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Tim Duncan

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For the Gospel singer, see Tim Duncan (singer).
Tim Duncan
No. 21 – San Antonio Spurs
PositionPower forward/Center
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1976-04-25) April 25, 1976 (age 48)
Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
CollegeWake Forest
NBA draft1997: 1st overall
Selected by the San Antonio Spurs
Playing career1997–present
Career highlights and awards
USBWA College Player of the Year (1997)
Naismith College Player of the Year (1997)
John Wooden Award (1997)
ACC Player of the Year (1996, 1997)
NBA Rookie of the Year (1998)
NBA MVP (2002, 2003)
NBA Finals MVP (1999, 2003, 2005)
NBA Champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007)
NBA All-Star Game MVP (2000)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Timothy "Tim" Theodore Duncan (born April 25, 1976)[1] is a Virgin Islander American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m), 260-pound (118 kg)[2] power forward/center is a four-time NBA champion, a three-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, and the current captain of the Spurs. He has also won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award twice, and has been voted into 11 NBA All-Star Games, 11 All-NBA Teams, and 11 All-Defensive Teams.[3]

Duncan started out as a swimmer and only began playing basketball in ninth grade, and had difficulties adapting. However, he soon became a standout for St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School, and had an illustrious college career with the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons, winning the Naismith College Player of the Year, USBWA College Player of the Year and John Wooden awards in his final year. Duncan graduated from college before entering the 1997 NBA Draft as the number one pick, and his list of accomplishments, remarkable consistency, and leadership in the Spurs' NBA title runs in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007 have led basketball experts to consider him to be one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history.

Off the court, Duncan is known for his quiet and unassuming ways, as well as his active philanthropy. He holds an honors degree in psychology and created the Tim Duncan Foundation to raise general health awareness and fund education and youth sports in various parts of the United States.[4]

Biography

Early life

Duncan is the only son of Ione and William Duncan, a midwife and a mason respectively, joining his two older sisters Cheryl and Tricia in a middle-class family in Christiansted, a town on Saint Croix, one of the main islands composing the United States Virgin Islands. In school, Duncan was a bright pupil and dreamt of becoming an Olympic-level swimmer like his sister, Tricia.[5][6] His parents were very supportive and Duncan excelled at swimming, becoming a teenage standout in the 50, 100 and 400 meters freestyle and aiming to make the 1992 Olympic Games as a member of the United States Team.[5]

When Hurricane Hugo destroyed the island's only Olympic size swimming pool in 1989, forcing Duncan to swim in the ocean, he soon lost enthusiasm due to his fear of sharks.[4] Duncan was dealt another emotional blow when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and died one day before his 14th birthday.[5] In her last days, she made Duncan and his sisters promise to finish college with a degree, which would later explain Duncan's reluctance to leave college early.[7] Duncan never swam competitively again, but was inspired by his brother-in-law to turn to basketball.[7]

Duncan initially had difficulties adapting to the game he thought would help relieve his pain and frustration. Nancy Pomroy, the athletic director of the St. Croix Country Day School was quoted: "[Duncan] was so huge. So big and tall, but he was awfully awkward at the time."[8] He overcame this to become a standout for the St. Dunstan’s Episcopal High School, averaging 25 points per game as a senior. His play attracted the attention of several universities, despite having only picked up the game in ninth grade.[4] Wake Forest University basketball coach Dave Odom in particular grew interested in Duncan after the 16-year-old allegedly played NBA star Alonzo Mourning to a draw in a 5-on-5 pick-up game.[5] Odom was searching for a tall, physical player to play near the basket.[5] Given the weak level of basketball in the Virgin Islands, Odom was wary about Duncan at first, especially after first meeting him and thinking him to be inattentive; Duncan stared blankly at Odom for most of the conversation.[9] However, after the first talk, Odom understood that this was just Duncan's way of paying attention, and discovered that he was not only athletically talented, but also a quick learner.[9] Eventually, despite offers by the University of Hartford, the University of Delaware and Providence College, Duncan joined Odom's Wake Forest Demon Deacons.[5]

Wake Forest University

See also: List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons had previously reached the Sweet 16, but lost main scorer Rodney Rogers, who had entered the 1993 NBA Draft.[5] Duncan struggled with early transition problems and was even held scoreless in his first college game, but as the year progressed, he and teammate Randolph Childress led the Deacons to a 20–11 win-loss record.[5] Duncan's style of play was simple but effective, combining an array of low-post moves, mid-range bank shots and tough defense. He was chosen to represent the U.S. in the 1994 Goodwill Games.[5] Meanwhile, Duncan worked towards a degree in psychology and also took classes in anthropology and Chinese literature.[9] Despite focusing heavily on basketball, Wake Forest psychology department chairperson Deborah Best was quoted: "Tim [...] was one of my more intellectual students. [...] Other than his height, I couldn't tell him from any other student at Wake Forrest."[9] Duncan also established his reputation as a stoic player, to the extent that opposing fans taunted him as "Mr. Spock", the prototypical logical, detached character from Star Trek.[9]

