Duncan, a three-time NBA Finals MVP and a two-time regular season MVP, is widely regarded as one of the best power forwards ever to play the game. 40 year old Tim Duncan retires after his 2 decades of excellence with 5 achievements to talk about. They won five championships with one another. In Duncan’s career he has accomplished many feats including becoming the 2001- 2002 and 2002- 2003 NBA MVP.
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The usually gruff Popovich got emotional during his Tuesday news conference bidding farewell to Duncan, the man who helped him win five National Basketball Association championships in 19 National Basketball Association seasons.
This is probably why when Duncan announced his retirement, Popovich got a bit emotional.
During his 19 years of service with San Antonio, he never had problems with his teammates, the team or the coaching staff. Duncan and Popovich have the most wins by a player-coach duo in National Basketball Association history (1,001).
For almost two decades, Duncan became synonymous with winning and helped the Spurs form one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. “I’m certainly going to hit with everything I have to keep him around here as long as I possibly can because he means that much to everyone in the organization”.
“I would not be here if it wasn’t for Tim Duncan.he’s made livings for hundreds of us”, Popovich told media members during an informal press conference Tuesday afternoon at the team’s practice center. And I can honestly tell you [chokes up], my dinner would be with Tim Duncan, because he is the most real, consistent, true person I have ever met in my life. He is a 15-time All-Star and has been a member of the All-Defensive First or Second team 15 times.
Ginobili wrote on Twitter: “Even tho I knew it was coming, I’m still moved by the news”.
‘A lot of people are going to try to say oh he’s the best power forward of all time.
Popovich says Duncan is “irreplaceable” and “it’s really hard to imagine” the Spurs playing without the five-time National Basketball Association champion.
“He’s irreplaceable. It can’t happen”, Popovich said. In fact, San Antonio went on to the playoffs every year for the next 19 seasons while Popovich coached and Duncan played.
To think of a season without Duncan, Popovich said, is mindboggling.
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And when asked if there’s a specific game of Duncan’s that sticks out, Popovich recalled a Summer League game when Duncan got blocked by Greg Ostertag.
