NBA Playoffs 2012: Tim Duncan and the 10 Other Best Big Men of All Time

Tim Duncan has been one of the greatest big men in the game since the start of his career, with his achievements and skills allowing him to be a future Hall of Famer.

His dominant efforts from everywhere on the floor helped set him apart from others in his time and in league history.

However, while few have reached Duncan's level, there are a few whose careers are certainly in the same category as that of the Big Fundamental.

Each of them possessed certain talents that helped to set them apart from others in their generation, allowing them to be some of the best players in NBA history.

Here are a few of the best big men to ever play in the NBA.

Charles Barkley

Despite standing at a mere height of 6'6'', Charles Barkley established himself as one of the greatest big men of all time. 

Nicknamed "The Round Mound of Rebound" for his outstanding rebounding abilities, Barkley was able to use toughness and strength to make up for his lack of height.

Over the course of his career, Barkley won an MVP award, appeared in 11 all-star games and was elected onto the All-NBA First and Second Teams each twice. His number was retired by both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns.

His induction into the Hall of Fame capped off a career full of achievements, with the only one missing being a ring.

These achievements, as well as his in-game performances, have given Barkley the honor of being one of the best big men of all time.

Karl Malone

Like Barkley, Malone never won a championship. However, he too achieved many honors throughout his career.

He won the Most Valuable Player award twice and appeared in 14 all-star games. He also found his way onto 11 All-NBA First Teams and a pair of All-NBA Second Teams.

The Hall of Fame power forward was one of the best big men of his era, and would have probably won a championship had it not been for Michael Jordan.

Malone will go down as one of the greatest players to play the game, and more specifically, one of the greatest big men of all time.

David Robinson

David Robinson was selected first overall in 1987, marking the beginning of an outstanding career. Robinson was an absolute beast in every aspect, with a wide range of talents consisting of scoring, rebounding and defense.

His athleticism and talent turned him into one of the greatest centers to ever play the game. They also helped him earn a string of achievements that any NBA player would love to have.

He was an MVP as well as a Defensive Player of the Year. He was selected to be on multiple All-NBA teams and All-NBA Defensive teams. His 11 all-star appearances also helped define him as one of the best big men in history.

He also helped his San Antonio team win two championships, and with the help of Tim Duncan, started one of the most renowned dynasties in all of sports.

Kevin Garnett

Garnett is one of the few players in this league who is a sure-lock for the Hall of Fame.

Despite only winning one championship, Garnett was one of the most dominant players of his era, along with Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan.

He was an MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year and a member of numerous all-star teams, All-NBA teams and All-Defensive teams.

He was as dominant as a big man could be, and even in his final few years, has continued to be a top talent in the league.

He is a top three forward of all time, behind Tim Duncan and Karl Malone. When he retires, his legacy will go down as one of the best ever, especially compared to all of the other forwards and centers in NBA history.

Wilt Chamberlain

Chamberlain is one of the most recognizable names in NBA history, largely due to his historic 100-point game. However, that is just one of the many things that made Chamberlain such a terrific player.

His legacy lacks very little, as his stats and championships define him as one of the best, if not the best, big men of all time.

His 50-25 season broke records, as did his famous 100-point game. He was a four-time MVP as well as a Finals MVP. He was the rebounding champion 11 times and a seven-time scoring champion.

He was elected onto an all-star team 13 times, and was a proud member of the All-NBA First Team seven times. To go along with his individual achievements, the Hall of Famer has two titles to his name. 

Moses Malone

Moses Malone's illustrious career can be summed up by two words: double-double.

The man found himself with multi-digit rebounds and points frequently, as his rebounding and scoring ability allowed him to be one of the best big men to ever step foot onto the hardwood.

As one of the greatest rebounders of all time, no big men of his era could control the paint nearly as well as he did. 

He was an MVP three times and an all-star 13 times (counting his ABA all-star appearance). He also appeared on multiple All-NBA teams, along with a pair of All-Defensive teams.

He led his team to a title in 1983, in a playoff run that Malone predicted to be "Fo' fo' fo'." He wasn't far off as they only dropped one game in total, as they finished off their run in a finals series in which Malone earned the MVP award.

These achievements, along with his Hall-of-Fame induction, earn him a spot on this list.

Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most dominant players of this past decade. With unmatched size and strength, nobody could take the paint away from "Diesel" because he was merely too powerful down low.

With a variety of partners throughout his lengthy career, the highlights were in his Laker days. He won three championships together and three Finals MVP.

After switching settings, Shaq won another championship with Miami behind Dwyane Wade.

He was elected to the all-star team 15 times in his career.

He also was elected to eight All-NBA First Teams, a pair of Second Teams and four Third Teams. He managed to win the scoring title twice as well.

As a future member of the Hall of Fame, few players deserve to be on this list more than Shaquille O'Neal, whose strength and size allowed him to the most powerful players in recent history.

Hakeem Olajuwon

Hakeem "The Dream" is one of the most recognizable players in NBA history. Known for his signature dream shake, Olajuwon's collection of inside moves allowed him to dominate opponents every game.

He was an offensive powerhouse and a defensive juggernaut, which led him to 12 total All-NBA teams as well as nine All-Defensive teams.

He was also an MVP, a 12-time all-star and a member of the basketball Hall of Fame.

Olajuwon led his team to a pair of back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995, each year winning the Finals MVP award too.

With a variety of skills and moves, Olajuwon is widely considered as one of the best centers in NBA history. 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is arguably the greatest center in NBA history. With a versatile set of moves, he could dominate opponents on either side of the court.

His long body allowed him to be a defensive force, which ultimately won him 11 All-Defensive Team honors in total.

On offense, Abdul-Jabbar could destroy opponents. With his signature "sky hook," he was one of the most unstoppable players of all time, and currently holds the record for total points scored in a career.

He was a 19-time all-star, a record to this day, and also has 10 First Team honors and five Second Teams.

He also was a six-time MVP and a six-time champion.

Few players have more to show for their careers than Abdul-Jabbar.

Bill Russell

Bill Russell's multiple championship rings would earn him a spot on this list alone.

With 11 titles to his name, Russell has won more championships than any other player in history. However, his career achievements are not limited to just his titles.

Russell was a five-time MVP, as well a 12-time all-star. He also won five rebounding titles to go along with his All-NBA team selections.

He was selected into the Hall of Fame and his number was retired by the Boston Celtics. To honor his talent, the NBA named the NBA Finals MVP trophy after Russell in 2009.

He is arguably the best center of all time, and his championship record may never be broken.

Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan's career is akin to the best of all time, yet he has been one of the most underappreciated stars since joining the Spurs.

Duncan led San Antonio to four titles, and is currently working to make it five. Three of those times, he won the Finals MVP to complement his pair of regular season MVP awards.

He also has 13 appeared in 13 all-star games, and he is the only player in NBA history to be selected to both All-NBA and All-Defensive teams during each of his first 13 seasons in the league.

He is currently looking to add one more piece of hardware to that collection, as he is helping lead the Spurs' attack throughout the playoffs.

He is the total package as a player with the perfect combination of scoring, rebounding, passing and defense. These skills eventually allowed him to be one of the greatest players in NBA history.