In the 1994–95 NCAA season, the sophomore was soon called one of the most eligible NBA prospects, along with his peers Joe Smith, Rasheed Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse.[5] Los Angeles Lakers general manager Jerry West suggested that Duncan might become the top pick in the 1995 NBA Draft if he went early, but Duncan assured everyone he had no intention of going pro until he graduated, even though the NBA was planning to add a rookie salary cap in 1996. He was giving up a lot of money, but was determined to stay in school.[5] In that season, he led the Demon Deacons into the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship game against a Rasheed Wallace-led North Carolina Tar Heels. During that game, Duncan neutralized the threat of Wallace, while Childress sealed the win with a jump shot with four seconds left in overtime.[5] In the NCAA Tournament, the Demon Deacons reached the Sweet 16, and playing against Oklahoma State, Duncan scored 12 points to go with 22 rebounds and eight blocks, outplaying Bryant Reeves, but his team lost 66–71. Still, Duncan ended the year averaging 16.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, was named Defensive Player of the Year and became the third-best shot-blocker in NCAA history with 3.98 denials per game.[5] He was also voted All-ACC First Team, a feat he would repeat in each of his two remaining years at Wake Forest.[10]

In the following 1995–96 NCAA season, Wake Forest had to deal with the loss of Childress, who entered the NBA. This provided an opportunity for Duncan to show his leadership qualities, and his inexperienced team lost only four games in the entire ACC season.[5] The Demon Deacons won the ACC Finals again, but in the Sweet 16, Duncan came down with flu, and his team missed the Final Four by one win. He completed another remarkable season with averages of 19.1 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, and was again voted Defensive and ACC Player of the Year.[10] At the season's end the Wake Forest star was rumored to enter the NBA Draft early, but in the end, he stayed in college.[5]

In the 1996–97 NCAA season, Duncan was helped by the addition of future NBA player Loren Woods, a 7'1" player who eased the pressure on Duncan close to the basket. The Demon Deacons won their first 13 games, but then got into a slump and failed to win a third ACC title.[5] The NCAA campaign was just as frustrating, as Stanford University led by future NBA point guard Brevin Knight eliminated Duncan's team with a 72–66 win. Duncan finished with an individually impressive season though, averaging 20.8 points, 14.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting .606 from the field and winning the Defensive Player of the Year for an unprecedented third straight season. He earned first-team All-America honors for the second time, and was a unanimous pick for both USWBA and Naismith College Player of the Year.[5] Duncan led the 1996–97 NCAA Division I in rebounding, was 10th in blocked shots (3.3 bpg) and 28th in scoring (20.8 ppg).[10] He was voted ACC Player of the Year again and won the 1997 John Wooden Award as the NCAA's best overall male player based on the votes of sportscasters and newswriters.[11]

In contrast to contemporary prep-to-pro players like Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal, Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, Duncan stayed at college for a full four years. During that period, he was a two-time ACC Player of the Year, and an unprecedented three-time NABC Defensive Player of the Year. The center also made the All-ACC Tournament between 1995 and 1997, the All-ACC First Team between 1995 and 1997, and was named Most Valuable Player of the 1996 ACC Tournament. Further, 1996 was the year where he led the conference in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots, becoming the first player in conference history to lead all four of those categories.[10] Overall, Duncan led his team to a 97–31 win-loss record and finished his college career as the second-leading shot blocker in NCAA history, and remains one of only ten players with more than 2,000 career points and 1,500 career rebounds. He was also the first player in NCAA history to reach 1,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, 400 blocked shots and 200 assists. He left college as the all-time leading shot-blocker in ACC history with 481 blocks – second in NCAA annals behind Colgate's Adonal Foyle and third on the ACC career rebounding list with 1,570 rebounds.[10] With his college degree in his hands, Duncan finally made himself eligible for the 1997 NBA Draft.

"noodle nuts" (1997–2003)

In the 1997 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs drafted Duncan with the first draft pick.[3] The Spurs were coming off a poor 1996–97 season; their best player, David Robinson—himself a number one draft pick in 1987—was sidelined for most of the year with an injury, and they had finished with a 20–62 win-loss record.[12] However, as the 1997–98 season approached, the Spurs were considered a notable threat in the NBA. With an experienced center in Robinson and the number one pick in Duncan, the Spurs featured one of the best frontcourts in the league. Duncan and Robinson became known as the "Twin Towers", having earned a reputation for their exceptional defense close to the basket, forcing opponents to take lower percentage shots from outside.[5] From the beginning, Duncan established himself as a quality player: in his second-ever road game, he grabbed 22 rebounds against opposing Chicago Bulls power forward Dennis Rodman, a multiple rebounding champion and NBA Defensive Player of the Year.[13] Later, when Duncan played against opposing Houston Rockets Hall-of-Fame power forward Charles Barkley, Barkley was so impressed he said: "I have seen the future and he wears number 21 [Duncan's jersey number]."[14] In his rookie season, Duncan lived up to expectations of being the number one draft pick, starting in all 82 regular-season games, and averaging 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.[3] His defensive contributions ensured that he was elected to the All-Defensive Second Team and was also named NBA Rookie of the Year, having won the NBA Rookie of the Month award every single month that season.[4][15] Spurs coach Gregg Popovich lauded Duncan's mental toughness, stating his rookie's "demeanor was singularly remarkable", Duncan always "put things 1792}}</ref> Center Robinson was equally impressed with Duncan: "He's the real thing. I'm proud of his attitude and effort. He gives all the extra effort and work and wants to become a better player."[16] ed for the 1998 NBA Playoffs as the fifth seed, but Duncan had a bad first half in his first playoff game against the Phoenix Suns, causing Suns coach Danny Ainge to play Duncan with less defensive pressure. The rookie capitalized on this by finishing Game 1 with 32 points and 10 rebounds[17] and recording 32 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2,[18] contributing to a 3–1 victory over the Suns.[5] However, the Spurs lost in the second round to the eventual Western Conference Champions Utah Jazz.[19] In this series, Duncan was pitted against Hall-of-Fame power forward Karl Malone. Duncan outscored Malone in the first two games which the Spurs lost,[20][21] but as the series progressed, the more experienced Malone shut Duncan down on defense and dominated on offense, outscoring the young power forward in Games 3 to 5 with 10–18,[22] 22–34[23] and 14–24.[24]

