The Spurs posted a 1,072-438 regular-season record since drafting Duncan – the best 19-year run in league history.
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And now, the tireless and reluctant superstar is finally calling it a career. With Duncan the Magic would have ascended as legit contenders sooner than 2009, and LeBron James may have won a championship in Cleveland in 2007 (San Antonio swept the Cavs in the NBA Finals that year) and not been compelleted to chase a championship in Miami a few years later.
Add in veteran guard Tony Parker and a deep bench, and the Spurs will still be unsafe in 2016-17. He is fifth on the NBA’s career list in blocks, sixth in rebounds and 14th in scoring.
Although Duncan did not point out exactly when he lost his motivation to play in the National Basketball Association, he might be referring to his last season in the league. But he leaves this game as one of the league’s true giants, perhaps the best power forward to ever play and one who left as indelible a mark on his franchise as any player to come before him. “It’s not a matter of who’s better or who’s greater”.
“I figured I better come out here and do this and somehow say goodbye to him”, Popovich said.
“I don’t really care where the rankings go”, he said.
Choking up at times and making wisecracks at others, Popovich bade a public farewell to Duncan’s playing career on Tuesday.
And like everything else Duncan did in his career – aside from win – he retired quietly, with a statement from the team. There will be no victory lap for Duncan, no farewell tour like the one Bryant had this season.
“I would not be standing here if it wasn’t for Tim Duncan”, Popovich said.
Duncan wasn’t present for the news conference. Duncan said he got a personal note from Kerr saying something along those lines.
There were hints in that game of Duncan’s plans, even though he exercised a contract option later to clear the way for his return.
I think I speak for the masses when I say this: Thank You, TD.
What made Tim Duncan truly special was his ability to adapt his game to the changing times and still perform at a Hall of Fame level.
And Duncan was truly one of a kind. It was Duncan. It was an incredible defensive play that helped saved Wake Forest from an untimely exit from the tournament.
Gasol’s two-year deal reportedly is worth $30 million. The 6-foot-5, 170-pound guard averaged 16.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.82 steals while starting all 34 games as a freshman last season.
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Here’s how long he was with the Spurs: He had 140 different teammates there. Bryant scored far more but also lost more, unable to match Duncan’s unbelievable consistency during 19 straight playoff seasons and an NBA-record 17 consecutive 50-win seasons.
