Accomplishments

Both players have won four titles in the last 10 years, Shaquille O’Neal won three back to back championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and one in Miami, while Tim Duncan one all four championships in San Antonio although none of them were in consecutive years. Shaq took the regular season MVP honor in the 1999-2000 season, while Duncan got it back to back in 2001-2002, and 2002-2003 seasons. Both players have won 3 finals MVP awards, Shaquille O’Neal winning all three while in Los Angeles (Dwyane Wade won it last year in Miami), and Tim Duncan winning the first three as well (Tony Parker got it this year).

Winner: Tie

Career Stats

Throughout his career Shaquille O’Neal has averaged 26.0 points per game, 11.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.5 blocks. Tim Duncan has averaged 21.8 points per game, 11.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.5 blocks. Shaquille O’Neal scored 25+ points per game for 10 straight seasons from 1993 to 2003 and even during an injury prone stint in Miami has managed to average over 20.0 points a game over the last three years. Tim Duncan however has never had a season in which he scored more than Shaq’s career average of 26.0 points per game, but out of his 10 seasons in the NBA he has averaged 20 or more points a game for 9 of them.

Winner: Shaquille O’Neal

Floor Dominance

When you think of the biggest, baddest, and most dominant player in professional sports, well at least for me, there’s only one name that comes up; Shaquille O’Neal. He draws double, triple, and even quadruple teams when he’s around the basket. Smaller players jump on his shoulders and he still goes up strong to throw it down. If other NBA centers wake up in the middle of the night with a cold sweat you know that they are thinking of the game tomorrow night when they have to defend Shaq. This is the guy that bought down the whole basketball net with a dunk; rim, backboard, supports, and everything in between. Tim Duncan is an excellent player, a solid scorer, a great defender, and a genuine winner, but when it comes to dominating a basketball court, there’s no one in the world who’s got the upper hand on the Diesel.

Winner: Shaquille O’Neal

Post Play

There’s no question that Shaquille O’Neal is the most unstoppable player when he gets the ball underneath the basket, whether it’s an offensive rebound or just dominant positioning, it’s an automatic two points. Tim Duncan is better fundamentally when he has his back to the hoop or further out from the key. He has one of the most natural bank shots the NBA has ever seen and his short range jump shot is automatic. Not only can both players score efficiently down low but are well adept at passing out of double teams to create easy scoring opportunities for teammates.

Winner: Tie

Defense

Tim Duncan has been on the NBA’s all defensive team for ten straight years, seven of them being on the first team. Shaquille O’Neal however has never made the first team selection, but has earned a spot on the all-defensive second team three times. One thing to remember though is that there is only one center spot on the all-defensive team, but two forward spots, giving Duncan an advantage when it comes to being selected. Either way both players are excellent anchors to their respective teams’ defense but while Shaquille O’Neal is prone to pickup quick fouls, Tim Duncan gets just as many blocks as Shaq with almost 1 less foul a game. Tim Duncan is also a better a better perimeter defender and is able to help out on screens with greater efficiency.

Winner: Tim Duncan

Free Throws

Shaquille O’Neal is arguably the worst free throw shooter in the NBA history; shooting at around 50% on a consistent basis (sure there’s Ben Wallace who’s barely above the 40% mark, but Shaq takes almost 4 times more free throws than Wallace each game), heck there’s even an in depth article at Wikipedia detailing the Hack-a-Shaq strategy. Tim Duncan isn’t a great free throw shooter either, with a career average of 68%, he is one of the most inconsistent players from the free throw line. He holds the team record for most free throws made in a game without a miss (17/17 vs Utah on January 17th 2002), and in that 2002 season he shot a very respectable 79.9%, but dropped down to 59.9% just 2 seasons later. None the less, Shaq has only had one season of free throw shooting above 60%, while Duncan has only had one season of free throw shooting less than 60%.

Winner: Tim Duncan

Team Value

Since coming into the league, Shaquille O’Neal has played for three teams: the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat, acquiring records of 208-120 (63.4%), 435-189 (69.7%), 155-91 (63.0%) respectively, for a total of 798-400 (66.6%). Tim Duncan on the other hand has only played for the San Antonio Spurs, and in his 10 year career has helped them acquire a record of 559-229 (70.9%), higher than any team that Shaquille O’Neal has played on, and furthermore the highest winning percentage of any team since the 1997 draft. You also have to consider that Tim Duncan is 4 years younger than Shaquille O’Neal (who turned 35 earlier this year) and his salary is also $2,500,000 less than Shaq’s. On the other hand Shaquille O’Neal is a much more marketable player than Tim Duncan whose fundamentally sound basketball skills do little to sell out road games, or produce exceptional TV ratings. In fact in three of the last five years where San Antonio has traveled to the NBA finals TV ratings have continued decline finally hitting a record low rating of 6.2 in this years finals (down over 25% since last year).

Winner: Tie

Result

Vote

Well I still can’t decide who has been the more dominant player in the NBA in the last decade. Both players have accomplished much in their careers, and are still two of the best basketball players on the planet, so it’s up to you guys to decide who you think has been the most dominant player in the NBA in the last decade. Vote below, or drop off a comment on the permalink page.

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Despite criticism that he was sometimes a “ball hog”? on the court Kobe Bryant has had a very positive public image throughout his career, and his dedication, skill, and talent on the court ranked him as one of the most popular athletes in the world. Everything changed in the summer of 2003 however, when Kobe Bryant was arrested for sexual assault in the state of Colorado. Although he was never found guilty of sexual assault, as the woman who accused Kobe Bryant was unwilling to testify thus the prosecution was forced to dismiss the criminal case, Kobe’s image was forever tarnished. After admitting to adultery, or cheating on his wife with a stranger in a hotel room, his public appeal completely plummeted. Millions of dollars worth of endorsements from companies like McDonald’s, Nutella, Ferrero SpA (the company that makes Kinder Surprise) were all terminated, and his jersey sales fell off the charts.

After not being able to win the NBA championship in 2004 with future hall of famers such as Gary Payton, Karl Malone, and Shaquille O’Neal, the core of the Lakers fell apart. Gary Payton, and Shaquille O’Neal eventually found there ways to Miami, while Karl Malone announced his retirement from basketball. The rift between Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson also grew larger, and after deciding to stick with their star player, Phil Jackson was fired by the Los Angeles Lakers. 2004-2005 was a dismal season for the Lakers, Kobe Bryant still being one of the best players in the NBA, managed to lead the Lakers to the last place in the Pacific division and out of the playoffs. The future of the franchise, along with Kobe Bryant’s career seemed to carry little optimism in the near future.

The 2005 Off-Season for the Lakers saw the return of Phil Jackson and the acquisition of Kwame Brown. Despite past disagreements, Bryant stated that brining back Phil Jackson was a move that he welcomed. Hoping to come back from a disastrous season, the Lakers restructured their line up and by the end of the season they entered into the playoffs as the number seven seed against the Phoenix Suns. The 2005-2006 season saw Kobe Bryant have one of the best seasons in his career. Having averaged an NBA best 35.4 points per game, his season scoring average was the highest since Michael Jordan in the 1986-87 season. He also broke the previous Laker record for the most 40-point games in a season set by Elgin Baylor (who had 24). Kobe Bryant ended the season with 27 games where he scored 40 or more points. Kobe Bryant also finished runner-up to Steve Nash for the most first place MVP votes during the season.

The highest single game scoring performance was in 1962 by Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 even, but ever then since then no one, not even Michael Jordan has been able to score more than 80 points. That is, no one except Kobe Bryant, who put up a Laker record 81 points on January 22nd, 2006 against the Toronto Raptors. Kobe Bryant who scored 55 of his 81 points in the second half joins the record books as one of the only two players in NBA history to score more than 80 points. This wasn’t the only prolific onslaught of scoring by Kobe Bryant during the season, as just a month earlier he scored 62 points in 33 minutes of play. By the time he left the court he had outscored the entire Mavericks team 62-61 by himself. He also joined the record books that day being the only player in NBA history to outscore the entire opposing team through 3 quarters of play.

