Two days after the legendary power forward quietly rode off into the sunset, Duncan released a touching letter posted on the Spurs’ team website regarding his decision to finally close the book on his Hall of Fame career. Tim Duncan will be remembered for a very long time. A two-time league MVP, he was named an All-Star 15 times. Present team presidents and advertising folks will whisper about it but never put their names on the record, and this is the enormous value of National Basketball Association players.
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Duncan’s final game was a 113-99 loss to the Thunder in game six of the Western Conference semi-finals on May 12. His only retirement interview was in his home with one of his best friends.
One of the Spurs’ biggest challenges heading into the 2016-17 season will be to find a leader who can fill some of the void left by Duncan’s retirement.
Duncan sits easily among the game’s best players of all time. “He was always looking to improve his game”.
“It’s not Tim Duncan to bring any attention to himself”, Popovich said.
“I can honestly tell you”, he said, his voice breaking, “my dinner would be with Timmy”. Duncan contributed to more than 1,000 victories. He is fifth on the NBA’s career list in blocks, sixth in rebounds and 14th in scoring. He started 60 of the 61 games he played in and averaged a career-low 25 minutes.
“He’s been the best teammate anyone could ever imagine”. And when the game was over, Duncan waved to the visiting crowd and pointed a finger toward the roof as he headed to the locker room. It was a poignant scene that will be etched in the memories of Spurs fans for years to come.
I moved to San Antonio in 2003, when I was two years old, and the first connection I made in this city was with the Spurs. Duncan was able to take the team through five championships. One year later, they won their first championship together. Duncan’s presence will be missed on the defensive end this upcoming season and every season after that.
He was drafted No. 1 overall in 1997 and played 19 seasons for the same organization.
Given Duncan’s love for basketball, Popovich was asked if he thought he would consider coaching.
San Antonio and the Spurs have a special connection. Tim Duncan was all about the game – right up until his exit from it forever. You won, and won, and won- all with the Spurs, all while remaining humble.
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Duncan is scheduled to be a guest on ViVid Streaming radio, an online media outlet with studios in the United States and British Virgin Islands that generally caters to a Caribbean audience. Fans would’ve loved one more year with LaMarcus Aldridge, and to see him play with Pau Gasol. So he’s been a consistent guy for me to look up to.
