1 pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, when the Spurs landed the lucky lottery numbers and jumped up two spots to nab him. Instead, he was a four-year wonder at Wake Forest and, then, the No. If he had gone with his second choice of colleges, he would have starred at Delaware State. He was discovered so late in the regular basketball recruiting arc that most schools ignored him. He was a swimmer until he was a teenager. It was an audacious ride for a tale that had such unlikely beginnings.ĭuncan was born and raised in St. In my opinion, he was one of the complete basketball players to (ever) play.” And, (he) was an anchor on the defensive side. He could play with his back to the basket. He didn’t show a lot of emotion out there. But one thing that spoke volumes was the way that he played. You can never really get a read on him and get a read on how he was feeling out there on the basketball court. Him growing up as a swimmer to being, in my opinion, the greatest power forward to play this ball game,” said Marcus Camby, who played against the Spurs 50 times during his career. “Just hearing the story of him being from St. They finished with fewer than 50 wins just once while Duncan was in San Antonio - in 1999, when there were only 50 games because of a lockout - and won their first ring that season. They won 56 games in his first season and 67 in his last. The Spurs won 1,072 regular-season games while Duncan was there - 1,174 in the other 27 years. He won five NBA titles and two MVP awards, and he was an All-Star 15 times. Tim Duncan averaged 19 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks over his career. He was the reluctant hero, happy to win games and rings, wanting nothing more. He showed up to the NBA, brought in more than 21 points and nearly 12 rebounds per game as a 21-year-old rookie and just never stopped. This was, by no coincidence, a reflection of Duncan, its undoubted superstar. The Spurs just showed up, kicked ass and went home. The Warriors with Steph Curry were the digital-age darlings who modernized the NBA. The Lakers with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant brought tabloid intrigue to the league. The Bulls became a traveling roadshow in the 1990s with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and, later, Dennis Rodman. Dynasties do not usually engender disinterest of that kind. There may be no better summation of the Duncan era than the low-hum complaints about the Spurs’ success: They were too boring. He was unceasingly consistent without drawing much attention - a Patek Philippe with all the hype of a calculator watch from Best Buy. He was remarkable without seeming remarkable. He was dominant without being overwhelming. The NBA has seen great players before, but few as good as Duncan, for as long as Duncan and as unique as Duncan.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |