5 reasons Tim Duncan was better than Kevin Garnett

Feb 16, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Western Conference forward Tim Duncan (21) of the San Antonio Spurs and Eastern Conference center/forward Kevin Garnett (5) of the Boston Celtics talk during practice for the 2013 NBA All-Star game at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

4 of 5

Mandatory Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images /

2. Duncan won more awards

Tim Duncan bests Kevin Garnett in most team-related accolades. He won five titles to Garnett’s one. But it doesn’t end there. Duncan also won more individual awards than Garnett, suggesting that he was a better player than him.

Garnett only won the NBA MVP award once (2003-04). Duncan, however, won two NBA MVPs and arguably should have won more. On a team without stars, Duncan was one, whether he wanted to be one or not. Despite playing in two fewer seasons than Garnett, Duncan appeared in as many All-Star games as Garnett (15).

Duncan won three NBA Finals MVP awards while Garnett won zero. He also had more All-NBA First Team selections (10) than Garnett (four) and more overall All-NBA selections (15 to nine). Garnett has the upper hand in All-Defensive first team selections (nine to eight), but Duncan leads in overall selections (15 to 12).

While Garnett won a Defensive Player of the Year award, Duncan never did. Garnett also led the NBA in rebounds in four seasons, but Duncan never led the NBA in rebounds. That’s largely because Garnett had better stats on a worse team. Many people think Duncan benefitted from playing for the Spurs, and he did. But there were some areas where it probably hurt him. This is one of them.

Home/NBA