Amid the basketball world being riveted with the new super team in Oakland, Tim Duncan quietly retired yesterday. To my knowledge, no big press conference, no open letter on the Players’ Tribune, no farewell tour like we witnessed with Kobe Bryant, no estrangement with his only pro team like we just observed with Dwayne Wade. From what I understand he just quietly called Pop and said it was time.
How beautiful and fitting for Tim Duncan to end his illustrious NBA career in this manner.
Most regard Duncan as the greatest power forward to ever play the game. He stayed in the non glamour city of San Antonio and won five championships along side Greg Popovich. He seldom drew attention to himself like we see so often in today’s world of sport. Just did his job and carried his team like the genuine superstar he truly was.
As a player he did everything well. Good shooter, good rebounder, excellent passer, and a good defender. There wasn’t a glamour factor to Tim Duncan, but he did everything well and morphed his game with his teammates.
I have Tim Duncan as my seventh or eighth greatest player of all time on my top ten list. His career ended in the Spurs’ Game 6 loss in Oklahoma City this spring. He had a tough series, but in Game 6 he had 19 points and his best game of the series.
Unlike so many stars in pro sports he didn’t hang around too long. He didn’t extort his franchise to the point of making them non-competitive. He was the quintessential professional in an age of sports which makes you want to cry at times.
If you’re crying for Tim Duncan today, it’s a good cry. One with a mixture of joy, gratitude, and thanks.