Tim Duncan: Greatest power forward in NBA history?

What makes a player the greatest?

Championship rings? Personal accolades? Longevity? All of the above?

In the wake of the retirement of Tim Duncan — widely considered to be the greatest power forward in NBA history — we compare the position's top players of all time.

1. Tim Duncan

Few NBA players have had a career as successful as Duncan. Not only is he both the most decorated and most highly-skilled power forward to ever play the game, he makes a strong case for a spot on the big man Mount Rushmore, too. A true champion in every sense of the word, the game won't be the same without him.

• Championships: Five (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
• MVPs: Two (2001-02, 2002-03)
• All-Star selections: 15
• All-NBA selections: 15
• All-Defensive selections: 15
• Career stats: Points: 19.0, rebounds: 10.8, assists: 3.0, blocks: 2.2, field goal percentage: 50.6%, win shares: 206.4
• Longevity: 19 seasons (1997-16), 1,643 total games played

2. Karl Malone

The poster child for consistency, The Mailman delivered on a nightly basis for two decades. His lack of championships will forever be a blemish on his career, but Malone was a talent for the ages nonetheless.

• Championships: None
• MVPs: Two (1996-97, 1998-99)
• All-Star selections: 14
• All-NBA selections: 14
• All-Defensive selections: Four
• Career stats: Points: 25.0, rebounds: 10.1, assists: 3.6, blocks: 0.8, field goal percentage: 51.6%, win shares: 234.6
• Longevity: 19 seasons (1985-04), 1,669 total games played

3. Dirk Nowitzki

The greatest European player in NBA history, Nowitzki revolutionized the game with his silky smooth fadeaway jumper and elite offensive skill set.

• Championships: One (2011)
• MVPs: One (2006-07)
• All-Star selections: 13
• All-NBA selections: 12
• All-Defensive selections: None
• Career stats: Points: 22.0, rebounds: 7.9, assists: 2.5, blocks: 0.9, field goal percentage: 47.4%, win shares: 198.8
• Longevity: 18 seasons (1998-present), 1,485 total games played

4. Kevin Garnett

As competitive as they come, Garnett has his spot secured in the upper echelon of big men, and the fact that he might return for his 22nd season doesn't even begin to tell the whole story.

• Championships: One (2008)
• MVPs: One (2003-04)
• All-Star selections: 15
• All-NBA selections: Nine
• All-Defensive selections: 12
• Career stats: Points: 17.8, rebounds: 10.0, assists: 3.7, blocks: 1.4, field goal percentage: 49.7%, win shares: 191.4
• Longevity: 21 seasons (1995-present), 1,605 total games played

5. Charles Barkley

Barkley may have been a power forward on the depth chart, but he was as positionless as they come, and he played his role to perfection as one of the best pound-for-pound rebounders in NBA history.

• Championships: Zero
• MVPs: One (1992-93)
• All-Star selections: 11
• All-NBA selections: 11
• All-Defensive selections: Zero
• Career stats: Points: 22.1, rebounds: 11.7, assists: 3.9, blocks: 0.8, field goal percentage: 54.1%, win shares: 177.2
• Longevity: 16 seasons (1984-00), 1,196 total games played

6. Bob Pettit

Pettit scored and rebounded with the best of them, as can be seen by his career 26 and 16 averages. The first MVP-winner in league history (and the first to win the award multiple times), Pettit's spot on the big man totem pole would be higher had he not retired after just 11 seasons.

• Championships: One (1958)
• MVPs: Two (1955-56, 1958-59)
• All-Star selections: 11
• All-NBA selections: 11
• All-Defensive selections: None
• Career stats: Points: 26.4, rebounds: 16.2, assists: 3.0, blocks: N/A, field goal percentage: 43.6%
• Longevity: 11 seasons (1954-65), 880 total games played

7. Elvin Hayes

As durable as they come, Hayes missed just nine games over the course of his 16-year career, a monumental feat in itself without taking his 21-point, 13-rebound averages into account.

• Championships: One (1978)
• MVPs: Zero
• All-Star selections: 12
• All-NBA selections: Six
• All-Defensive selections: Two
• Career stats: Points: 21.0, rebounds: 12.5, assists: 1.8, blocks: 2.0, field goal percentage: 45.2%, win shares: 120.8
• Longevity: 16 seasons (1968-84), 1,399 total games played

8. Kevin McHale

Don't let the fact that he came off the bench in 400 of 971 regular season games fool you: McHale was one of the best to ever do it. With a handful of go-to post moves and a freakishly long wingspan, there's a reason the Big Three in Boston made five Finals appearances in seven seasons.

• Championships: Three (1981, 1984, 1986)
• MVPs: Zero
• All-Star selections: Seven
• All-NBA selections: One
• All-Defensive selections: Six
• Career stats: Points: 17.9, rebounds: 7.3, assists: 1.7, blocks: 1.7, field goal percentage: 55.4%, win shares: 113.0
• Longevity: 13 seasons (1980-93), 1,140 total games played

(Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com)

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