Shaquille O'Neal vs Tim Duncan: A Statistical Comparison

#2 Longevity and Success

Both the players were serviceable role players

Both players, as explained before, played for 19 seasons, and were at least serviceable role players right up until the end.

While Shaq's threepeating peak with the Lakers is right up there among the best peak performances by a player in the playoffs, Duncan's peak of leading the Spurs to four titles in nine seasons is an achievement on pretty much the same level - every Finals series from 1999 to 2007 involved one of these two big men.

But Duncan aged significantly better, continued to be an All-NBA level player on both sides of the court, even making several All-Defensive teams on the wrong side of 30.

Shaq was never a fully engaged defender, particularly in the regular season, so he suffers in his All-Defensive Teams count. He did win three All-Star Game MVPs, though.