
I don't think you want to bring up the matchups with the Lakers if your trying to defend Duncan. Kobe in particular has owned Duncan in their head to heads. In 08, he sent Duncan packing in 5 games with an inferior supporting cast (Gasol, Odom, and then no one......remember Bynum was out).
99 was a strike shortened year and Kobe wasn't Kobe yet, so it doesn't count. Only year Duncan legitimately beat Kobe/Shaq was 03 and that was after Kobe and Shaq already won 3 titles. They were going for 4 straight which had never happened since the 60s Celtics. Their 3rd best player was Derek Fisher. They were due for a fall-off. And even with all that they still were a wide open Robert Horry 3 in game 5 from beating Duncan again.
I'm just giving you my opinion. You can disagree with it but you ain't changing it. I think Duncan is definitely better than KG (though not by much). Didn't see enough of Malone and Barkley to know if they were definitively better. I just think peak McGrady was better.