[9] Duncan was first in the 1996–97 NCAA Division I in rebounding, tenth in blocked shots (3.3 bpg), and 28th in scoring (20.8 ppg). Despite their new captain's slight statistical slump (20.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.6 blocks per game),[5] the Spurs won the second seed for the 2005 NBA playoffs by winning 59 games. [67] Duncan then recorded 20 points and 15 rebounds in Game 6,[68] and the Spurs relied on their experience to seal the series in Game 7. In the playoffs, he led the Spurs to a 4–1 series win over the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs, a 4–2 win over the Phoenix Suns in the second round, and a 4–1 win against the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Finals, setting up a meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals. [9] He was dealt another emotional blow when his mother died of breast cancer one day before his 14th birthday. [36] In this series, a large contingent of Virgin Islanders flew over to support their local hero,[37] and were not disappointed. Timothy Theodore Duncan (Timmy, The Big Fundamental, Groundhog Day, Old Man Riverwalk, The Stone Buddha) Position: Center and Power Forward Shoots: Right 6-11, 250lb (211cm, 113kg) . The star power forward, who is now 35 years old, no longer possesses the athleticism and physical skills he once had. [5] The Spurs were coming off an injury-riddled 1996–97 season; their best player, David Robinson—himself a number one draft pick in 1987—was sidelined for most of the year, and they had finished with a 20–62 win–loss record. [5] In the 2001 NBA playoffs, the Spurs eliminated the Timberwolves 3–1, defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4–1, but then bowed out against the Lakers (led by superstars Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant) in four straight games. They set up a Finals rematch against the Miami Heat, which they won, 4–1, setting a record margin for a win in the NBA Finals, for games 3 and 4. Again, we had a (heck) of a run at it. Tim Duncan earned Rookie of the Year honors his first season. [137], On April 4, 2020, it was announced that Duncan would be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 29. In 1999, Duncan and Robinson teamed up to guide the Spurs to their first NBA title. "Spurs raise Tim Duncan's jersey to rafters in emotional ceremony", "U.S. men's avenge loss to Lithuania, earn bronze", "Q&A: Kareem on teaching, the Lakers and Tim Duncan", "Why the basketball world never embraced Tim Duncan", "Tribute to Tim Duncan of the Virgin Islands", "ACC 50th Anniversary Men's Basketball Team", "The Association for Professional Basketball Research's 100 Greatest Professional Basketball Players of the 20th Century", "The Sporting News NBA Most Valuable Player", "2000s: The Decade in Sports; NBA: Highlights and lowlights", "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Announcement presented by Fifty-Five South Ventures", "Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett lead star-studded Basketball Hall of Fame class", "Duncan returning to Spurs as an assistant coach", "Tim Duncan to Join Gregg Popovich's Staff As Assistant Coach", "Tim Duncan's future a hot topic after San Antonio Spurs' coaching debut", "Tim Duncan stepping down as Spurs' assistant coach", "Tim Duncan, BlackJack Speed Shop pitch in to help Harvey Victims", "Secret hearing marks end of Duncans' union", "#21 Announces the Tim Duncan Foundation", "Feds charge — and sue — Tim Duncan's former financial adviser", "Ex-adviser admits defrauding Tim Duncan", "Duncan gets back $7.5 million in settlement with ex-adviser", "Tim Duncan paying for college students in U.S. Virgin Islands to get home during coronavirus crisis", NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award, NBA Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, Naismith Men's College Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Men's Player of the Year Award, Associated Press Men's College Basketball Player of the Year, 1996 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, 1997 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tim_Duncan&oldid=1011702604, All-American college men's basketball players, American people of United States Virgin Islands descent, Basketball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics, National Basketball Association All-Stars, National Basketball Association players with retired numbers, Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in basketball, People from Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, United States men's national basketball team players, United States Virgin Islands men's basketball players, Universiade gold medalists for the United States, Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball players, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 12 March 2021, at 10:15. Remember, bros, this is the same guy who used to show up to games wearing tucked in button-down plaid shirts, which made him resemble a 60-year-old man than one of the best power forwards in NBA history. On June 28, 2016, Duncan opted into his $5.6 million contract for the 2016–17 season. You take great players as you find them. It wasn’t fun as much. [9], In the year before Duncan's arrival at Wake Forest University, the Demon Deacons reached the Sweet 16, but then lost leading scorer Rodney Rogers, who entered the 1993 NBA draft. [89][90] On November 14, 2014, Duncan scored his 25,000th point in the first half of the Spurs' 93–80 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming the 19th player in NBA history to reach the milestone. [5] Coupled with another pair of All-NBA and All-Defensive First Team nods, he was named the league's Most Valuable Player, joining teammate David Robinson as one of only two Spurs players in history to have earned the honor. Recently Passed Away Celebrities and Famous People. On January 21, 2010, Duncan was named as the starting forward for the West for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. [106] On March 10, Duncan became the sixth player in league history with 15,000 