During the playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, after dropping the first game 107-102, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to three consecutive wins. During game four, Kobe Bryant scored an acrobatic lay-up with the clock winding down to force overtime. With the Los Angeles Lakers trailing by a point in the final seconds of overtime, there was only person that the Lakers would go to, and Kobe Bryant did not disappoint. He dribbled the ball from half court to the three point line, before driving to bury a 17 foot fadeaway as time expired, amidst a roaring packed Staples Center crowd of 18,000. His heroics however, even a 50 point performance in game 6, weren’t enough to take the Lakers to the second round as Steve Nash led the Suns to a three consecutive win comeback over the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant has had an amazing season this year; his prolific scoring reminded the entire world why he is still one of the best players in NBA history. He finished the season as the leading scorer in the NBA, and in the top ten in over 22 statistical categories. Now whether you don’t like Kobe Bryant because of that one incident in Colorado in 2003, or whether you think he’s a “ball hog”, or whether you’re just jealous he took the R&B singer Brandy to the prom, you have to give props that he is still one of the greatest athletes in the world today.

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In just 3 years, the first pick of the draft, LeBron James, was this year’s runner up to Steve Nash in MVP voting. LeBron James has already broken numerous NBA rookie records, and earlier this year was awarded the NBA All-Star Game MVP. Not only has he won several awards, but he has several milestones and broken records under his belt. He is the youngest NBA player to record a triple double (at the age of 20), to score 50 points (versus Toronto Raptors on March 20th, 2005), to reach 1,000 points, 2,000 points, 3,000 points, 4,000 points, 5,000 points, 6,000 points, and is one of only three NBA players in history to average 20+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists in his rookie season, and one of only three players to record a triple double in his first playoff debut. If signing a 90 million dollar Nike contract straight out high school wasn’t enough, with the way he is playing, there is no doubt it’s only the beginning.

Darko Milicic was chosen by the Detroit Pistons with the second pick of the 2003 draft. After a dismal season with failed expectations, he became the youngest player to appear in a finals game (at 18 years and 356 days), and the only rookie in the class of 2003 chosen in the top 10 to win an NBA championship. Today he plays for the Orlando Magic, but continues to struggle to prove himself in the NBA.

The other three players selected in the top 5 were Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade, players who have all had amazing seasons since their NBA debut. Both Chris Bosh and Dwayne made all-star appearances earlier this year in Houston, and Carmelo Anthony is the heart of a well rounded Denver Nuggets team. They each play different positions, but the one commonality between these players is that without them, there would be a catastrophic effect on their respective teams.

Another two players in the 2003 NBA Draft were Leandro Barbosa, and Boris Diaw. Although they went late in the first round of the draft, their contributions to the Phoenix Suns team have been remarkable. Boris Diaw who was awarded this year’s “Most Improved Player”? award by the NBA, is one of only three players in the NBA averaging more than 6 rebounds, and 6 assists a game (the other two being LeBron James, and Jason Kidd). Boris Diaw even had two amazing performances on April 14th, and 16th with back to back triple doubles. Another key to the Phoenix Sun’s amazing success lies with Leandro Barbosa, who other than being an amazing defender, was number three in the league in 3-point shooting (44.4%). The third year Sun also holds several Phoenix Suns rookie records including 27 points on January 5th in his rookie year, and 3-point shooting for the most consecutive games with a made 3-pointer. Led by Steve Nash, both Diaw, and Barbosa have had three amazing games to help the Suns become only the eighth team in league history to come back after trailing in a playoff series 3-1 against the Lakers.

It has only been three years since these rising stars got drafted into the NBA but their impact has been phenomenal. Only the future will tell which of them will develop into MVP caliber players.

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Steve Nash was eventually drafted by the Phoenix Suns with their fifteenth overall pick in 1996, (same year as Allen Iverson, and Kobe Bryant) but he saw very little playing time in his first two seasons in Phoenix. He was eventually traded away to Dallas on draft day for Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells, and the draft rights to Pat Garrity. Although Nash struggled in his first few seasons in Dallas he eventually had a breakout season when joined by Dirk Nowitzki, and Michael Finley.

Although Nash was a two time all-star in Dallas, Mark Cuban; the owner of the franchise, chose not to extend his contract and wished him good luck wherever else he might find it. Little did the outspoken billionaire know; he was letting go of the player that would go on to make NBA history with the next team he played for. Phoenix Suns, the team with whom Nash started his career, were more than happy to offer Steve Nash a six year 66 million dollar contract to lead the Suns after their dismal second last place finish in the Pacific Division. After a 29-53 win-loss record in the previous season, Steve Nash led the “run and gun” Phoenix Suns team to an NBA best 31-5 start, an NBA best 110.4 points per game, and an NBA best 62-20 record for the season. The 33-game improvement is also the third best in league history behind San Antonio who did it twice.

