Tim Duncan Retires

[Nolan]

http://www.nba.com/spurs/tim-duncan-announces-retirement

SAN ANTONIO (July XX, 2016) – 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.

Originally selected by the Spurs as the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, Duncan helped San Antonio reach the playoffs in each of his 19 seasons and became the only player in league history to start and win a title in three different decades. The Silver and Black won at least 50 games the last 17 seasons, the longest streak in league history, and posted at least a .600 winning percentage in each of Duncan’s 19 seasons, an all-time record for most consecutive seasons with a .600 win percentage in the four major U.S. sports.

The 40-year-old Duncan comes off of a season in which he led the NBA in Defensive RPM (5.41) and became just the third player in league history to reach 1,000 career wins, as well as the only player to reach 1,000 wins with one team. He helped the Spurs to a franchise-best 67-15 record and also became one of two players in NBA history to record at least 26,000 points, 15,000 rebounds and 3,000 blocks in his career (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).

Bitter sweet day for me. He's the reason that I'm a Spurs fan, it's sad to see him go but it's clear that he didn't have much left in the tank.

[Nolan]

Athletes and hell people like him are just so so so very rare. I have absolutely nothing but respect and love for TIm, he was a leader that never had to say a word; he just lead by example he put in the work in silence and never put himself before the team.

It`s hard to express how much he`s meant to me and how much he`s influenced my life. I`ve always had the opinion that idolizing athletes and public figures is a bad idea, you can`t ever really know that person and your just bound to be let down but I think Tim`s one of the rare exceptions to that rule. For me he represents everything good about basketball and sports in general.

I wish nothing but the best in his post playing career.

[Texas Chuck]

Thank you Timmy.
Thank you Timmy
Thank you Timmy
Thank you Timmy


What an absolute legend. Salute to you, Mr. Duncan, the greatest player of your generation and one of the 3 or 4 best of all-time. The NBA has suffered a major loss today. Hope we see you sitting with David on occasion. Please don't disappear forever.

[fritopia]

Sad to see him go, but happy that he stayed as long as he did.

[Texas Chuck]

Athletes and hell people like him are just so so so very rare. I have absolutely nothing but respect and love for TIm, he was a leader that never had to say a word; he just lead by example he put in the work in silence and never put himself before the team.

It`s hard to express how much he`s meant to me and how much he`s influenced my life. I`ve always had the opinion that idolizing athletes and public figures is a bad idea, you can`t ever really know that person and your just bound to be let down but I think Tim`s one of the rare exceptions to that rule. For me he represents everything good about basketball and sports in general.

I wish nothing but the best in his post playing career.

Just want to add that I've felt the same way about athletes and such that we in Dallas were lucky to have the closest facsimile in Dirk. A guy you could fully embrace knowing he would never let you down.

Duncan building on the legacy of Admiral is just something so special for the city of San Antonio and the NBA as a whole. The Spurs are obviously the best organization in the Association and I'd argue in all of American professional sports. And it can't be that way without the character of Tim Duncan.

Great player. Great human. Legend.

[Nolan]

Athletes and hell people like him are just so so so very rare. I have absolutely nothing but respect and love for TIm, he was a leader that never had to say a word; he just lead by example he put in the work in silence and never put himself before the team.

It`s hard to express how much he`s meant to me and how much he`s influenced my life. I`ve always had the opinion that idolizing athletes and public figures is a bad idea, you can`t ever really know that person and your just bound to be let down but I think Tim`s one of the rare exceptions to that rule. For me he represents everything good about basketball and sports in general.

I wish nothing but the best in his post playing career.

Just want to add that I've felt the same way about athletes and such that we in Dallas were lucky to have the closest facsimile in Dirk. A guy you could fully embrace knowing he would never let you down.

Duncan building on the legacy of Admiral is just something so special for the city of San Antonio and the NBA as a whole. The Spurs are obviously the best organization in the Association and I'd argue in all of American professional sports. And it can't be that way without the character of Tim Duncan.

Great player. Great human. Legend.

Agreed. And now we Kawhi picking up that torch.

[Texas Chuck]

Agreed. And now we Kawhi picking up that torch.

you don't have to rub it in.....



And an another aspect to this is now next year, Manu can be appropriately feted instead of getting lost in the shadow of Duncan.

[Nolan]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/spurs/status/752506696237395970[/tweet]

[Nolan]

Out of all the amazing things Duncan`s done on the court I think the moment that stands out most to me is halftime of game 5 of 2013 finals. Him never going to the lockeroom just playing with kids in the hallway.

[LyMinh]

Greatest.

[Nolan]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/752515401746116608[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/752515938608680960[/tweet]

[Nolan]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JMcDonald_SAEN/status/752516061124136961[/tweet]

[Statlanta]

I'm sorry for the loss for Spurs fans as this is a legend who is synonymous with the franchise name. He was a very great player who will always be appreciated by the basketball community. I wonder what this means for Pop if he stays and LMA as now with no Boban, West or TD he's going to have to do the thing he hated to do in this league(i.e bang with C's).

[dautjazz]

Long life Jazz fan here, much respect goes out to the humblest of superstars. I definitely got him in my 6-10 of all time. The definition of a team player.

[law_1990]

my heart hurts.
My favourite player ever.

[-Sammy-]

I'm just here to have a virtual drink with my fellow fans-- long-time and fair-weather.

Happy trails to my all-time favorite pro athlete, past and future.

[Nolan]

I'm just here to have a virtual drink with my fellow fans- long-time and fair-weather.

Happy trails to my all-time favorite pro athlete, past or future.

It's a little early here but why not

[-Sammy-]

I'm just here to have a virtual drink with my fellow fans- long-time and fair-weather.

Happy trails to my all-time favorite pro athlete, past or future.

It's a little early here but why not

Not only should San Antonio shut down for the day, but all true Spurs reps, like you, should be given a sympathetic day off as well.

[Nolan]

I'm just here to have a virtual drink with my fellow fans- long-time and fair-weather.

Happy trails to my all-time favorite pro athlete, past or future.

It's a little early here but why not

Not only should San Antonio shut down for the day, but all true Spurs reps, like you, should be given a sympathetic day off as well.

Agreed. This morning hasn't been all that productive for me.

[SPURt]

I'm gonna miss you big fella! Thank you for two decades of the most winning in any sport! Best Spur ever! Top 5 NBA all timer and it ain't close!