BigGameDamian
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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/shaq-says-tim-duncan-not-204223591.html
Do you agree with Shaq?
Shaquille O'Neal doesn't think power forwards deserve to be called big men.
Now that Tim Duncan has retired, it's time for analysts and basketball minds to discuss his legacy and all-time ranking. In the recent days, people have called Duncan one of the best big men to ever play the game, but Shaquille O'Neal says hold on a minute.
Speaking on his podcast, "The Big Podcast With Shaq," the retired 7-1 center says the 6-11 Duncan isn't a "big man" because he played mostly as a power forward. He was asked about Duncan being ranked as a top five player all-time, and said his main problem was how they were labeling him.
"I only have one beef with how they're throwing this around," O'Neal said. "They're saying he's one of the greatest big men. Do you count power forwards as big men? Because I don't.
"I was always taught that the big man was a center. I know we got new rules and they don't have the center spot no more, but no."
There's somewhat of a debate as to whether Duncan was a power forward or a center, although the consensus agrees he's a forward.
Eventually the top five discussion came back around, and O'Neal had a surprising list. He likes to place smaller guys first and listed off names in this order: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.
Do you agree with Shaq?
Shaquille O'Neal doesn't think power forwards deserve to be called big men.
Now that Tim Duncan has retired, it's time for analysts and basketball minds to discuss his legacy and all-time ranking. In the recent days, people have called Duncan one of the best big men to ever play the game, but Shaquille O'Neal says hold on a minute.
Speaking on his podcast, "The Big Podcast With Shaq," the retired 7-1 center says the 6-11 Duncan isn't a "big man" because he played mostly as a power forward. He was asked about Duncan being ranked as a top five player all-time, and said his main problem was how they were labeling him.
"I only have one beef with how they're throwing this around," O'Neal said. "They're saying he's one of the greatest big men. Do you count power forwards as big men? Because I don't.
"I was always taught that the big man was a center. I know we got new rules and they don't have the center spot no more, but no."
There's somewhat of a debate as to whether Duncan was a power forward or a center, although the consensus agrees he's a forward.
Eventually the top five discussion came back around, and O'Neal had a surprising list. He likes to place smaller guys first and listed off names in this order: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.
