A list of superstar players who have competed with Duncan in NBA history

Tim Duncan's 19-year career (1997-2016) can be regarded as an epic that continues to confront the superstars of the times. As the cornerstone of the Spurs dynasty and the embodiment of "big basic skills", he repeatedly competed with top superstars of different eras on the stage of regular season, playoffs and even finals with his unsolvable stability, top offense and defense skills and extraordinary basketball IQ. The following are representative superstar players who have played with Duncan at different stages:

1. Western Inside Battle: The Wrestling Field of the Peak Behemoth

Shaquille O'Neal:

PK Focus: The "King of the Western Finals" showdown at the turn of the century. O'Neal is the most dominant inside player in the league, while Duncan is the peak representative of the technical inside player. The collision between the two in the Western Conference playoffs (especially the Western Conference Finals) is a classic in basketball history.

Classic Battle:

1999 Western Conference Semi-finals: Duncan, who had just shown his strength, and veteran Robinson's "Two Towers" swept the young O'Neal's leading Lakers 4-0, and the Spurs finally won the championship.

2001 Western Conference Finals: The OK combination peaked, the Lakers swept the Spurs 4-0, and O'Neal showed absolute dominance.

2002 Western Conference Semi-finals: The Lakers eliminated the Spurs again 4-1.

2003 Western Conference Semi-finals: Duncan averaged 28 points and 12 rebounds per game, leading the Spurs to revenge the Lakers 4-2, ending the OK dynasty and finally winning the championship.

2004 Western Conference Semi-finals: The Lakers, who own F4, eliminated the Spurs 4-2, and Fisher's final victory in 0.4 seconds became a famous scene.

Summary: It represents a confrontation between two extreme inside dominance forces, with each other's victory or defeat, but Duncan became the new king of the Western inside after the disintegration of OK.

Kevin Garnett:

PK Focus: The "Yuliang Battle" of the historical power forward. The two are both super big bosses with integrated offense and defense and comprehensive technology, and are representatives of the No. 21 legend. The Timberwolves and the Spurs are Western Conference powerhouses.

Process: Meeting many times in the playoffs (1999 first round, 2001 first round, 2002 first round, 2008 Western Conference Semi-finals). Duncan has the absolute upper hand, and the Spurs eliminated the Timberwolves many times. The personal showdown data is close, but the Spurs team has far better strength and stability.

Relationship: On the field, you are the opponent, and off the field are friends who respect each other. Garnett won the Celtics in 2008, which was considered to have fulfilled his long-cherished wish for the championship.

Chris Weber:

PK Focus: The core of the Gorgeous Kings, the soul of the Princeton system. The Kings are one of the Spurs' main competitors in the West (the 2002 Western Conference Semi-finals and the 2004 Western Conference Semi-finals were particularly intense).

Process: Weber's comprehensive skills (scoring, rebounding, passing) contrasts with Duncan's solid and stable performance. In the 2002 Western Conference semifinals, the Spurs lost to the Kings 1-4; in the 2004 Western Conference semifinals, the Spurs took revenge 4-2. Weber's gorgeousness collides with Duncan's pragmatism to create a brilliant spark.

Dek Nowitzki:

PK Focus: The soul duel of "The Battle of the Bull and Horse". The Mavericks (Mavericks) are the Spurs' most lasting mortal enemy in Texas and even the West. Nowitzki is a historical scoring power forward, and the Golden Rooster is independent and has no solution.

Process: Playoff confrontations are extremely frequent and classic (2001 Western Conference Finals, 2003 Western Conference Finals, 2006 Western Conference Finals, 2009 first round, 2010 first round, 2014 first round). Both sides win and lose, and the series often hits a tiebreak (such as 2006). Duncan often needs to deal with Dirk's shooting on the defensive end, while on the offensive end, he uses physical and technical attacks.

Summary: One of the greatest power forward matches in history, throughout the two's careers, represents the pinnacle of two different offensive styles.

2. Peripheral superstars and tactical core: The collision of system and genius

Kobe Bryant:

PK focus: Lakers' super shooting guard, competitive in history top. The OK combination is the biggest obstacle during the Spurs' three consecutive championships. In the later period, Kobe led the team alone and was still a strong enemy in the Western Conference.

Process: Many bloody battles in the playoffs (1999 Western Conference Semi-finals, 2001 Western Conference Semi-finals, 2002 Western Conference Semi-finals, 2003 Western Conference Semi-finals, 2004 Western Conference Semi-finals, 2008 Western Conference Semi-finals). Duncan and Kobe don’t have many direct matches, but as the core of their respective teams, their game has defined the Western Conference pattern for more than ten years. Duncan ended the OK dynasty in 2003, and Kobe eliminated the Spurs in the 2008 Western Conference Final to complete his revenge.

Respect: Two people highly recognize each other's historical status and competitive spirit.

Steve Nash:

PK Focus: Suns running and bombing system engine, two-time MVP. The ultimate fast whirlwind it leads is the extreme opposite of the Spurs' half-court positional warfare system.

Classic Battle:

2005 Western Conference Finals: The Spurs eliminated the Suns 4-1, and their defense successfully restricted the running and shooting.

2007 Western Conference Semi-finals: Horry's malicious foul on Nash caused a conflict, Sir Jr. and Dior's suspension became a turning point, and the Spurs advanced 4-2 and finally won the championship. This series is full of controversy.

First round of 2008: The Spurs eliminated the Suns 4-1.

2010 Western Conference Semi-finals: Suns swept the Spurs 4-0 to complete their revenge.

Summary: The collision of basketball philosophy (speed vs rhythm, offense vs defense), full of drama and topicality.

