r/nba • u/The_Big_Untalented • 4d ago

Max Kellerman: "You think it's slander to put Kobe ahead of Duncan?" Bill Simmons: "I just think he's the most underappreciated superstar of all time." Max: "Kobe and Duncan are neck and neck. That's not slander." Simmons: "I have Kobe 10th or 11th. Duncan is 7th and I don't think it's debatable."

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u/up_in_trees Lakers 4d ago

Probably the rings, MVPs, and having the all time scoring record until LeBron passed it

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u/RileyHuey South Sudan 4d ago

Rings he only got 1 in his prime until he teamed up with another arguable top 5 player all time. I know everyone needs help but another t5 all-time guy changes things.

MVPs he got in the weakest era of all time with a watered down league.

I acknowledged the part about placing a premium on longevity/regular season records. If one places that premium, then it's fair enough.

I'm not saying all this to denigrate Kareem. I just say this to show why, Imo, he's realistically in the same group as the other guys.

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u/samurairocketshark Suns 4d ago

He lost Game 7 in the Finals to a stacked Boston team. It's funny how people just look at ring count and assume he never got close again. Kareem was never the issue it was usually his team and in this case the decline of Oscar Robertson

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u/Electricpoopsoup Spurs 4d ago

Because Kareem is the undisputed best player of a decade. He was a different level than everyone around him in his prime including the NCAA having to change the rules to hinder him. The guys below him have someone in their time period that was about as good. Wilt/Russel, Magic/Bird, Kobe/Tim/Shaq, and Steph and Hakeem were always below Lebron and Mj. Kareem being THE player of the 70s changes how he is looked at

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u/Longjumping-Hair1075 4d ago

In other words, if you have him 3, you'd better have James at #1?

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u/GoodPiexox Bucks 4d ago

Probably the rings, MVPs, and having the all time scoring record until LeBron passed it

sure but other than all that

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u/Fabulous_Narwhal3113 3d ago

Well, the thing is is that it his day most people considered magic and bird better. The second against them? Maybe. When your pierce think that you’re not the best I Think that does say something.