TUESDAY, 11:42am: According to ESPN’s Marc Stein (via Twitter), the Spurs have officially waived Duncan for salary-cap purposes. The veteran big man had been on the team’s books for $6,393,750 this year, so assuming San Antonio stretched his salary, that figure will now be $2,131,250 annually over the next three seasons.
MONDAY, 9:16am: For many basketball fans around the world, it is extremely difficult to imagine the NBA without Tim Duncan a part of it. But that’s the reality we face with the surefire Hall-of-Famer officially announcing his retirement today via the team’s website. This marks the conclusion of one of the most impressive professional careers the league has seen.
Since drafting Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, San Antonio won five championships and posted a 1,072-438 regular season record, good for a .710 winning percentage, which is the best 19-year stretch in NBA history and was the best in all of the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB over that span.
Duncan totaled 15 All-NBA Team selections, which is tied for most all-time, and 15 NBA All-Defensive Team honors, the most all-time, earning both honors in the same season 15 times, the most in league history. The 1998 Rookie of the Year was named NBA MVP twice (2002, 2003) and NBA Finals MVP three times (1999, 2003 and 2005), per the team’s release.
The 40-year-old had opted in for 2016/17, but was reportedly on the fence about continuing his career. Duncan saw his production decline this past season, as he averaged a career-low 8.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 blocks in 25.2 minutes per contest over 61 regular-season appearances. He also shot just 48.8% from the floor, his lowest mark in 10 years. Duncan finishes his career with marks of 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 blocks per contest. He owns a career shooting line of .506/.179/.696.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sad day for the NBA
He’s a legend and was the best player for this generation, not Kobe. Kobe was flashier but Duncan was the best. Thank you TD!
At least he didn’t destroy his franchise unlike Kobe.
NBA destroyed the Lakers when they killed the Paul trade. Not Kobe
Rest easy up there big fella
Tim Duncan was one of the most professional pro-athletes that I have ever had the pleasure of watching, which is sadly ironic. All “pro” players should strive to be more like him. I’m not a spurs fan but it’s rather difficult to not enjoy their style of play. The NBA is losing an all time great, good luck to him in his future endeavors.
Goat @ PF
I like to think of Tim Duncan as the Derek Jeter of the NBA. Although honestly I think Duncan achieved much more.
He did. But was just so low-key about it. Not flashy at all. Plus being in San Antonio you don’t receive the attention of a New York Yankees shortstop.
How was Jeter flashy?
If ever there was a player – in any sport – that deserved to walk off the court/field directly into the Hall of Fame, it’s Tim Duncan. bdubs521 said all that needed to be said: TD is the greatest Power Forward in the history of this sport. It has been an absolute honor and privilege to watch him play all these years.
Find it funny how people just HAVE TO bring up Kobe. Let Duncan enjoy this moment. Leave the debate for a later time.
I’ll bring up Kobe but not to compare or anything like that from 1999-2010 Kobe and TD helped lead their teams to the finals 11 out of 12 seasons. Now they didn’t win every time, but to do that is outstanding, Jordan’s bulls get a lot of credit and stuff, but imo Kobes Lakers and TDs Spurs are two of the greatest dynasties of all time in any sport. TD was and will be the greatest spur and PF of all time, class act played the game how it should’ve been played. It’s gonna be weird turning on a game and not seeing them on the court after seeing them for the past 19/20 years. TD congrats on a fantastic career
an all time great player but an even better role model
I have a ton of respect for Duncan. A true HOF and a great rep of the game. Now whether or not he’s the best PF is another discussion (I think Karl Malone is but the lack of titles makes him go under appreciated). Regardless of whether he’s #1, #2, etc he’s been a great player to watch and a shining example for kids on how to play the game and how to carry yourself off the floor too.
While I can agree with the argument of Duncan and Malone being top two PF all time, Duncan definetly takes the cake. Agreed that Malone goes underappreciated since he never won a ring (and happened to play in the MJ era) he also played with arguably the best pure point guard to ever play in John Stockton. While Duncan was able to play with David Robinson (although in Robinson’s later years), I wouldn’t exactly say that he played with another player who was top 5 at their position until Kawhi and that was in Duncan’s twilight years.
Parker in his prime was a top 5 point guard.
Such an honour and joy to witness this man’s performance and constancy throughout these last couple of decades. I really started following the league the season before he was drafted and upon reflection I’m astounded and thankful that we never had any drama, any ostentatious declarations of who is best, who said what, or ‘how many championships’.
He just went to work day in, day out, sacrificed for the team and helped to found a brand of basketball that most faithfully represented the idea of basketball as a team sport.
Timmy, thank you!
Best PF to ever play the game. Great all-around game, and one of the best locker room leaders. Respected by all. And retired without the announcement before or during the season and letting it become a distraction. Team was always first. Glad I was able to see him play many times.
Thank you, Timmy.
As a basketball fan, just a tough, strange last couple of months. How do you encompass what Tim Duncan has meant to this game for the last 20 years? I was mesmerized by his defensove effort, and the ease in which he would post people up, and make that bank shot. I’m truly grateful to have seen his entire incredible career. He was a true winner, and defined what it meant to be a champion. Thank you, Tim Duncan
No doubt Tim is one of the best ever but why did he opt into his contract just to retire I know he hadn’t made up his mind yet about if he was going to retire or not but I feel like he is making the Spurs lose cap space, not very much but still, am I missing something?
Im pretty sure the Spurs just want to pay him. If you retire you don’t get paid. They are waiving him first.