12/18/24
July 11, 2016
Tim Duncan announces retirement: San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan today announced that he will retire after 19 seasons with the organization. Since drafting Duncan, the Spurs won five championships and posted a 1,072-438 regular season record, giving the team 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 the last 19 years.
I didn't realize it was that many NBA drafts ago that Rick Pitino threw his rosary in the trash can. Where does the time go?
posted by beaverboard at 11:18 AM on July 11, 2016
Too showy.
posted by tommybiden at 11:37 AM on July 11, 2016
19 years and he never once committed a personal foul (just ask him!). Pretty amazing run.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:57 AM on July 11, 2016
Nine thousand playoff minutes. That's insane; what's more insane is that LeBron is within 1000.
posted by Etrigan at 12:06 PM on July 11, 2016
what's more insane is that LeBron is within 1000
Wow, it feels like Duncan came from another geologic era. I mean, fer chrissake, he was in college before I was! Too bad he didn't one-and-done.
posted by yerfatma at 02:53 PM on July 11, 2016
It somehow fits the Tim Duncan image that he chose to walk away quietly rather than become the centerpiece of a gaudy farewell tour. Having said that, I would make it a point to be at his final appearance in Boston so I could show my appreciation for what he has done in his career. Oh what might have been -- stinkin' ping pong balls anyway.
posted by Howard_T at 03:15 PM on July 11, 2016
Slower, shorter, and less athletic than pretty much anyone he was matched up against yet dominated because he was so fundamentally sound. His presence made everyone around him better. He could score 12 points and be the key player on the court ... but he would never accept the credit for it. Signed team friendly contracts to enable his team to remain competitive.
posted by cixelsyd at 03:41 PM on July 11, 2016
NBA : NHL :: Tim Duncan : Steve Yzerman Niklas Lidstrom
(Changed my mind)
posted by grum@work at 04:25 PM on July 11, 2016
Yzerman reminds me more of Bird. Maybe because of the goal scoring, but they could both do a bit of everything. I think Duncan : Lidstrom is apropos.
posted by jmd82 at 06:47 PM on July 11, 2016
NBA : NHL :: Tim Duncan : Niklas Lidstrom
Like that.
How about NFL : Charles Woodson ?
Aside from the fact he's an incredible athlete, Woodson also does his job at the highest level playing wherever doing whatever is asked of him, wins, and makes everyone around him better.
posted by cixelsyd at 11:04 PM on July 11, 2016
The best comparison to Tim Duncan is Robert Parish. Their games never changed from early twenties to late thirties, because they both played like old, grizzled veterans from day one...
posted by MeatSaber at 08:36 AM on July 12, 2016
Pfft! Beginner's luck!