Steve Nash also averaged 11.5 assists per game that season, the highest total since John Stockton, and that was before Nash entered the NBA in 1995. He also shot a remarkable 50.2% from the field, and ranked third in double doubles during the season with 49, both of which, are stats unheard of from players who play his position. Steve Nash also helped the Suns sweep the Grizzlies in the playoffs, defeat his former team in the second round, and then he lead his squad against the San Antonio Spurs. Although the playoff run ended in the western conference finals for the Phoenix Suns, the future looked very optimistic.

While Mike D’Antoni was named Coach of the Year for the Phoenix Suns, it was Steve Nash who got the most prestigious honour in the NBA; the Maurice Podoloff Trophy. Selected by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada, Steve Nash narrowly edged Shaquille O’Neal to be named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. He also became the first Canadian player, and the second ever international player (the other being Hakeem Olajuwon) to win the award. After an absolute amazing season in basketball, Steve Nash also named the Canadian male athlete of the year.

His second season in Phoenix saw several changes in the Suns lineup, as well as difficulties with injuries. Two of the top five scorers on the lineup (Quentin Richardson, and Joe Johnson) went to New York and Atlanta respectively, and the leading scorer on the Phoenix Suns (Amare Stoudemire) underwent knee surgery causing him to miss all but three games in the 2005-2006 season. The starting lineup had only two players left from the previous year and another successful season seemed next to impossible for the Suns. Steve Nash however, once again proved the disbelievers wrong. He led the Phoenix Suns to the top of the Pacific Division for the second year in a row, and he helped the Suns average an NBA best 107.2 points per game. This season Steve Nash had career highs in scoring (18.8), rebounding (4.2), field goal percentage (51.2%), and free throw percentage (an NBA best 92.1%). After leading the league for the second straight year with 10.5 assists per game, he becomes only the ninth player in NBA history to win back to back MVP awards, and only the second ever point guard to do so (the other being Magic Johnson). This year he was a runaway winner with 57 first place votes, ahead of Kobe Bryant who finished with 22.

Steve Nash first heard of his consecutive MVP title rein while the Phoenix Suns trailed the Lakers 3-1 games. In the history of the NBA, only seven teams have ever comeback after trailing 3-1 in a playoff series, but Steve Nash was not about to let his second seeded Suns be upset in a blowout series by the Lakers. Steve Nash led his team back from the two game deficits in style, and by the end of game seven. The Lakers got blown out by 31 points, their worst game seven loss in over 35 years. Phil Jackson (the Lakers head coach) who had previously won 45 series’ in a row, when leading in a playoff series took his first loss as the Phoenix Suns made a very improbable comeback from a 3-1 deficit.

Steve Nash highlights everything that is good about the game of basketball, his unselfish “pass first, shoot second” mentality continues to improve the performances of the players around him. Steve Nash is an excellent shooter, a true role model, and he is the catalyst to the most electrifying team in the NBA. His style of play is significantly different than many of the other superstars around the league, but his hard work ethic both on and off the court really makes Steve Nash truly standout.

Through the course of his career the perception of Steve Nash has changed drastically throughout the NBA. In his rookie year he was booed by the Phoenix crowd for being selected with the 15th pick in the first round, and in his first year in Dallas he was booed for being over paid and under proven. Today however, Mark Cuban’s decision not to renew Nash’s contract in Dallas has been widely criticized throughout the NBA. When Nash hoisted his second consecutive MVP trophy in Phoenix, he did so amidst 20,000 roaring, Nash fans.

Nash has also set up the Steve Nash Foundation to help underprivileged kids around the world in all aspects of their lives.

“I started this Foundation because I really felt the need to try to help people. As a professional athlete, you are in a position and given the opportunity to really have an impact on more than just your immediate surroundings. For me to be able to do that is something that’s sometimes challenging, but always worthwhile.” Steve Nash

Other than donating his own money towards good causes, Steve Nash also makes time to visit sick children in hospitals. After winning the MVP award in 2005, Steve Nash had several multi-million dollar endorsement offers from big name companies, all of which he turned down before leaving on a humanitarian trip to Central America. Other than being an amazing athlete, and a superstar basketball player, Steve Nash is also one of the best role models that the world of professional sports has to offer.

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