Duncan at the free throw line

During the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, the Spurs started sucking his dick with a lackluster 6–8 record and Popovich came under fire from the press. However, Duncan and Robinson stood behind their coach, and finished the season with a 31–5 run.[25] The sophomore averaged 21.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.5 blocks in the regular season, making both the All-NBA and All-Defense First Teams.[3] In the 1999 NBA Playoffs, the Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 3–1, swept the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers 4–0, and defeated the Cinderella story New York Knicks 4–1 in the Finals.[26] In this series, a large contingent of Virgin Islanders flew over to support their local hero,[27] and were not disappointed. In the first two games, the "Twin Towers" outscored their Knicks counterparts Chris Dudley/Larry Johnson with 41 points, 26 rebounds and nine blocks versus five points, 12 rebounds and zero blocks.[27] After a Game 3 loss in which Duncan was held scoreless in the third quarter and committed three turnovers in the last quarter, Duncan rebounded with 28 points and 18 rebounds in a Game 4 win,[27] and in Game 5, the Spurs protected a 78–77 lead seconds from the end with the ball in the Knicks' possession. Double teamed by Duncan and Robinson, Knicks swingman Latrell Sprewell missed a last-second desperation shot,[27] and after closing out the series with a strong 31-point and 9-rebound showing in Game 5, Duncan was named Finals MVP, bringing San Antonio their first-ever NBA championship.[28]

The accolades for the Spurs soon arrived, with Sports Illustrated reporting that the San Antonio "monkey has been shed", and that the Spurs were no longer known as the "San Antonio softies". The magazine praised Finals MVP Duncan, who was later quoted: "This is incredible. We kept our focus and we pulled it out."[28] Sports Illustrated journalist and retired NBA player Alex English added: "Duncan came up big each time they went to him with that sweet turnaround jumper off the glass. He was the man tonight [in Game 5]." And Popovich later said to losing coach Jeff Van Gundy: "I've got Tim [Duncan] and you don't. That's the difference."[28]

In the 1999–2000 season, Duncan further cemented his reputation. He averaged 23.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 blocks per game, earned another pair of All-NBA and All-Defense First Team call-ups, and was co-MVP with Shaquille O'Neal of the NBA All-Star Game.[3] However, the Spurs had a disappointing post-season. Duncan injured his meniscus shortly before the end of the regular season and was unable to play in even one post-season game.[4] Consequently, the Spurs were eliminated in the first round of the 2000 NBA Playoffs, losing 3–1 to the Phoenix Suns.[29] Nonetheless, Duncan rebounded in the next season, and with strong regular-season averages of 22.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 blocks, earned himself yet another pair of All-NBA and All-Defensive First Team call-ups.[3] In the 2001 NBA Playoffs, the Spurs eliminated the Timberwolves 3–1, defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4–1, but then bowed out against the Lakers led by superstars Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, losing in four straight games.[30] Sports Illustrated described the series as a "[m]erciless mismatch", and Duncan was criticized as "silent when the Spurs need him most".[31]

On the back of two consecutive playoff disappointments, Duncan improved statistically in the 2001–02 season. He averaged career highs in scoring (25.5 points per game, including a league-leading 764 field goals and 560 attempted free throws) and rebounding (12.7 boards per game, and his cumulated 1042 boards again led the league), and also averaged 3.7 assists and 2.5 blocks per game, both personal NBA high scores. Coupled with another pair of All-NBA and All-Defensive First Team call-ups, he was named the league's Most Valuable Player, joining teammate David Robinson as the only Spurs members to earn the honor.[32] On the other hand, Duncan's team struggled with the fact that the aging Robinson was no longer able to sustain his level of performance, and backup center-forward Malik Rose had to step in more often.[5] In the 2002 NBA Playoffs, the Spurs were outmatched by the Lakers. Up against star center O'Neal once more, the Spurs were defeated 4–1 by the eventual champions.[33] Duncan, who managed 34 points and a franchise-high 25 rebounds in Game 5, stated his frustration: "I thought we really had a chance at this series. The Lakers proved to be more than we could handle. Again, we had a (heck) of a run at it. We had opportunities to win games and make it a different series, but that's just the way the ball rolls sometimes."[34] Nevertheless, NBA.com praised Duncan as "phenomenal" and criticized his supporting cast, stating Duncan "made 11-of-23 shots and 12-of-14 free throws, adding four assists and two blocks [a]nd once again, he did not have enough help."[34] Also, Robinson said "Tim [Duncan] was like Superman out there", and conceded that the Lakers were simply better, just like in the last playoffs campaign.[34]

Duncan (middle) and the Spurs at the White House after winning the 2003 NBA Finals

