Statistically, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett have been very close in their careers. What put Duncan ahead was his and his team's success in the playoffs. Being the focal point of four NBA champions puts him in the company of Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan.
This season, though, Garnett finally removed the one empty line on his resume. He can be the leader of a championship team. That's something Charles Barkley and Karl Malone can't say.
In my system, Garnett didn't move up at all. But he did remove an argument people had to use against him.
Here are my updated top 20 power forwards in pro basketball history:
Rank, player, years, points
1. Tim Duncan, 1997-2008, 19447.7
2. Karl Malone, 1985-2004, 19351.0
3. Kevin Garnett, 1996-2008, 18657.3
4. Bob Pettit, 1954-1965, 18247.5
5. Dolph Schayes, 1949-1964, 17648.4
6. Elvin Hayes, 1968-1984, 17227.9
7. Charles Barkley, 1984-2000, 16982.8
8. Dirk Nowitzki, 1998-2008, 15901.5
9. George McGinnis, 1971-1982, 15498.5
10. Dan Issel, 1970-1985, 14288.3
11. Chris Webber, 1993-2008, 14233.0
12. Jerry Lucas 1963-1974, 13527
13. Kevin McHale, 1980-1993, 13369.5
14. Shawn Marion, 1999-2008, 13186.1
15. Spencer Haywood, 1969-1983, 12750.8
16. Dave DeBusschere, 1962-1974, 12645.4
17. Elton Brand, 1999-2008, 12608.5
18. Maurice Lucas, 1974-1988, 12517.8
19. Buck Williams, 1981-1998, 12456.6
20. Baily Howell, 1959-1971, 11775.9
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