Gilgamesh

The Spurs don't exactly play with the highest pace. The guy has a career PER of 25.1 which is 7th best all-time. The year he averaged 25.5 PPG the Spurs averaged 96.7. That is 26.4%of the team's scoring. The year Bird averaged 29.9 PPG the Celts averaged 113.6 PPG. That is 26.3% of the team's scoring. Duncan also steps up his scoring in the playoffs (23.6 PPG). Bird's playoff average is 23.8 PPG. I'm not saying Duncan is Wilt but his offense is underrated because of the pace the Spurs play in.

I will admit that Magic and Bird do have a "nostalgic" or "mythical" value put on their careers but to say that is the main or sole reason for their perceived greatness is just flat wrong.

Bird is one the greatest cerebral players ever who did everything on the court. He is the only player in the history of the game to have a career average of 20-10-5. The guy was a flat out winner. Sure the Celts had a great team but minus Bird and they lose that "killer" edge. We are not talking about an 80s Dirk here.

Who dares to say the Lakers will still be "showtime" without Magic? Sure the Lakers had a great team but Magic was the one running the entire damn show. Is it a coincidence that Kareem couldn't win a title in LA until Magic got there? Also Paulo is right in the 80s you needed a loaded team to win. The economics in the NBA were different back then.

Duncan is definitely fit for top 10 GOAT discussion along with Bird and Magic. IMO I wouldn't put him a head just yet. I mean is Duncan > Hakeem? Is Hakeem > Bird or Magic? It's all personal preference really but Duncan will be remembered as an all-time great.

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