesnt ball hog, Duncan doesnt belittle people, Duncan doesnt intimidate people, and Duncan is too educated and professional. If only he shows more evilness to his core, it will be easy to recognize him as the best player in today’s era since the Bulls breakup. Reality is, he is the best. . | Posted by
UNC
on 01.8.2009 | Timmy! The Greatest Power Forward in NBA History! Thanks Hoopsvibe for finally recognizing him after all these years of talk about Kobe the criminal and Lebron the media darling! . | Posted by
Hurricane
on 01.8.2009 | Duncan is a special athlete. Finally someone gives him props for what he has been lacking all this time while he has been the best player since he was drafted in 1997. . | Posted by
Korean Boi
on 01.8.2009 | Sir Oly Sandor, thanks for this great written article about Tim Duncan, the greatest power forward of all time, and the greatest player since 1998. . | Posted by
SILVERSTAR
on 01.8.2009 | TIM DUNCAN IS JUST ABSOLUTELY THE MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER TODAY. IS HE THE BEST? YES! HE IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL? YES! DOES HE DESERVE WHAT HE GETS? NOPE! DESPITE OF THIS FACT, I WILL ALWAYS ADMIRE HIS GREATNESS, UNLIKE THE PAMPERED ATHLETES OF TODAY LIKE LBJ, KOBE, KG, AND "THE LIE" PIERCE. . | Posted by
Lord of the Rings
on 01.8.2009 | I guess even if Duncan is the best, he pays the price by being a nice guy and that is why he will never get the credit he deserves. . | Posted by
Made in U.S.A
on 01.8.2009 | Mr. Vietnamn Veteran, I admire your service to our great country and also for taking the time in saying what is right in today’s society. Duncan is the best player in today’s era since his Royal Airness, and his level of maturity, human-ness, class, education, and professionalism is one thing that is now missing to spoiled brat athletes today. . | Posted by
WRX
on 01.8.2009 | Tim Duncan is simply the best. I find it unfortunate that he is not getting the attention he deserves. I admire his unattainable accomplishments, LBJ, KG, Kobe, Wade, Pierce, T-Mac, Yao, Dirk, Dwight, or Nash will never reached his level because all of them do not win like Duncan in their overall careers. . | 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. . |
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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 |
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