Tier 1) GOAT
1) Tim Duncan
Unsurprisingly, Tim Duncan is alone in his own tier with him considered to be the greatest power forward ever. Ironically, Duncan played center over the final fourteen seasons of his career after David Robinson retired, though he is still credited as a four by many.
Through the first ten seasons of his career, Duncan was among the best players in the NBA and arguably the best player in the league for a couple of those seasons, including 2002-03. Duncan dragged a mediocre Spurs roster that featured a 39-year-old Robinson and two other Hall of Famers in Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili before they were stars to the NBA Finals.
That included going toe to toe against the Shaq and Kobe Lakers, who were going for their fourth straight championship. The series didn't play out as many expected with Duncan dominating the Lakers.
He averaged a terrific 28.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists even as his team averaged fewer than 100 points per game. In fact, he dropped 37 points and 16 rebounds in the series-clinching game, leading the Spurs to a blowout win in L.A.
Playoff performances like that and what he did to the New Jersey Nets in the 2003 NBA Finals, posting 24.2 points, 17.0 rebounds, 5.3 blocks, and 5.3 assists per game, are why he's considered the GOAT. Five championships speak for themselves but he is one of the most decorated players in league history and deserving of his place here.