Time to end this debate: Best player in the 2000's: Duncan or Shaq

[plowking]

Shaq for like only two years is better than Duncan. Duncan is better for the rest of the years. Imagine how much better would Duncan and Kobe be together than Shaq and Kobe.

Worse.

Those talking about longevity, Shaq has had 13 season with at least 20 and 10, all of them being consecutive years. While Duncan has 10, with 2 years unable to achieve the 20 and 10 mark. As far as I see, Duncan has nothing over Shaq.

Who has the better career stats? Shaq.
Longevity? Shaq. (Still a dominant force)
Better prime? Shaq.
Peak stats? Shaq.

Furthermore everyone talks about Duncan's skill, yet he's shot below 50% as a 7 footer in 4 seasons.

Duncan is barely top 10, where as Shaq is top 5.

[w00terz]

Shaq by a mile.

[plowking]

I really don't understand why people are making it a career vs. career debate or calling the timeframe unfair when the entire basis of the thread is the 2000s. And there's some crazy ass Oscar Robertson debate. ISH for ya.

If we're going by this Decade only, then Duncan only has 3 championships, no?

Shaq has 4 championships, Duncan 3.

So Shaq has won more this decade, while putting up the best finals numbers ever.

[InspiredLebowski]

If we're going by this Decade only, then Duncan only has 3 championships, no?

Shaq has 4 championships, Duncan 3.

So Shaq has won more this decade, while putting up the best finals numbers ever.

I don't care. If that's your criteria fine. Just keep it within the decade.

[Number21]

If we're going by this Decade only, then Duncan only has 3 championships, no?

Shaq has 4 championships, Duncan 3.

So Shaq has won more this decade, while putting up the best finals numbers ever.

Shaq has 3 championships in this decade.

[White Chocolate]

Shaq has 3 championships in this decade.

2000-2002 and 2006.

[Number21]

2000-2002 and 2006.

1999-2000 season belongs to 90's.

[White Chocolate]

1999-2000 season belongs to 90's.

So that means 1999 had 2 champions? When they announce champions, they say the "2000 NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers".

[snipes12]

so the top 5 ranking should be like this

1.tim
2.shaq
3.kobe
4.Kg
5.Dirk

[White Chocolate]

so the top 5 ranking should be like this

1.tim
2.shaq
3.kobe
4.Kg
5.Dirk

5 is questionable. It could go to Dirk or Jason Kidd.

[Mikaiel]

So that means 1999 had 2 champions? When they announce champions, they say the "2000 NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers".

Yeah but the decade we're in started in 2001, so 2000 belongs in the 90's. For the same reason the 21st century/3rd millenium started in 2001, and not 2000.

[plowking]

Yeah but the decade we're in started in 2001, so 2000 belongs in the 90's. For the same reason the 21st century/3rd millenium started in 2001, and not 2000.

No. 10 years. 2000 to the last day of 2009.

[booonkers]

Duncan if we're talking about the 2000s. Check out which professional team has the winningest record in all major leagues in the US (Duncan era).

Prime Shaq though is a real beast. Most unstoppable force for sure.

[Mikaiel]

No. 10 years. 2000 to the last day of 2009.

Do you agree the 21st century started on January 1st 2001 ? It's the same thing, just apply it for decades instead of centuries. 10 decades in a century, so the last decade of the 20th century (the 90's) ended in 2000, not 1999.

[booonkers]

No. 10 years. 2000 to the last day of 2009.

I think it ends on the last day of 2010.