[aamir543Participant]

We all know that he is among the top 25-30 players of all time at the very least, but where does this championship put him as far as catagories go. Does he move out of the Ewing-Malone-Barkley catagory, and into the Duncan-Garnett-Olijajuan catagory? When all is said and done, does he have a chance of moving into the Shaq-Wilt-Kareem-Russell group? Where do you guys think he falls. For me personally, I feel with the tittle he has move in to the Garnett Duncan Catagory, and will stay there for the rest of his career. But one thing, If you look at Malone and Barkley’s stats, than their stats may be better than Nowitzki, Garnett, or duncan. also, Malone was a 20 and 8 or nine guy until he was 39! He had 23 a game at age 37, and 27 at age 34. Granted he had Stockton, but still.  I feel that a tittle would have completed Barkley and Malone’s resume, as it did for Nowitzki.

[Awesome-O-420Participant]

I could see how someone might put Dirk in the Malone/Barkley category but – Malone went against the Jordan Bulls, and it doesn’t matter which PF you pick, they wern’t getting a ring if they had to face the Jordan Bulls. So while I think Malone was a better overall PF with his rebounding/defense/paint domination, Dirk has a ring now, and was definitely more of a clutch player than Malone, not to mention Dirks unstoppable offensive skill set. So it’s reasonable to compare Dirk’s legacy to Barkley/Malone – and if you put him above those two, thats fine too.

You can’t even mention Duncan/Shaq category though. Shaq was the most dominate player in the league after Jordan and has 4 rings. Duncan has 4 rings, please don’t stop the nonsense of comparing him to Duncan who’s been the arguable the best PF of all time. Comparing him with Garnett is valid – IMO he surpasses Garnett, but it’s close.

We already went through the insane premature MJ/LBJ comparisons, lets not go through the Duncan/Dirk comparisons. Just cool it, let this resonate a few weeks and let the emotions fade a little bit. We don’t need to rush to start making comparisons – Dirk has a ring now, thats awesome he deserves it – but let him try defending the title and play a couple more years before you start comparing him to the greatest PF of all time in Duncan.

 

Can we cool it on comparing players to the all time greats for a couple weeks – my head is spinning with ridiculousness.

[aamir543Participant]

Look, I agree Duncan is ahead of Nowitzki, by a fair margin, but I do believe that Nowitzki has a chance to come close to Duncan. But yes, my bad, from a career standpoint, Duncan is above Nowitzki.

[r377Participant]

Nowitzki is a great offensive player – not so much defence and rebounding.

I am a fan of his but would put him just behind all the PF at this point. duncan, kg, barkley, malone

[Tobe BryantParticipant]

ESPN Analyst Chris Brousard ranked Dirk over KG. I TOTALLY disagree…his argument was because KG couldn’t get over the hump in Minnesota. What was he thinking? He better check the stats! . True enough, he couldn’t lead Minny to the Promiseland, but I disregard that because KG was playing in the KOBE/SHAQ/DUNCAN Era. They stopped alot of great players from winning titles. KG had one year where he averaged 24 PPG, 13 RPG, 5 ASST, 2 BLKS, AND 1 STL. SICK!!! Dirk is a GREAT OFFENSIVE WEAPON, but let’s not forget why this may be the last championship he wins, Nowitzki knows no defense. Talk about a resume (KG):

 

• NBA Champion: 2008
• Olympic gold medal: 2000
• NBA Most Valuable Player: 2004
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 2008
• NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2003
• 14-time NBA All-Star: 1997—2011
  • Every year for which there has been an All-Star Game since 1997 (no game in 1999).
  • Selected, but did not play due to injury in 2008.
• 9-time All-NBA selection:

• First Team: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008
• Second Team: 2001, 2002, 2005
• Third Team: 1999, 2007

• 11-time All-Defensive:

• First Team: 2000—2005, 2008—2009, 2011
• Second Team: 2006, 2007

• NBA All-Rookie selection:

• Second team: 1996

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Wow, and I actually liked Chris Broussard…

[Tobe BryantParticipant]

I know! ESPN should drug test him immediately (Stephen A. Smith voice)

[NYK2010Participant]

Talking about ranking Dirk near Olajuwon really come on.

Hakeem was the best Center defensive Center since Kareem and offensively pretty dam great too.

