Tim Duncan never won a scoring title. He had one year over 23ppg (25.5) where he was 5th in PPG but second in points playing all 82 games. He won two MVPs.
It's not just Simons were seeing guys like Clarkson sign for the vet minimum. Cam Thomas has very little interest. Hell - the Jazz had to give up a pick to send out Sexton and only get a washed up NURKIC back. CJ, Beal, Poole, etc - the story is similar with all of them. Scoring guards with bad defense have little value in today's NBA with today's salary cap restrictions. There used to be a dozen teams that would salivate over any player that could score close to 20ppg. Teams smartly don't prioritize that any longer.
I think you're thinking of Giannis winning DPOY and MVP in the same year or how David Robinson won the scoring title AND DPOY and MVP, but not in the same year. Jordan is, iirc, the only player who won the scoring title, MVP and DPOY in the same season.
I doubt some press conference that only a few hardcore fans would pay attention to is a sign of respect...or disrespect pretty clearly, Boston has been trying to dump Simons since the NBA approved the Simons for Jrue trade. The Celtics would love to move Simons for a smaller expiring contract. They are still 4M over the 1st apron and 12M over the tax line. Having some phony press conference introducing a player when the entire league knows they are working hard to dump said player may be more disrespectful than what they are actually doing
Point being, it can be done. And two of the three who did it play the same position as Simons. Just sayin.
For the record, my player listings were not to say one can be the best on both ends of the court, though it is possible, it was the mention that offensive players don't play hard on defense. There are plenty more who play hard on defense who are scorers as well. The notion that because a player is good on offense he should have to or doesnt need to play hard on defense is nonsense to me. If a player wants to be great, get better, improve, no matter how good they are on offense, they need to play hard on defense as well.
David did not win the scoring title and DPOY in the same year. He was MVP in 94-95, DPOY in 91-92 and won the scoring title in 93-94. Pretty damn good stretch of ball.
Effort is effort regardless of results. Context of the post I responded to matters… Be better….or just be gone….
I am also glad we're done with the 'but ant is better overall than <player X>' discourse. cool! that is probably true! but that doesnt change what ant is as a player, and what he won't become as a player. also opportunity cost is a thing. that discourse was 'exhausting.'
