As you may have heard, one of the greatest players in NBA history officially announced his retirement earlier this week. Tributes have been flowing nonstop, with fans throughout the world honoring the 5-time NBA Champion Tim Duncan for reaching the end of an astounding 19-year career in the league.
Many regard Duncan to be among the best big men in league history, with the majority of fans believing he is the greatest power forward ever to set foot on an NBA court.
With that in mind, one person with close ties and a dominant past in the league firmly disagrees. Speaking on his podcast “The Big Podcast With Shaq”, Shaquille O’Neal explained his thinking on why Duncan shouldn’t be considered among the league’s best “big men” (h/t Jordan Heck of Omnisport, via Sporting News).
I only have one beef with how they’re throwing this around. They’re saying he’s one of the greatest big men. Do you count power forwards as big men? Because I don’t.
I was always taught that the big man was a center. I know we got new rules, and they don’t have the center spot no more, but no.
Duncan, who holds career-averages of 19 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game in a total of 1,389 contests during his career, still has the popular public vote of being among the game’s greatest big men to play in the NBA. The accolades — 15-time All-Star, 2-time MVP, 8-time NBA All Defensive First Team, NBA Rookie of the Year — certainly speak for itself.
Nonetheless, Shaq firmly disagrees. Standing at a towering 7’1″ and weighing over 300 pounds, Shaq made a name for himself of being one of the biggest, most dominant forces at the center position we’ve ever seen.
Shaq did name his top players in league history on his podcast, listing Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James as his final six. Duncan did not make the cut, and certainly wouldn’t in Shaq’s mind if the discussion was focused solely on the “big man” area.
Perhaps you could change the mind of Shaquille O’Neal if the topic was based off the the greatest power forwards in league history, but O’Neal seems to have a very strong opinion on the “big men” conversation.
