Three Ways TD Changed the Game for Good
After a magnificent 19-year career with the San Antonio Spurs, the legendary power forward has decided to hang up his shoes. Duncan's impact on the game of basketball is difficult to comprehend. Here's three ways he changed the game for good:
1. Unprecedented Dominance
During Timmy's 19 year reign, the Spurs won five championships and posted a 1,072-438 regular season record, good for a .710 winning percentage. That stretch isn't just unprecedented for a player, it's better than the win total of multiple NBA franchises. And it's not just the greatest career in the NBA -- it represents the greatest run of any of the big four American sports leagues (NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB) over the past 20 years. The topline numbers alone are unbelievable, but when combined with his individual accolades it makes for a truly historic resume:
3 Finals MVPs
2 Regular Season MVPs
14th in all time scoring
15x All-Star Appearances
15x All-NBA Nominations
14x All-Defense Nominations
Rookie of the Year (1998)
2. Loyalty
In an NBA-world spiraling faster and faster toward super teams and massive free agency contracts, Tim Duncan stands tall for his team-first attitude and decision to stay in small-market San Antonio for the entirety of his NBA career. His willingness to dominate on the floor but share the limelight is the primary reason for the incredible longevity of the Spurs dynasty.
While so many of the other greats found themselves chasing rings or dollars in a foreign land in the twilight of their careers, Duncan and Coach Greg Popovich always found a way to work it out, sparing us the pain of seeing Timmy in anything but black and grey.
3. Humble On and Off the Court
Duncan was infamous for his unflappable demeanor, as Shaq observed when reflecting on his legacy:
“The Spurs won because of Tim Duncan, a guy I could never break. I could talk trash to Patrick Ewing, get in David Robinson’s face, get a rise out of Alonzo Mourning, but when I went at Tim he’d look at me like he was bored. Whenever I run into a Tim Duncan fan who will claim Tim Duncan is the GOAT, I won’t disagree with him.” - Shaquille O'Neal
Unless of course, you ask ref Joey Crawford, who always seemed to have it out for The Big Fundamental.
It wasn't just about being stoic on the floor either. Duncan's willingness to eschew a Kobe-esque legacy contracts and take less money made it possible for the Spurs to consistently surround him with outstanding teammates. Duncan's propensity to shy away from the typical NBA braggadocio and celebrate his teammates set the tone from the top in the Spurs locker room -- and paved the way to two decades of dominance.
4. Bonus -- He also bested Kobe in a rap battle