The 2002–03 season saw Duncan enjoy another standout season in which he averaged 23.3 points, a career-high 12.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.9 blocks per game, and yet another dual All-NBA and All-Defense First Team call-up, resulting in his second NBA Most Valuable Player Award.[3][5] At age 38, Robinson announced that year as his last season, and his playing time was cut by coach Popovich to save his energy for the playoffs.[5] The Spurs qualified easily for the playoffs, concluding the regular season as the Conference number one seed with a 60–22 record.[35] Although San Antonio now had new offensive threats in Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili, during the playoffs, it was Duncan's performance in the semi-finals against the Los Angeles Lakers which was singled out for praise by Popovich, who stated: "I thought in Game 5 and Game 6, he [Duncan] was astounding in his focus. He pulled everyone along these last two games."[36] In the series, Duncan was matched up against forward Robert Horry, dominated him the entire series[36] and closed out the series in style; Duncan finished Game 6 with 37 points and 16 rebounds, allowing Spurs coach Popovich to call timeout with 2:26 left to instruct his team not to celebrate excessively.[36] The Spurs made it to the finals, and defeated the New Jersey Nets 88–77 in Game Six to win their second ever NBA championship,[37] denying New Jersey from having both NBA and NHL titles, as the New Jersey Devils had won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals on the Nets' home court. Helped by an inspired Robinson, Duncan almost recorded a quadruple double in the final game,[38] and was named the NBA Finals MVP.[4] Duncan said of the victory: "We were all confident that something would happen, that we would turn the game to our favor, and it did", but felt sad that Robinson retired after winning his second championship ring.[38] Following this successful Spurs campaign, Robinson and Duncan were named Sports Illustrated's 2003 "Sportsmen of the Year".[39]

Leader of the Spurs (2003–present)

Duncan backs down Ben Wallace (then of the Pistons) in a 2005 game

Before the 2003–04 season began, the Spurs lost their perennial captain David Robinson to retirement. Embracing the lone team leader role, Duncan led a reformed Spurs team which included Slovenian center Rasho Nesterovič, defensive stalwart Bruce Bowen, Argentinian shooting guard Ginóbili and young French point guard Parker. Coming off the bench were clutch shooting power forward Robert Horry, versatile Hedo Turkoglu and veterans Malik Rose and Kevin Willis.[40] In retrospect, Robinson commented that at first, Duncan was reluctant to step into the void, still needing some time to truly develop his leadership skills.[41] Statistically though, Duncan remained strong; after another convincing season with averages of 22.3 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.7 blocks,[3] he led the Spurs into the Western Conference Semifinals. There, they met the Los Angeles Lakers again, split the series 2–2, and in Game 5, Duncan made a last-second basket which put the Spurs ahead by one point with 0.4 seconds left to play. Despite the little time remaining, Lakers point guard Derek Fisher hit a buzzer beater for an upset Lakers win.[42][43] In the end, the Spurs lost the series 4–2, and Duncan attributed the strong Lakers defense as one of the reasons for the loss.[44]

Duncan and his Spurs looked to re-assert themselves in the next 2004–05 season. Despite their new captain's slight statistical slump (20.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.6 blocks per game),[3] the Spurs won the second seed for the 2005 NBA Playoffs by winning 59 games.[45] In the first round, the Spurs eliminated the Denver Nuggets four games to one, and met the Seattle SuperSonics in the semi-finals. After splitting the first four games, Duncan led his team to two decisive victories,[5] setting up a meeting with the Phoenix Suns, known for their up-tempo basketball. The Spurs managed to beat the Suns at their own game, defeating them 4–1[5] and earning a spot in the 2005 NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons. In the Finals, Duncan was pitted against Detroit's defensively strong frontcourt anchored by multiple NBA Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace. After two convincing Game 1 and 2 wins for the Spurs, the Pistons double teamed Duncan and forced him to play further from the basket.[5] Detroit won the next two games and the series was eventually tied at 3–3, but Duncan was instrumental in Game 7, recording 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Spurs defeated the Pistons.[46] NBA.com reported that "[w]ith his unique multidimensional talent, Duncan depleted and dissected the Pistons... He was the fulcrum of virtually every key play down the stretch", and coach Popovich added: "[Duncan's] complete game is so sound, so fundamental, so unnoticed at times, because if he didn't score, people think, 'Well, he didn't do anything'. But he was incredible and he was the force that got it done for us."[46] Detroit's center Ben Wallace remarked: "He put his team on his shoulders and carried them to a championship [...t]hat's what the great players do."[46] Duncan won his third NBA Finals MVP Award, joining Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to win it three times.[4]

Duncan going up for a shot over the Lakers' Andrew Bynum

During the 2005–06 season, Duncan suffered from plantar fasciitis for most of the season,[47] which was at least partly responsible for his sinking output (18.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 blocks per game), and also for his failure to make the All-NBA First Team after eight consecutive years.[3] The big man came back strong in the 2006 NBA Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks, where he outscored rival power forward Dirk Nowitzki 32.2 to 27.1 points, with neither Nowitzki nor Mavericks center Erick Dampier able to stop Duncan with their man-to-man defense.[48] But after splitting the first six games, Duncan became the tragic hero of his team in Game 7. Despite scoring 39 points in regulation time and fouling out both Dampier and Keith Van Horn, Duncan only made one of seven field goal attempts in overtime against Mavericks reserve center DeSagana Diop, and the Spurs lost Game 7.[48]