Dirk is more clutch and KG and Malone ye but he’s no where near in their league on defense.

If Dirk gets another ring maybe he’ll be ranked ahead of KG.

Remember KG only got out of the 1st round 1 year before coming to Boston.

Dirk’s legacy isn’t complete obviously he’s showing no signs of slowing down at 32.

If Kidd returns and they resign Chandler and Butler they should be the favorites to win it all again.

[NYK2010Participant]

Damn my grammar sucked in that last post.

Dirk is better offensively then KG who isn’t the closer in Boston.

 

[dwilks101586Participant]

Its funny how u throw the all star thing in there. The NBA is fixed and im a hugh dirk fan and a dallas fan because once your an all-star its hard not to stay one. Unless u r injured, have a bad rep with the coach which turns into limited playing time(Russell Westbrook) and ill leave with this when Iverson was voted in as a starter in 08 that was BS. That is all

[dwilks101586Participant]

I wouldnt put Dirk u there with TD because he has 4 rings like i said in the last post im a hugh dallas fan even got it tatted on me. I dont see the Mavz winning it again one is koo with me but dirk really needed that ring. Did u guys see him trippin right after they won i would too

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

Dirk has a case to be made for where he ranks.  I’d keep him above Malone.  A lot is made of the Mailman only losing because of Jordan, but that discounts the rest of his career.  Those were some flawed Houston and Portland teams beating him for so much of his career.  He was a great scorer and rebounder, but Dirk is those things too, except Dirk was actually clutch.  I’ll take Dirk.  Malone’s over Barkley so Dirk gets the edge there too.

Dirk isn’t covering your opponents elite post presence, sure, but neither, largely, would Chuck or Mailmain.  Dirk isn’t bad defensively – he’s just not a stopper.  That old myth needs to just go awya.  He’s not the rebounder that either is, though he isn’t as far off as people are suggesting considering he gets 9-10 a game and plays so often on the perimiter.

As far as Dirk or KG, I’ll take Dirk here as well.  KG, on a team that desperately needed his post presence, was far too much of a perimeter and mid-range player.  I mean, have you seen KG’s post game?  It’s unguardable.  He clearly helped his team most by being down low, but rarely, especially in big situations, was.  Dirk, meanwhile, learned that he helped his team less with the threes and long twos and more with the drives and post work that open offense for everyone.  KG is a far better rebounder and defender than anyone we’ve mentioned before, but his unwillingness, despite being a ‘warrior’, to do what’s best for his team and facilitate easy offense in the post keeps him a step behind for me.  We saw what Dirk’s closer in offense and willingness to pass did for a ton of roll players in Dallas.  KG has just never had that effect.  This is damn close, but I’ll take Dirk.

None of the above is in Duncan’s class.  Just stop.  He was as good defensively as KG, if not better.  He regularly improved mediocre teams to title contention, made his teammates better, passed as well as anyone, and played in the perfect spots.  Dirk’s a top 20 guy – Duncan’s a top ten.  Same for Shaq. 

I’m not a Dirk-fan, at all, by the way.  I generally root against Dallas, but where he ranks is where he ranks.

[Tobe BryantParticipant]

I am not at all discounting this win for the Mavericks, but let’s not get it twisted. Dirk was not THE ONE MAN SHOW that everyone seems to be saying he was during these Finals and other series. It was Barea making a difference, Stevenson putting in work on D, Marion playing great, JT lighting it up, and even some Stojavic sightings. Dirk was no doubt the best player, but it is also evident that JT was as valuable in this series. KG, a prime KG, is better than Dirk on his best day. Stop dranking that kool-aid homie, be free of the moment because right now you are a prisoner. Dirk is a Top 25 player no doubt though.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

We aren’t comparing prime, though. We’re comparing careers.

[Tobe BryantParticipant]

Its even worse if you comapre them in their careers because Garnett is still a better player over the course of his career. Looking at Dirk, he always has had weapons around him. See Steve Nash, Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Finley, Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, and this year’s cast. All were players playing in the prime if not a part of their career where they were effective. Garnett had some decent players, but never enough to get to the Promiseland, and let’s be honest, Dallas was just a regular season team up until this year. Much credit to the Mavs, but Dirk can’t be ranked over Garnett.

[Author]

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