When conversations are brought up about who is the best power forward of all time, Tim Duncan is usually brought up in the conversation.
Throughout his nineteen years in the league, all spent with the San Antonio Spurs, Duncan has reached the NBA playoffs every season, won five championships, two MVP awards, named Rookie of the Year, and to top it off: a 15-time NBA All Star. Not many players, if any, have stats like that.
But, Duncan has never been an ordinary professional athlete.
Tim Duncan: No self-promotion. No tantrums. No feuds. No entourage. Nothing but class. And 5 rings. And 3 Finals MVP’s. Pure greatness.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) July 11, 2016
He’s been quiet, and has not been caught in too much trouble, even dating back from Wake Forest to his final game in the NBA.
Duncan: the Quiet One
To begin his career, Duncan, unlike many stand-outs of his time, didn’t come into the NBA draft right out of high school or even after his first year of college at Wake Forest University. He was not even considered a “big shot” his freshman year, either.
Rather, he was known around the university for something else: his book smarts. Duncan, committed to his education, is one of the few professional athletes that completed all four years of college and holds a bachelors degree in psychology.
Not only was Duncan a humbled player in college, but he never let the madness and fame of the NBA get the best of him.
Unlike many athletes, Duncan was a rare occurrence of being mentioned in the media in a negative light. Or in the media at all for that matter. For a team that has made it to the playoffs for the past 19 years in a row, one would assume that their players would always been in the spotlight. Well, not the Spurs.
Over the years Duncan had rarely been in the news for feuds, malicious or dirty play. But, he and the Spurs have had some memorable moments none-the-less.
The Twin Towers in San Antonio
All rookies look forward to getting on their first team and proving themselves. Well, Duncan was a first round draft pick for the Spurs after hitting a rough patch due to injures. So, Duncan was their second chance at making a big come back with two – very big players.
Duncan, drafted in 1997, joined veteran David Robinson, who had just come off an injury filled season and was ready to return with some dominance. With Duncan now by his side the two were known around the league as the Twin Towers.
The veteran and rookie combination were a force to be watched immediately. After just two years in the league Duncan had won his first championship. And the Twin Towers won two championships together before Robinson retired in 2004.
Over the first couple years in the league being a Twin Tower, he averaged between 21.1-22.3 points per game, along with a consistent 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. He was one of one of the top in the league.
The MVP and the Big Three
Coming into the league Duncan was obviously looked at as one of the most forceful big men that would have a dominating career. But no one knew just how successful he would be.
After four years in the league Duncan was joined by what has gone down in history as one of the top “Big Three.” In 2001 the Spurs drafted point guard Tony Parker, and the following year Emmanuel (Manu) Ginobili.
The 2002-2003 season, the first with the Big Three was one that will never be forgotten, the Spurs won 60 games in their regular season.Duncan received his second NBA MVP award, and to top it off they got won yet another NBA championship for the franchise.
It is hard for any combination to stop a big man in his prime like Duncan, a lefty play maker like Ginobili, and a quick step like Parker. Most people would agree so.
During his second stint for the MVP award, Duncan had his best regular season and post season to date. Averaging 23.3 points, 12.9 blocks, and 3.1 assists during the regular season, then upping his stats even more during the post season, averaging 24.7 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. Pure MVP play.
Over the years of the Big Three, Duncan won 3 more MVP awards and 3 NBA championships. Accompanied by Tony Parker who won NBA Finals MVP in the 2006-2007 season and Ginobili being within the top ten of assists and steals consistently.
The Final Curtain Call:
This season, many saw it coming – Duncan’s final year.
“I could probably still play. But it’s time.”
– Tim Duncan
But, to no surprise, even after the journey he has had, he was not going out in the spotlight, trying to sell out crowds for his last bit of fame, or even hint at retiring to get more attention throughout the season.
Rather, Duncan and the everlasting Big Three, had their best regular season together yet.
The Spurs ended the season with the best home-game record in history, only losing one game to the Golden State Warriors by just six points. And finishing with an overall record of 67-15, second best in the league only six games behind the number one seed.
Not many expected such a outstanding season from a team led by three veterans.
Unfortunately, the Spurs were outshined in the media by Kobe Bryant’s last hurrah, and the Warriors breaking their own records. But, to the Spurs delight, out of the limelight, they were consistently a team opponents had to prepare harder for. And would always creep their way to the top.
Breaking records in silence though, is the perfect way for the Spurs to say their goodbyes to Duncan. Let him play his final season out of the spotlight, but still allowing them to dominate into the post season.
With Duncan’s departure there was no better way for him to go then to write a letter thanking everyone who took the journey with him.
“Thank you to the city of San Antonio for the love and the support over the years. Thank you to the fans all over the world. Much Love Always” – Tim Duncan
For his nineteen years of high class play, Duncan showed fans, the league, and upcoming generations exactly what an MVP and professional athlete should look like.
Thanks for the memories, Tim Duncan, and good luck in the near future.
