Tim Duncan or Kobe Bryant, who ya got?
It’s a common question, one that has gained meaning as both Bryant and Duncan approach the tail end of their careers. It’s also a question that was taken to Robert Horry, who won multiple championships with both the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, alongside Bryant and Duncan. And his answer, per Melissa Rohlin of the San Antonio Express-News, was telling:
I asked Horry who he'd rather have on team, Kobe or Duncan. His response: “Am I trying to win a championship or am I trying to fill seats?”
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) March 16, 2016
This clearly implies that Horry favors Duncan, even though he won more titles with Kobe. And it’s the right answer. Because while we talk about this legacy debate, it’s not an actual debate. The Spurs have been better than Kobe’s Lakers through and through. And they’ve been better for longer, in large part because Duncan’s game has aged so well and he’s proved willing to accept pay cuts so that San Antonio could chase more talent.
To be clear, Bryant shouldn’t be lambasted for not accepting pay cuts. Earning as much as he can is his right, and no one is asking billionaire owners to take less money or pay inordinate amounts of luxury taxes to field a certain caliber of team. Duncan’s personality and game just mesh better with a winning model. He was the guy, but didn’t need to be the guy. He didn’t clash with his closest teammates like Bryant did with Shaquille O’Neal.
Kobe has also always had an iffy relationship with stats. With all the information available now, there’s a chance his heydey reign wouldn’t be viewed as favorably as it initially was. He didn’t even lead the Lakers in playoff win shares during those championship years. It was Pau Gasol or Shaq.
Horry presented similar sentiments when asked about Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich:
Horry said he'd pick Pop over Phil Jackson: "He treats everybody the same on the team, whether you’re a starter or the 12th man."
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) March 16, 2016
This once again makes sense. Popovich has shown he can adapt his system to meet the strengths of his players, where Jackson never needed to do as much as a coach. He is presented with that challenge now in New York, and he’s ostensibly choosing to will the triangle upon his players, even though the Knicks aren’t fit to play such a style—even when such a style isn’t a viable full-time crux in today’s league.
Kobe or Duncan?
Pop or Phil?
These are actual questions. But, following an uptick in meaning, they’re already starting to lose weight, mostly because the answers are now so blindingly obvious.
