2023-04-25 17:37:43
Considered the best strong winger in Spurs history and an example of longevity at Spurs, Tim Duncan is a monument to his sport. The San Antonio legend will have built his empire in Texas for 19 years. Its legendary discretion and icy phlegm make it timeless.
One evening in June 1997, a tall, unstylish guy from Wake Forest University (North Carolina) arrived in San Antonio. Drafted in number 1 of this cuvée, the 2m11 man already has some very solid foundations. An intractable defender, he quickly distinguished himself with his mid-range shots that returned with the help of the tile, and knew how to dominate inside. The young Duncan then makes the acquaintance of David Robinsonin a franchise that is coming out of a very bad season because of the injury of the latter.
The young leader is attentive and does not make waves. Impacting as soon as he arrived in San Antonio, he was not long in forming with Robinson what we would call the “Twin Towers”. Although there is no snow on the top of the head yet, the highest peak in Texas does some damage and the Spurs racquet quickly becomes a benchmark in the league. TD even has the luxury of playing the All-Star Game in its first NBA season, before being named to the All-NBA First Team!
Alongside Uncle Robinson and under the orders of his coach Gregg Popovich, Duncan immediately becomes unavoidable. And just as quickly, San Antonio regained a prominent place in the NBA. Champion and Finals MVP in 1998-99 (from his second season therefore), Timmy makes everyone understand that he is not made of the same wood. Little expressive and phlegmatic as possible, his personality intrigues at a time when the NBA mixes more than ever with the hip-hop culture led by a certain Allen Iverson. Fundamentals, efficiency, dominance, it’s all Tim Duncan.
Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker joined him in the early 2000s to form a trio that would become a real Big 3 in the future. But before that, the boss remains unquestionably Duncan. He won two consecutive MVP titles (2002, 2003) before carrying the Spurs to a second championship title in 2003, for the very last year of David Robinson.
Silent as possible, The Big Fundamental will then shape the Big 3 by making its two friends – Manu and Tony – much less ductile than when they arrived. In San Antonio it plays hard, it plays serious, and it plays collective. And throughout his years in Texas, Duncan will have instilled this dynamic in HIS team. True right arm of Popovich, he is the extension of the mentality of the coach on the ground. And the recipe works: two additional titles in 2005 once morest Detroit and 2007 once morest the Cavaliers of a very young LeBron James (yes, Duncan was a subscriber in odd years).
“My rookie year, he didn’t say a word to me. Probably because he thought a little French freshman mightn’t lead him to the NBA title. I had to prove to him that I deserved his respect.”
– Tony Parker
Then follows a small period of “darkness” (everything is relative huh) for the Spurs, who will not return to the final until 2013 once morest the Heat of LeBron James. We’re not going to tell you the story of Ray Allen’s shot coughed… But you know the rest: a magnificent championship title in 2014, the fifth for Duncan, which definitely makes the trio a legend following titanic clashes once morest the Big 3 of Miami (LeBron, Wade, Bosh…). Timmy is then no longer the interior MVP caliber he was for so many years, but has gradually been able to give way to TP, Ginobili or even Kawhi Leonard to allow the Spurs to continue to dominate. While obviously keeping the enormous respect for the locker room. And that is very strong.
As a symbol, Duncan retires discreetly in the summer of 2016, without making a big announcement as Lakers legend Kobe Bryant did, for example. His No. 21 will obviously be retired and an entry into the Hall of Fame follows in 2020, inducted by the one with whom it all started: David Robinson. The circle is complete.
By his aura, his pure talent and his ability to lead his team to five titles, Tim Duncan will remain among the greatest legends of the NBA. It’s important to remember how the brat from the Virgin Islands has become an icon of the orange ball in its simplest form. Far from rhinestones and glitter, but very close to the hearts of all lovers of this game.
Tim Duncan’s track record
- 5x NBA champion: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014
- 2x Regular Season MVP: 2002 and 2003
- 3x NBA Finals MVP: 1997, 2003 and 2005
- 15x All-Star
- 15x in an All-NBA Team including 10x in the first
- 15x in an NBA All-Defensive Team including 8x in the first
- 1x (co)MVP du All-Star Game en 2000
- Rookie of the Year in 1998
- Teammate of the Year in 2015
Happy birthday to the best strong winger in the history of basketball sport ❤️pic.twitter.com/Mg8sMYKYy0
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) April 25, 2023
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#glitter #close #purity #basketball