The following season however was another championship year for Duncan and the Spurs. Duncan averaged 20.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 blocks per game in the regular season,[3] and was selected as a Western Conference starter for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, his ninth appearance in the event. In the playoffs, he led the Spurs to a 4–1 series win over the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs, a 4–2 win over the Phoenix Suns in the second round, and a 4–1 win against the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Finals, setting up a meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals.[49] There, the Spurs swept the Cavaliers 4–0, earning Duncan his and San Antonio's fourth ever championship.[50] Duncan proclaimed that that championship was "the best" of his four championships, and acknowledged he played "sub-par" and thus received only one vote for NBA Finals MVP from a panel of ten.[41] His colleagues were more appreciative of Duncan; among others, ex-teammate David Robinson referred to the Spurs titles as the "Tim Duncan era", and lauded his leadership. Coach Popovich also praised Duncan: "Tim is the common denominator. He's [had] a different cast around him [in] '99, '03 and '05. He's welcomed them all. [...] But he is that easy to play with, and his skills are so fundamentally sound that other people can fit in."[41] NBA commissioner David Stern added: "[Duncan] is a player for the ages. I'm a tennis fan, and Pete Sampras is one of the greats. OK, he wasn't Andre Agassi or John McEnroe. He just happens to be one of the greatest players of all time. You take great players as you find them."[41]

With Duncan being healthy for 78 games and posting typical 20/10 numbers,[51] San Antonio concluded the 2007–08 regular season with a 56–26 record, finishing behind the Lakers and New Orleans Hornets in the Western Conference and setting up themselves for a first-round contest against the Suns. The Suns—defeated by the Spurs in three of the past four seasons of playoffs—were out for revenge and featured a new player in four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal. In Game 1, Duncan set the tone with a 40 point game and a rare three-pointer that sent the game into double overtime.[52] The trio of Duncan, Ginóbili and Parker continued playing to form for the remainder of the series, and the Spurs eliminated the Suns in five games.[53] In the first game of the next around against the Chris Paul-led Hornets, San Antonio were badly defeated 101–82 as Duncan played one of the worst playoff games in his career, recording only 5 points and 3 rebounds.[54] The Spurs dropped the next game as well, but recovered in Games 3 and 4, with Duncan putting up a team-high 22 point/15 rebound/4 block performance in the game that tied the series.[55] Duncan then recorded 20 points and 15 rebounds in Game 6,[56] and the Spurs relied on their experience to seal the series in Game 7.[57] However, arch-rivals Los Angeles Lakers defeated San Antonio in five games in the Conference Finals, and the Spurs once again failed to capture back-to-back NBA championships.[58]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Statistics correct as of March 8, 2009[51]

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1997–98 San Antonio 82 82 39.1 .549 .000 .662 11.9 2.7 .7 2.5 21.1
1998–99 San Antonio 50 50 39.3 .495 .143 .690 11.4 2.4 .9 2.5 21.7
1999–00 San Antonio 74 74 38.9 .490 .091 .761 12.4 3.2 .9 2.2 23.2
2000–01 San Antonio 82 82 38.7 .499 .259 .618 12.2 3.0 .9 2.3 22.2
2001–02 San Antonio 82 82 40.6 .508 .100 .799 12.7 3.7 .7 2.5 25.5
2002–03 San Antonio 81 81 39.3 .513 .273 .710 12.9 3.9 .7 2.9 23.3
2003–04 San Antonio 69 68 36.6 .501 .167 .599 12.4 3.1 .9 2.7 22.3
2004–05 San Antonio 66 66 33.4 .496 .333 .670 11.1 2.7 .7 2.6 20.3
2005–06 San Antonio 80 80 34.8 .484 .400 .629 11.0 3.2 .9 2.0 18.6
2006–07 San Antonio 80 80 34.1 .546 .111 .637 10.6 3.4 .8 2.4 20.0
2007–08 San Antonio 78 78 34.0 .497 .000 .730 11.3 2.8 .7 2.0 19.3
2008–09 San Antonio 58 58 34.6 .512 .000 .695 10.6 3.8 0.5 1.8 20.1
Career 882 881 37.0 .508 .188 .685 11.8 3.2 .8 2.3 21.5
All-Star 11 10 23.8 .584 .333 .800 10.6 2.5 .8 .7 11.9

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1997–98 San Antonio 9 9 41.6 .521 .000 .667 9.0 1.9 .6 2.6 20.7
1998–99 San Antonio 17 17 43.1 .511 .000 .748 11.5 2.8 .8 2.7 23.2
2000–01 San Antonio 13 13 40.5 .488 1.000 .639 14.5 3.8 1.1 2.7 24.4
2001–02 San Antonio 9 9 42.2 .453 .333 .822 14.4 5.0 .7 4.3 27.6
2002–03 San Antonio 24 24 42.5 .529 .000 .677 15.4 5.3 .6 3.3 24.7
2003–04 San Antonio 10 10 40.5 .522 .000 .632 11.3 3.2 .8 2.0 22.1
2004–05 San Antonio 23 23 37.8 .464 .200 .717 12.4 2.7 .3 2.3 23.6
2005–06 San Antonio 13 13 37.9 .573 .000 .718 10.5 3.3 .9 1.9 25.8
2006–07 San Antonio 20 20 36.8 .521 .000 .644 11.5 3.3 .6 3.1 22.2
2007–08 San Antonio 17 17 39.2 .449 .200 .626 14.5 3.3 .9 2.1 20.2
Career 155 155 40.0 .501 .143 .691 12.7 3.5 .7 2.7 23.4

United States national team

Tim Duncan
Medal record
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Athens Team competition

In 1998 Duncan was selected as one of the last two players for the United States national team for the World Basketball Championship. However, this team was later replaced with CBA and college players due to the NBA lockout.[59] Duncan's first chance at playing for the national team came in 1999 when he was called up to the Olympic Qualifying Team. He averaged 12.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg and 2.4 bpg and led the team to a 10–0 finish en route to a qualifying berth for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, but a knee injury forced him to stay out of the Olympic Games themselves.[10]

In 2003, Duncan was also a member of the USA team that recorded ten wins and qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics.[10] He started all the games he played in and averaged team bests of 15.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.56 bpg, while shooting 60.7 percent from the field.[10] At the Olympics itself, the team lost three games on its way to a bronze medal.[60] The record represented more losses in a single year than in the 68 previous years combined. It was also the first time since NBA professionals became eligible that the U.S. men's basketball team returned home without gold medals.[60] After the tournament, Duncan commented, "I am about 95 percent sure my FIBA career is over. I'll try not to share my experiences with anyone."[61] To date, Duncan has been a member of five previous USA Basketball teams and has played in 40 international games.[10]

Player profile

Duncan (#21) attempts to block a shot in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Duncan starts at the power forward position, but can also play center. With a double-double career average in points and rebounds, he is considered one of the most consistent players in the NBA. He has earned All-NBA and All-Defensive honors every season since his rookie year in 1998 while being a perennial candidate for the Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards.[3][62] Regarded as one of the league's best interior defenders, Duncan also ranks consistently as one of the top scorers, rebounders and shot-blockers in the league.[3] His main weakness remains his free throw shooting, with a career average of less than 70%.[3]

Apart from his impressive statistics, Duncan has gained a reputation as a good clutch player, as evidenced by his three NBA Finals MVP awards and his playoff career averages being higher than his regular-season statistics.[3] Eleven-time NBA champion Bill Russell further compliments Duncan on his passing ability, and rates him as one of the most efficient players of his generation.[63] Because of his versatility and success, basketball experts have spoken of Duncan as one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history,[46][64][65][66][67] while coach Popovich and team-mates Parker and Ginóbili have also credited much of San Antonio's success to him.[68][69] Duncan's detractors, however, label him as "boring" due to his simple but effective style of play. Following his first championship ring in 1999, Sports Illustrated described him as a "quiet, boring MVP",[70] a characterization which persists today.[63]

Duncan himself commented on his "boring" image, stating: "If you show excitement, then you also may show disappointment or frustration. If your opponent picks up on this frustration, you are at a disadvantage."[71] Sports journalist Kevin Kernan commented on his ability to relax and stay focused, stating that having a degree in psychology, Duncan often not only outplays, but outpsychs his opponents.[72] Duncan has also stated that he especially likes his bank shot, saying: "It is just easy for me. It just feels good."[73]

Honors

In his basketball career, Duncan has collected a number of individual and team honors, including being a two-time MVP (2002, 2003), four-time NBA champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007) and three-time NBA Finals MVP (1999, 2003, 2005). As a college player, he was honored by the House of Representatives,[74] named the ACC Male Athlete of the Year, won the John R. Wooden Award, and was selected as the Naismith College Player of the Year (all 1997).[10] In 2002, Duncan was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team honoring the 50 greatest players in ACC history.[75] In his debut year in the NBA (1998), he was voted Rookie of the Year and elected into the All-NBA Rookie Team, made the first of 11 NBA All-Star Teams (ten First Team nominations), 11 All-NBA Teams (nine First Team nominations), and 11 All-Defensive Teams (eight First Team nominations).[3] With these impressive performances, Duncan is one of only four players to receive All-NBA First Team honors in each of his first eight seasons (1998–2005), along with Hall of Famers Bob Pettit (ten seasons), Larry Bird (nine seasons), and Oscar Robertson (nine seasons), and is notably the only player in NBA history to receive All-NBA and All-Defensive honors in his first eleven seasons (1998-2008).[76]

Duncan was also named by the Association for Professional Basketball Research as one of "100 Greatest Professional Basketball Players of The 20th Century", the youngest player on that list.[77] In the 2001–02 season, he won the IBM Player Award[78] and The Sporting News (TSN) MVP Award,[79] becoming the third player to ever win the NBA MVP, IBM Player and TSN Player Awards in the same season. In 2003, Duncan was ranked 55th by Slam Magazine in their list of the "Top 75 NBA players of All Time". On February 18, 2006, he was named one of the Next 10 Greatest Players on the tenth anniversary of the release of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team by the TNT broadcasting crew.[80]

Off the court

Tim Duncan has two older sisters, Cheryl and Tricia.[5] Like their younger brother, they were gifted athletes: Cheryl was a championship swimmer before she became a nurse, and Tricia swam for the U.S. Virgin Islands at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.[81] He married Amy, an ex-cheerleader at Wake Forest University,[4] and the couple had their first child, daughter Sydney, in the summer of 2005,[4] and a second child, a son, during the summer of 2007. Amy oversees the Tim Duncan Foundation, which has been established to serve the areas of health awareness/research, education, and youth sports/recreation in San Antonio, Winston-Salem, and the United States Virgin Islands.[4] The Foundation holds two major fundraisers each year: the annual Tim Duncan Bowling for Dollar$ Charity Bowl-A-Thon and the annual Slam Duncan Charity Golf Classic.[4] Between 2001 and 2002, the Foundation raised more than $350,000 to help fight breast and prostate cancer.[11] In those two years, Duncan was named by Sporting News as one of the "Good Guys" in sports.[11] The Spurs captain also supports the Children's Bereavement Center, the Children's Center of San Antonio and the Cancer Therapy and Research Center.[4]

Duncan cites his late mother Ione as his main inspiration. Among other things, she taught him and his sisters the nursery rhyme "Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest / Until your Good is Better, and your Better is your Best", which he adopted as his personal motto.[7] On and off the court, he believes that the three most important values are dedication, teamwork and camaraderie.[7] The Spurs captain has also stated that he chose #21 for his jersey because that was his brother-in-law's college number, since he was Duncan's main basketball inspiration, and cites Hall-of-Fame Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson as his childhood idol.[7]

For his mixture of success and low-key personality, Duncan has been honored with the St. Croix Medal of Honor, the highest award that the territorial government can bestow on a citizen, and has been celebrated in several "Tim Duncan Day" ceremonies.[82] In 2000, St. Croix Senate president Vargrave Richards said: "He is a quiet giant. His laid-back attitude is the embodiment of the people of St. Croix, doing things without fanfare and hoopla."[82]

Regarding his own personality, Duncan compares himself to Will Hunting of the movie Good Will Hunting, which centers around the genial and antagonistic character of Will Hunting, portrayed by Matt Damon. He stated: "I'm just a taller, slightly less hyperactive version of the Damon character in the movie. I really enjoyed how he probed people and found out their weaknesses just by asking questions and stating outlandish remarks."[83] He also admitted shunning the limelight because "[fame] is not me".[83] Off the court, he has cited that his best friend is former Spurs colleague Antonio Daniels, who himself describes Duncan as a cheerful, funny person off the hardwood.[6]

Duncan also loves Renaissance fairs and the fantasy role playing game Dungeons & Dragons.[84] An avid video game player, he acknowledges a certain joy of playing "himself" on basketball video games. Duncan states if he had the chance, he would challenge NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to a one-on-one game.[7]

Books

  • Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  • Byman, Jeremy (2000). Tim Duncan (Great Athletes Series). ISBN 978-1883846435.
  • Torres, John Albert (2002). Sports Great Tim Duncan. ISBN 978-0766017665.
  • Roselius, J Chris (2006). Tim Duncan: Champion on And Off the Court. ISBN 978-0766028210.

References

  1. ^ Tim Duncan Q&A, slamduncan.com, accessed January 25, 2008.
  2. ^ Tim Duncan, espn.com, accessed April 18, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Tim Duncan, basketball-reference.com, accessed May 20, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Tim Duncan - Bio, nba.com, accessed August 25, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Tim Duncan Biography, jockbio.com, accessed April 19, 2007.
  6. ^ a b Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. p. 11. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Questions with Tim Duncan, slamduncan.com, accessed January 13, 2008.
  8. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  9. ^ a b c d e Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 28–31. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j USA Basketball Bio: Tim Duncan, usabasketball.com, accessed June 15, 2007.
  11. ^ a b c Adidas signs superstar Tim Duncan, press.adidas.com, February 7, 2003, accessed January 13, 2008.
  12. ^ 1996-97 Standings, nba.com/history, accessed April 19, 2007.
  13. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. p. 47. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  14. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. p. 13. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  15. ^ Facts, jockbio.com, accessed February 20, 2008.
  16. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. p. 44. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  17. ^ San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns, April 23, 1998, basketball-reference.com, accessed August 30, 2007.
  18. ^ San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns, April 25, 1998, basketball-reference.com, accessed August 30, 2007.
  19. ^ 1998 NBA Playoffs, basketball-reference.com, accessed April 19, 2007.
  20. ^ San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz, May 5, 1998, basketball-reference.com, accessed August 24, 2007.
  21. ^ San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz, May 7, 1998, basketball-reference.com, accessed August 24, 2007.
  22. ^ Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs, May 9, 1998, basketball-reference.com, accessed August 24, 2007.
  23. ^ Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs, May 10, 1998, basketball-reference.com, accessed August 24, 2007.
  24. ^ San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz, May 12, 1998, basketball-reference.com, accessed August 24, 2007.
  25. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. p. 65. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  26. ^ 1999 Playoff Results, nba.com/history, accessed April 19, 2007.
  27. ^ a b c d Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 73–76. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  28. ^ a b c Duncan, Robinson lead San Antonio to first NBA title, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, June 28, 1999, accessed April 29, 2007.
  29. ^ 2000 Playoff Results, nba.com/history, accessed June 16, 2007.
  30. ^ 2001 Playoff Results, nba.com/history, accessed June 16, 2007.
  31. ^ Associated Press, Bryant, Shaq keep Lakers rolling past, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, May 2, 2001, accessed August 24, 2007.
  32. ^ Badger, T.A., "It's official: Duncan captures MVP award", usatoday.com, May 10, 2002, accessed August 13, 2007.
  33. ^ 2002 Playoff Results, nba.com/history, accessed June 17, 2007.
  34. ^ a b c Lakers Roll Past Spurs, Eye Clash With Kings, nba.com, accessed January 13, 2008.
  35. ^ 2002-03 Standings, nba.com/history, accessed August 28, 2007.
  36. ^ a b c Spurs, Tim, Dunk Lakers, Head to Conference Finals, nba.com, May 15, 2003, accessed June 17, 2007.
  37. ^ 2003 Playoff Results, nba.com/history, accessed June 16, 2007.
  38. ^ a b Williams, Bryan, "Feels Like the First Time", nba.com, June 15, 2003, accessed August 21, 2007.
  39. ^ Associated Press, Duncan, Robinson share SI sportsman award, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, December 8, 2003, accessed June 16, 2007.
  40. ^ 2003-04 San Antonio Spurs, basketball-reference.com, accessed January 13, 2008.
  41. ^ a b c d Duncan says his fourth ring finest of all, sports.espn.go.com, June 18, 2007, accessed August 21, 2007. Cite error: The named reference "espn2007finals" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  42. ^ Associated Press, Spurs file protest, say clock was 'late', sports.espn.go.com, May 13, 2004, accessed June 17, 2007.
  43. ^ Associated Press, Box Score Lakers at Spurs 74-73, sports.espn.go.com, May 13, 2004, accessed August 30, 2007.
  44. ^ Associated Press, L.A. awaits Wolves-Kings winner, sports.espn.go.com, May 15, 2004, accessed June 17, 2007.
  45. ^ 2004-05 Standings, nba.com, accessed September 6, 2007.
  46. ^ a b c d Spurs Dethrone Pistons To Take Third NBA Title, nba.com, June 23, 2005, accessed April 20, 2007.
  47. ^ Allen, Marque, "Prognosis Spurs: Plantar Fasciitis", nba.com/spurs, March 13, 2006, accessed August 12, 2007.
  48. ^ a b Nowitzki, Mavericks Outlast and Dethrone Spurs, nba.com, May 22, 2006, accessed May 22, 2007.
  49. ^ At a Glance 2007, nba.com, June 14, 2007, accessed June 9, 2007.
  50. ^ Parker, Spurs Close Out Cavs for Fourth Title, nba.com, June 15, 2007, accessed June 15, 2007.
  51. ^ a b Tim Duncan - Career Stats and Totals, nba.com, accessed April 21, 2008.
  52. ^ White, Elizabeth, Duncan Scores 40 to Lead Spurs to Game 1 Win Over Suns", nba.com, April 19, 2008, accessed May 1, 2008.
  53. ^ Spurs KO Rattled Suns to Close Out Series, nba.com, April 30, 2008, accessed May 1, 2008.
  54. ^ Associated Press, West, Hornets Sting Spurs in Game 1, nba.com, May 4, 2008, accessed May 5, 2008.
  55. ^ Hornets at Spurs Game Info, nba.com, May 11, 2008, accessed May 12, 2008.
  56. ^ Associated Press, Ginobili, Duncan dominate as Spurs force Game 7, scores.espn.go.com, May 15, 2008, accessed May 16, 2008.
  57. ^ Associated Press, Spurs outlast youthful Hornets, win Game 7 to advance to conference finals, sports.espn.go.com, accessed May 26, 2008.
  58. ^ Associated Press, Bryant Leads Lakers past Spurs, into NBA Finals, nba.com, May 29, 2008, accessed June 14, 2008.
  59. ^ NBA Stars Locked Out Of Team USA, cbsnews.com, accessed August 28, 2008.
  60. ^ a b USA Basketball: Men's Olympic History - 2004, usabasketball.com, accessed April 19, 2007.
  61. ^ Associated Press, U.S. men's avenge loss to Lithuania, earn bronze, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, August 28, 2004, accessed January 13, 2008.
  62. ^ San Antonio Teammates Bowen and Duncan Top 2006-07 NBA All-Defensive Team Selections, nba.com, April 30, 2007, accessed May 1, 2007.
  63. ^ a b Russell, Bill, "Quality Basketball", nba.com, May 29, 2007, accessed June 4, 2007.
  64. ^ ESPN.com's Greatest Power Forwards, espn.com, June 2, 2005, accessed June 17, 2007.
  65. ^ Rosen, Charley, "Best all-time power forwards", foxsports.com, July 18, 2005, accessed January 31, 2008.
  66. ^ DuPree, David, "Tim Duncan: best power forward ever?", usatoday.com, June 7, 2007, accessed June 17, 2007.
  67. ^ Thomsen, Ian, "My Sportsman: Tim Duncan", sportsillustrated.cnn.com, November 15, 2007, accessed November 25, 2007.
  68. ^ White, Elizabeth, "NBA: Duncan's calm creates confidence", salisburypost.com, June 7, 2007, accessed June 17, 2007.
  69. ^ Exclusive interview with Manu, usa.manuginobili.com, accessed June 17, 2007.
  70. ^ Duncan: A quiet, boring MVP, sportsillustrated.cnn.com, June 28, 1999, accessed August 6, 2007.
  71. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. p. 23. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  72. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. p. 21. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  73. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. p. 35. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  74. ^ Tribute to Tim Duncan of the Virgin Islands, thomas.loc.gov, accessed December 8, 2008.
  75. ^ ACC 50th Anniversary Men's Basketball Team, theacc.com, September 26, 2002, accessed December 28, 2008.
  76. ^ All-NBA Teams, nba.com/history, accessed June 17, 2007.
  77. ^ The Association for Professional Basketball Research's 100 Greatest Professional Basketball Players of the 20th Century, sportingnews.com, accessed May 4, 2007.
  78. ^ IBM Award, sportingnews.com, accessed May 4, 2007.
  79. ^ The Sporting News NBA Most Valuable Player, sportingnews.com, accessed May 4, 2007.
  80. ^ Martindale, David, "Legends in the Making", tnt.tv, accessed January 13, 2008.
  81. ^ Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. p. 19. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  82. ^ a b Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. pp. 24–26. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  83. ^ a b Kernan, Kevin (2000). Slam Duncan. p. 53. ISBN 978-1582611792.
  84. ^ Briggs, Jerry, "Duncan's unusual hobby and more unusual request", San Antonio Express-News (Texas), November 30, 1997.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tim Duncan.


Awards and achievements
Preceded by ACC Male Athlete of the Year
1997 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Naismith College Player of the Year
John R. Wooden Award Winners Men
1997 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NBA first overall draft pick
1997 NBA Draft 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NBA Rookie of the Year
1997–98 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NBA Most Valuable Player
2001-02
2002–03 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Michael Jordan
 NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
2000
co-awardee with Shaquille O'Neal 		Succeeded by

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