Duncan( 97-99) vs Wemby (23-25) two years in...who you got?

[Hey Yo]

You've got to be kidding me, right? Duncan won a championship in year 2. No way OP is serious.

First post about basketball in 3yrs ^^^^

[Phoenix]

Why oh why did I ever think, in a post where I'm specifically asking to compare these two *as players* after 2 seasons without using circumstantial accolades.....that the majority answers would be circumstantial accolades. Fukking hell....

[Phoenix]

Let me simplify it, for the 'herp derp Duncan won a title' low hanging fruit replies. Is Wemby, assuming health, at least trending to be potentially better than Duncan? Or are we gonna stick with Duncan won a title with David Robinson as the defacto fallback? Because Wemby could very easily be first team All-NBA this year( with Jokic and Giannis),stiffer competition at the forward spot than Duncan in 98, and end up DPOY.

[ShawkFactory]

Duncan was more polished, knew where is spots were, and was already a leader. I’d go with him if I’m starting a team and only get them in their first two years.

[Phoenix]

Duncan was more polished, knew where is spots were, and was already a leader. I’d go with him if I’m starting a team and only get them in their first two years.

Thank you for replying in the spirit the question was intended. How do you see them in terms of defensive impact( taking into account of course they had different responsibilities because of how the game is played nowadays).

I find it interesting that people here steer away from championships when the conversation is something like MJ vs Lebron...preferring to argue that as a 'team achievement'....but use that very crouch comparing Wemby vs Duncan.

[ShawkFactory]

Thank you for replying in the spirit the question was intended. How do you see them in terms of defensive impact( taking into account of course they had different responsibilities because of how the game is played nowadays).

I find it interesting that people here steer away from championships when the conversation is something like MJ vs Lebron...preferring to argue that as a 'team achievement'....but use that very crouch comparing Wemby vs Duncan.

It’s kind of a cop out to say, but I think defensively they both impact their era greater than the other would. Wembys length and athleticism of course play now with all the spacing but I think he’d get beat up more than Duncan in 1998. Particularly on the boards.

[Phoenix]

It’s kind of a cop out to say, but I think defensively they both impact their era greater than the other would. Wembys length and athleticism of course play now with all the spacing but I think he’d get beat up more than Duncan in 1998. Particularly on the boards.

Yeah he'd need to bulk up more in the 90s.

I actually didn't think it was a crazy question but apparently it is. Here I thought 98 was a 'weak' period for the league but apparently that only matters depending on which players are in the argument. To me Wemby's not that far off from being top 5 right now but I'd like to see him in the playoffs first.

[ILLsmak]

I agree with the Duncan by a mile take, tho. It really is that simple. Duncan was so smart as a youngin. Wemby isn't a basketball genius. Maybe it won't matter in the end, but it does in the beginning.

Not a huge Duncan fan, either, but this is not a hard question. One time that the 'troll responses' are right.

-Smak

[pandiani17]

Yeah he'd need to bulk up more in the 90s.

I actually didn't think it was a crazy question but apparently it is. Here I thought 98 was a 'weak' period for the league but apparently that only matters depending on which players are in the argument. To me Wemby's not that far off from being top 5 right now but I'd like to see him in the playoffs first.

It was not a weak period and the PF position was starting to get loaded with talent: Karl Malone (who won MVP in the 1999 regular season), Kevin Garnett already having a couple of All-Star appearances under his belt, Charles Barkley, Chris Webber, Shawn Kemp, Vin Baker,Rasheed Wallace, etc. And it got even more competitive in the early 2000s with Dirk Nowitzki, Elton Brand, Jermaine O'Neal, Pau Gasol, Amare Stoudemire, Zach Randolph, etc.

[pandiani17]

Yeah he'd need to bulk up more in the 90s.

I actually didn't think it was a crazy question but apparently it is. Here I thought 98 was a 'weak' period for the league but apparently that only matters depending on which players are in the argument. To me Wemby's not that far off from being top 5 right now but I'd like to see him in the playoffs first.

It was not a weak period and the PF position was starting to get loaded with talent: Karl Malone (who won MVP in the 1999 regular season), Kevin Garnett already having a couple of All-Star appearances under his belt, Charles Barkley, Chris Webber, Shawn Kemp, Vin Baker,Rasheed Wallace, etc. And it got even more competitive in the early 2000s with Dirk Nowitzki, Elton Brand, Jermaine O'Neal, Pau Gasol, Amare Stoudemire, Zach Randolph, etc.

[tpols]

Yeah he'd need to bulk up more in the 90s.

I actually didn't think it was a crazy question but apparently it is. Here I thought 98 was a 'weak' period for the league but apparently that only matters depending on which players are in the argument. To me Wemby's not that far off from being top 5 right now but I'd like to see him in the playoffs first.

I don't really think wemby can bulk up. He seems like he will always be skinny like Durant, but to an even larger degree since he's even taller and lankier.

With those giraffe legs he'd never be able to move leverage on anthony mason or Oakley or Rodman types. He would just have to shoot over everybody like he's doing now.

[Phoenix]

It was not a weak period and the PF position was starting to get loaded with talent: Karl Malone (who won MVP in the 1999 regular season), Kevin Garnett already having a couple of All-Star appearances under his belt, Charles Barkley, Chris Webber, Shawn Kemp, Vin Baker,Rasheed Wallace, etc. And it got even more competitive in the early 2000s with Dirk Nowitzki, Elton Brand, Jermaine O'Neal, Pau Gasol, Amare Stoudemire, Zach Randolph, etc.

Malone was 36 and past his heyday in 99. Garnett wasn't quite there yet, same for Webber. Kemp's best days were behind him. Vin Baker? good player at his best, but come on. He was never an All-NBA first teamer. Barkley was a year from retirement. But anyways, I always see on this board that the late 90's was a weak period after expansion. Guess it depends on the conversation when you have people saying the players today are more skilled/talented, so comparing accolades in a vacuum isn't really a 1:1.

The early 2000s being more competitive at the position has nothing to do with Duncan in 98 making the all-NBA first team.

[Phoenix]

I don't really think wemby can bulk up. He seems like he will always be skinny like Durant, but to an even larger degree since he's even taller and lankier.

Yeah probably not, it's just his body type( and would take away from what he is if he could).

[Carbine]

This is easily Duncan. He was the best player on a title team by '99 and was first team all NBA. He was a better player in his era than Wemby is in this era. No shame in that, Wemby being younger and all.

[highwhey]

You've got to be kidding me, right? Duncan won a championship in year 2. No way OP is serious.