Mitchell & Ness Swingman Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs 98/99 Jersey

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At this instant, his brother-in-law encouraged him to pursue a career in basketball. Because of his tall build, he felt awkward at the time. But he overcame that in no time during his school days. College Career Duncan has been on NBA All-Star Teams, All-NBA Teams, and All-Defensive Teams 15 times. Notably, he is the only NBA history player on All-NBA and All-Defensive teams in his first thirteen seasons. So since I have the opportunity now, thank you, Timmy. Thank you very much for all these years. Thank you for the four rings I have in my home because of you. Thank you for making me better, and everybody that ever played with you." Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich combined to win five championships together during the lifelong Spur's 19 seasons in the NBA. Said Duncan on Sunday night: "Thank you, Coach Pop, for being more than a coach -- for being more like a father to me." AP Photo/Darren Abate The San Antonio Spurs honored Duncan, the five-time NBA champion, two-time Most Valuable Player, three-time Finals MVP and 15-time All-NBA selection, with a series of speeches and stories that captured what made him just about peerless when it came to combining on-court excellence with quiet leadership. But he improved the next season and started the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. Also, he led the team to their fourth NBA Championships with a comfortable 4-0 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals. In contrast, Duncan didn’t win the Finals MVP. Substandard Performances

The Deacons won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in the 1994-95 season and the 1995-96 season. Duncan led the national team to qualify for the 2000 Olympics with a 10-0 finish in 1999. However, he missed out on the Olympics with a knee injury. But a look inside Tim Duncan, the man, provides some clues explaining how a rail-thin kid from the U.S. Virgin Islands — one with aspirations to become an Olympic swimmer before Hurricane Hugo destroyed all the local pools in 1989 — took the league by storm and elevated not only the unproven Popovich but an entire NBA franchise with simple, yet crucial character attributes instilled by his parents, Delysia Ione and William Duncan, on the 82-square-mile island of St. Croix in the Caribbean.Duncan conducted himself similarly with the franchise over the years when it came to transactions. Buford and Popovich always made it a point to involve the club’s star player in any discussions about potential moves that needed to be made. Buford even admitted that “the kiss of death was to become good friends with Tim because I think we traded everyone that Timmy was good friends with. It started with Cory Alexander, then (Phoenix Suns coach) Monty (Williams), then Malik (Rose), Antonio Daniels.” Duncan has been at several Spurs practices this season, and worked out on the court with newcomer forward/center Pau Gasol on Monday. But considering the knee pain “The Big Fundamental” endured during his career, no major miracle return is expected. During his final NBA season last year, at age 39, Duncan averaged career-lows of 8.6 points and 7.3 rebounds and struggled in the postseason. A banner bearing Tim Duncan's name and No. 21 jersey was unveiled in the rafters of the AT&T Center on Sunday to cap a ceremony befitting one of the greatest to ever play basketball. In many ways, those close to Duncan consider the circumstances surrounding his enshrinement almost perfect. I'm going to tell you this: I won a lot of bets tonight," Duncan joked. "I didn't wear jeans. I wore a sport coat, and I spoke for more than 30 seconds. Thank you, San Antonio. Thank you."

You knew that day was going to come,” Spurs guard Tony Parker told The Undefeated. “It’s already unbelievable that he played 19 years, especially with his knees. It’s a great honor. Well-deserved. He’s the best power forward of all time. I can’t wait for that day. It’s going to be a great night.” Blucas jokes Duncan might “walk up there and give the Bubba Smith speech from “Police Academy.” He’ll say, ‘thanks’ and walk away. But that is perfectly Tim.” Cheryl is a nurse who was initially a swimmer. At the same time, Tricia represented the U.S. Virgin Islands at the 1988 Summer Olympics for swimming. Scott is a film director and cinematographer. The glory days returned to the Spurs in the 2013-2014 season. They ended the season with the league-best of 62 wins. Significantly, they won the NBA Finals 4-1 against Miami Heat. The 15-time NBA All-Star’s career is quite an aspiring success story. He has made a lot of fans attracting them with his outstanding style of play and leadership.Duncan would start 32 of 33 games as a freshman at Wake Forest. That one season fighting alongside the power forward made a powerful impression on Blucas. Tim Duncan is a famous basketball player who played with Spurs for 19 years. He was the Sports Illustrated ‘s 2003 “Sportsmen of the Year.” Tim Duncan, The Search Graph (Source: Google Trend) In his typical understated fashion, Duncan spoke for 4 minutes, 18 seconds, thanking a group sitting at center court that included his college coach at Wake Forest, Dave Odom, along with his children, various family members, former teammates Bowen, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Robinson and Elliott, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, and general manager R.C. Buford. Tim Duncan joked that he "won a lot of bets" Sunday night because he wore a sport coat -- and no jeans -- to his jersey retirement ceremony and spoke for more than 30 seconds. AP Photo/Darren Abate

San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan, right, hugs Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich during Duncan’s jersey retirement ceremony, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in San Antonio. And who can forget that Duncan teamed with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to reel off 126 playoff victories, the most in NBA history by any trio — which also owns the most regular-season victories in NBA history (575) — and register as the first set of three teammates or more to capture four championships side-by-side since Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper and Kurt Rambis, according to Elias Sports Bureau? Popovich has been known for his fiery, straight-no-chaser coaching style through which he treats every player the same. But it’s no secret that no player has meant more to him than Duncan. If there was ever a moment where the former Spurs star and his beloved coach were to show a teary side, Duncan’s jersey retirement ceremony could be the night. As the Spurs started preparations for Duncan’s induction ceremony, a contingent of staffers strolled past general manager Brian Wright’s office. Surprisingly, they discovered both of Duncan’s MVP trophies and one of his three Finals MVP awards sitting in a box, caked in dust. After the prior captain, Robinson retired before the 2003-04 season, Duncan became the team’s new leader. With him, the team reached the Western Conference Semifinals, where they lost to Los Angeles Lakers in five games.The truth is, it’s impossible to distill Duncan’s career into words or some lengthy think piece. We already know about the mind-boggling stats, the five titles, the two MVPs and 15 All-Star appearances, not to mention the fact Duncan retired in 2016 ranked second in playoff victories, first in playoff double-doubles and third in postseason rebounds. It began with Sean Elliott, the master of ceremonies, bringing up Duncan's "class and true humility." When he said that Duncan was the "ultimate teammate" and that he "changed the Spurs organization into the standard of the NBA and all professional sports," Duncan looked sheepish.