Jason Kidd:

PK Focus: Top Field Control Master, the core of the Nets. 2002 and 2003 met in the finals for two consecutive years.

Process: The Spurs defeated the Nets 4-2 in both times with Duncan's dominance (average of 24.2 points, 17 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 5.3 hats per game in the 2003 Finals!) and a more balanced lineup. Kidd's art of passing is difficult to fully display in the face of the defensive system built by Duncan.

Allen Iverson:

PK Focus: 2005 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals (Spurs vs 76ers). Iverson is the absolute core and scoring champion of the 76ers.

Process: The Spurs easily advanced 4-1. Duncan occupies an absolute dominance in the interior, and although Iverson can score, he can't stand it alone. This is more of a reflection of the team's strength gap.

3. The new generation of challengers: the handover and inheritance of royal power

LeBron James:

PK focus: The ultimate dialogue between "new and old king powers". James is the new facade of the league, and Duncan represents the old dynasty.

Classic Battle:

2007 Finals: The young "little emperor" entered the finals for the first time, encountering Duncan at the end of his peak and the mature Spurs system. The Spurs swept 4-0, and Duncan said to James the famous "The future is yours."

2013 Finals: Peak Heat Big Three vs Aging but tough Spurs GDP. Ray Allen's G6's desperate three-pointer dragged the game into overtime, and the Heat finally reversed the championship in tiebreak. This is one of the most missed champions in Duncan's career (G7 misses the floor when the tip-off was in a critical moment).

2014 Finals: The Spurs' perfect revenge. The team of smooth team defeated the Heat 4-1 and completed redemption. Although Duncan's data declined, his defensive end has a huge role, and the picture of embracing James after the fifth game has become a classic.

Summary: The great dialogue spans several years, witnessing James' growth and the resilience of the Spurs, is an important chapter in NBA history.

Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook:

PK Focus: The Thunder Youth Army (Thunder Third Young Master) is the main challenger of the Spurs in the West in the late stage.

Classic Battle:

2012 Western Conference Finals: The young Thunder Three Young Masters (Durant, Westbrook, Harden) eliminated the experienced Spurs 4-2, showing their talent crushing.

2014 Western Conference Finals: The Spurs revenge on the Thunder 4-2, and team basketball defeated superstar talent, laying the foundation for the final championship.

2016 Western Conference Semi-finals: The Thunder eliminated the Spurs again 4-2, and Durant and Westbrook showed their peak firepower. This is the curtain call of Duncan's career.

Meaning: Duncan's confrontation with the new generation of super scorers and point guards in his late years symbolizes the change of the times.

Chris Paul & Blake Griffin:

PK Focus: The core of the "All-Chain" Clippers is another strong opponent of the Spurs in the late Western Conference.

Process: Meeting many times in the playoffs (2012 Western Conference Semi-finals, 2015 first round, 2017? Not meeting but the competition in the regular season is fierce). In the first round of tiebreak in 2015, Paul dragged his injured leg and defeated the Spurs to become a classic. The two teams are known for their high-intensity defense and key balls.

4. Trial between peers and juniors in the inside line

Ben Wallace:

PK Focus: Pistons' defensive core, four-time DPOY. The 2005 finals were a peak showdown.

Process: The Spurs defeated the "Pistols Five Tigers" 4-3 to win the championship. Duncan still contributed a stable output (average 20.6 points and 14.1 rebounds per game), facing the strangle of the Pistons Barrel Formation (Double Wallace), and had a huge defensive end effect. This is the ultimate confrontation for team basketball defense.

Yao Ming:

PK Focus: Rockets' core center, both international superstars. The Rockets are the Spurs' old opponent in the Southwest Division.

Process: Multiple matches in the playoffs (first round 2004, first round 2007). The Spurs both won (4-1 and 4-3). Duncan caused huge trouble for Yao Ming on both offense and defense, showing more experience and team advantages. Although Yao Ming has no disadvantage in data, it is difficult to win.

Dwight Howard:

PK Focus: Magic "Superman", the first center in the league at its peak. In 2009, the Eastern Conference team did not directly confront Duncan in the playoffs, but was often compared as an inside representative.

Indirect PK: When Howard dominated the East, Duncan's dominance in the West had reached its peak but was still deterrent. The two have very different styles (power vs technology), representing the characteristics of insiders in different eras.

Summary:

Inside Kaleidoscope: Duncan's power game with O'Neal, historic predecessor dialogue with Garnett/Nowitzki, a gorgeous and practical battle with Weber, an international giant confrontation with Yao Ming, and a defensive iron wall collision with Big Ben, covering various styles of inside superstars.

The touchstone of the outside master: He used his team defense and system to fight Kobe's ultimate personal hero, Nash's ultimate fast whirlwind, Kidd's art of field control, Iverson's lone score, and Paul's precise command in the later stage. The transition of royal power in the

era: From suppressing the fledgling James (2007), to being revenged by the peak James (2013), to completing epic redemption (2014), and finally ending in the youth storm of Durant/Westbrook (2016), Duncan's career has completely witnessed the change of royal power in the league.

The victory of "big basic skills": Duncan's greatness lies in his unparalleled stability, top-notch offense and defense integration, super high basketball IQ and ultimate team dedication. He doesn't have the visual impact of O'Neal's absolute dominance and the gorgeous scoring performances of Kobe, but he can always defeat all superstars in the most solid and efficient way to win the team. He defeated the top opponents of different eras and styles, and used five championships and lasting peaks that have crossed nearly twenty years to create an immortal legend of the largest power forward in history. His opponent list is a condensed NBA superstar history in the past 20 years.