San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan, arguably the greatest power forward ever to play professional basketball, has retired. He was named US college basketball’s top defensive player three times and Player of the Year in his final season before entering the 1997 NBA Draft.
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Duncan, a 1998 Rookie of the Year and twice named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), finishes his career as the Spurs’ leader in total points, rebounds, blocked shots, minutes and games played. He also made the NBA All-Defensive First Team eight times.
“Tim Duncan is one of the most dominant players in National Basketball Association history”.
The Detroit Pistons have reportedly found a third center as the San Antonio Spurs did not match Detroit’s offer for restricted free agent Boban Marjanovic.
Duncan, who turned 40 in April, was the No. 1 overall pick out of Wake Forest in 1997. Thanks 4 everything you did for the game!
“The constant staple of their franchise”, Cleveland’s LeBron James said earlier this year.
Duncan, teaming with head coach Gregg Popovich and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, was the backbone for the franchise’s championship run.
“Even tho I knew it was coming, I’m still moved by the news”. He announced early in the season that it would be his last, allowing him a long and lengthy goodbye. “One team. #ThankYouTD“, the Spurs tweeted on Monday.
Many fans on Twitter followed suit, sharing more of Duncan’s many impressive career statistics.
A five-time NBA champion, three-time Finals MVP and two-time NBA MVP, Tim Duncan is retiring with an endless list of achievements, awards, and plenty of high ranking statistical milestones, blending in with the best of the best in NBA history.
Bryant proved a basketball player could not only be one of the brightest stars in Hollywood, but also Europe, Asia, or anywhere else his games were seen around the globe.
Shaquille O’Neal told ESPN: “Greatest power forward of all time”. Unbreakable power forward. No ‘bow could break him. “Nothing could break him”.
Duncan’s final game was a 113-99 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals on May 12. He ranks 14th all-time in points (26,496), sixth in rebounds (15,091) and fifth in blocks (3,020).
The unassuming Duncan won two MVP awards and was one of just four players to be named NBA Finals MVP at least three times.
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Popovich will discuss Duncan’s decision to retire at a news conference Tuesday. “Everybody does it differently”. The Silver and Black won at least 50 games the last 17 seasons, the longest streak in league history, and posted at least a.600 winning percentage in each of Duncan’s 19 seasons, an all-time record for most consecutive seasons with a.600 win percentage in the four major USA sports. But Tim is the main guy obviously.
