Shaq says Malone is the best power forward ever, or Barkley, maybe Duncan
After he won his second consecutive MVP, people started talking about where San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan stood in the pantheon of greatest 
power forwards ever. Then a lot of people started calling him the greatest power forward ever after he won his third NBA title and third Finals MVP trophy in 2005 by taking down then Detroit Pistons' Ben and Rasheed Wallace at the peak of their defensive powers. By the time he won his fourth NBA title in 2007 he was almost universally called the best four man ever.
But if you go by this interview Shaquille O'Neal did with GQ's Mark Anthony Green, TD may or may not be in that universe.
"GQ: Greatest power forward?
Shaq: Either Barkley or Karl Malone. Or even Tim Duncan. It's a mix-up, I'm not sure."
I thought about this for several minutes after reading it. Knowing the Shaq has praised Duncan numerous times in the past, I don't think he said this as a slight to Timmy. I think he's being respectful to the guys that were the best in the game (Malone and Barkley) when he entered the league. These are also guys he's played with (Malone) or currently work with (Barkley).
Between the rings, MVPs and Finals MVPs and all around skill Duncan played with, it's hard for me to say anyone is a better than him. I'm also biased.
What do you have to say Spurs fans? Do you agree with Shaq or is TD the best power forward ever?
On their prime I'd say Barkley w/o a doubt. That guy is just unstoppable as Bird would say, and an intense player / leader.
"What do you have to say Spurs fans? Do you agree with Shaq or is TD the best power forward ever?"
lmao... what do you think our answer is going to be
Tim Duncan is the best player in both ends of the court
If you talk about offensive game ... maybe you can say karl malone, but lets not forget that John Stockton was part of that ... Timmy never played with a john stockton .. he plays with a tony parker (sometimes selfish)
If you talk about defense .. Timmy is the answer for sure ....
@DartagnanNarvaez Actually let's forget about KG just like everyone did in real life after the 08' season.
Tim Duncan is 36 years old and is averaging 15ppg and 9rpg,quite remarkable when you consider his playing 28 min. a game.Younger power forwards dont do that good,only the elite.Those stats aint bad for anyone on any team.
Tim duncan, and it's not even about numbers it's about impact in the game and playing both ends of the floor which duncan did better than malone and chuckles put together, he dominated defensively and broke records in playoff games with defense, I think he broke patrick ewings record for total blocks in a the playoffs or finals in 2003. I know I said it wasn't about the numbers, but what the hell, I'll just throw that one out there for shaqs ignorance! By the way shaq sounds stupid every time he opens his mouth on tnt, I almost don't want to watch the show anymore because hes on it.
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Lol all you have to do is count the rings to understand this argument (4-0-0). Malone had probably the best PG of all-time feeding him the ball off of the pick and roll. Imagine the success Duncan would have had if Nash was regularly feeding him some of those amazing passes? Barkley was great, but an under-sized, over-achiever who never had talent himself, nor the talent around him to be labeled as GOAT PF.
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@JMattHicks Sorry. Didn't mean to reply to you on that. This story (and ensuing debate) was also on another website. Stepped away and got my tabs mixed up.
@JMattHicks You forgot 4 - 0. As in rings.
Also, Malone played with who is probably the all time best "pure" PG in Stockton. Duncan never had such a luxury. Duncan without hesitation.
