NBA All Star Tim Duncan announced today [Monday, July 11] that he is retiring after 19 seasons, all with the Spurs. Duncan, who just turned 40 in April, has built a Hall of Fame Legacy winning five NBA titles, three NBA MVP awards and 15 All-Star appearances.
A graduate of Wake Forest University, Duncan was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1997, when the Spurs had an unusual down season mainly due to the injury of center David Robinson. Following that season, he received recognition for Rookie of the Year. He led the Spurs to championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, and most recently in 2014 against the Miami Heat in Lebron James’ last season. Named the Finals’ MVP in 1999, 2003, and 2005, the 6’11 phenom has earned his spot in the Hall of Fame.
Duncan’s last game was May 12: Game 6 in the Western Conference Semifinals against Oklahoma City Thunder. Although defeated, Duncan ended the game with 19 points, five rebounds and a block. San Antonio posted a win percentage of at least .600 in 19 straight seasons with Duncan, the longest run in NBA history.
Duncan finishes his career with an average of 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 blocks per game. He ranks 14th all time in points (26,496), sixth in rebounds (15,091) and fifth in blocks (3,020). He has made the NBA All-Defensive First Team eight times and third in NBA history to win 1,000 career regular- season games.
Very low-key and unassuming, Duncan’s personality kept him out of the spotlight but his focus on winning deems his one of the greatest. “The Big Fundamental” will be missed.
