12 reasons Tim Duncan can be considered as the greatest basketball player of all time

6) Tim Duncan vs Shaquille O'Neal

Duncan held his own and then some against Shaq

When we think of the most dominant players of all time, Shaq's name gets inevitably announced early in the conversation. He dominated the league like few others on offence. But he did meet his foil in Tim Duncan.

The two Goliaths faced off 32 times in the regular season, with Duncan winning 18-14. Duncan averaged 22 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 blocks per game to Shaq's 21.7 points, 10.6 boards, 1.7 assists and 2.7 blocks per game.

In his book Shaq Uncut, the big fella said, "The Spurs won because of Tim Duncan, a guy I could never break. I could talk trash to Patrick Ewing, get in David Robinson’s face, get a rise out of Alonzo Mourning, but when I went at Tim he’d look at me like he was bored and then say, “Hey, Shaq, watch this shot right here off the glass.”

They are tied in playoffs with a 15-15 head to head record, but Duncan outplayed Shaq again. He averaged 25.6 points with 13 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.4 blocks against Shaq's 22.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.8 blocks.

Advantage: Duncan.