Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA, Tim Duncan, CC BY-SA 2.0
Note: Updated for Tim Duncan’s 2020 Hall of Fame selection.
Over time, the role of the NBA power forward has evolved from a big, bruising player who, together with the center, does most of his work close to the rim (think Bob Pettit) into a more agile, versatile player who can play all over the court (e.g. Kevin Love). However, even as the profile of the power forward has changed over time, any discussion of the greatest power forwards in league history continues to revolve among a few names, including Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz. Both were multiple-time MVP winners and consistent First Team All-NBA performers – in comparing their careers side-by-side, the question is:
Who was better – Tim Duncan or Karl Malone?