rebounds, completing the feat midway through the first quarter of the Spurs' 109–101 win over the Chicago Bulls. [37] After a Game 3 loss in which Duncan was held scoreless in the third quarter and committed three turnovers in the last quarter, Duncan bounced back with 28 points and 18 rebounds in a Game 4 win,[37] and in Game 5, the Spurs protected a 78–77 lead seconds from the end with the ball in the Knicks' possession. [70], Duncan started the 2008–09 season with strong showings in points and rebounds per game. He had a lot of success from his rookie season until the end of his career. Helped by a supporting cast comprising Danny Green, Tiago Splitter, Gary Neal and Kawhi Leonard that had been maturing steadily over the last two seasons, Duncan and the Spurs would again make the playoffs with a 58–24 regular season record. Omissions? "[150], Duncan enjoys Renaissance fairs and the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. [9], In the 1996–97 NCAA season, new 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) Demon Deacon and future NBA player Loren Woods eased the pressure on Duncan close to the basket. [65] In the first game of the next round against the Chris Paul-led Hornets, San Antonio was badly defeated 101–82 as Duncan played one of the worst playoff games in his career, recording only 5 points and 3 rebounds. [8], In school, Duncan was a bright pupil and dreamt of becoming an Olympic-level swimmer like Tricia. Tim Duncan Net worth, Salary, and Facts. [43] Duncan, who managed 34 points and a franchise-high 25 rebounds in Game 5, stated his frustration: "I thought we really had a chance at this series. When Duncan retired, he was the fourth-highest paid player in NBA history. Since 1997 to 2016, he played professionally. That's a strange statement, one we've be … [5] However, the Spurs had a disappointing post-season. [120] Because of his versatility and success, basketball experts widely consider Duncan to be the greatest power forward in NBA history,[2][121] while coach Popovich and teammates Parker and Ginóbili have also credited much of San Antonio's success to him. [9] Given the weak level of basketball in the Virgin Islands, Odom was wary about Duncan at first, especially after first meeting him and thinking him inattentive; Duncan stared blankly at Odom for most of the conversation. One thing people may not immediately know about Duncan is that he loves cars. Tim Duncan, in full Timothy Theodore Duncan, (born April 25, 1976, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands), American collegiate and professional basketball player who led the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to five championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014). [15] Duncan struggled with early transition problems and was even held scoreless in his first college game, but as the year progressed, he and teammate Randolph Childress led the Deacons to a 20–11 win–loss record. [148], In 2001,[149] Duncan established the Tim Duncan Foundation to fund programs involving health awareness and research, education, and youth sports and recreation in San Antonio, Winston-Salem, and the United States Virgin Islands. In the 1997 NBA draft, the San Antonio Spurs drafted Duncan with the first draft pick. "[12] He overcame his awkwardness to become a standout for the St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School, averaging 25 points per game as a senior. [64] The trio of Duncan, Ginóbili and Parker continued playing to form for the remainder of the series, and the Spurs eliminated the Suns in five games. [9] Duncan's style of play was simple yet effective, combining an array of low-post moves, mid-range bank shots, and tough defense. When it’s not fun anymore, I’m done.” — Quixem Ramirez (@quixem) July 13, 2016. [132] In the 2001–02 season, he won the IBM Player Award[133] and the Sporting News (TSN) MVP Award,[134] becoming the third player to ever win the NBA MVP, IBM Player and TSN Player Awards in the same season. [14], In the 1994–95 NCAA season, the sophomore was soon called one of the best prospects among the eligible for the NBA, along with peers Joe Smith, Rasheed Wallace, and Jerry Stackhouse. Tim Duncan, however, was tagged with a DND-Old, and it's amazing. Tim Duncan won 71 percent of his games, made the playoffs every single year, never went more than six seasons between championships, won titles in three different decades. He's [had] a different cast around him [in] '99, '03 and '05. "[52] Then-NBA commissioner David Stern added: "[Duncan] is a player for the ages. [110] The Spurs went on to lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs. [69] However, arch-rivals Los Angeles Lakers defeated San Antonio in five games in the Conference Finals, and the Spurs once again failed to capture back-to-back NBA championships. [13] Following this successful Spurs campaign, Robinson and Duncan were named Sports Illustrated's 2003 "Sportsmen of the Year". The Spurs went on to conclude the 2013–14 regular season with a league-best 62 wins. Duncan was used to living in his small town with lots of babies but little to no building. [5] At the end of his final season in 2015–16, he was ranked first in regular-season point-rebound double-doubles among active players,[118] while he led the charts in post-season point-rebound double-doubles (158 as of 2013–14). Tim Duncan facts One of the greatest power forwards of all time, he is a five-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year He is also a 15-time NBA All-Star and the only player to be selected to both the All-NBA and All … Tim Duncan was born and raised in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. [11], Duncan was honored with the Virgin Islands Medal of Honor, the highest award bestowed by the Virgin Islands territorial government, and has been celebrated in several "Tim Duncan Day" ceremonies. The magnitude of Tim Duncan's contributions over his 19-year career are every bit as remarkable as the announcement of his retirement on Monday was understated: Duncan … Tim Duncan, 43, stands at the height of 6 feet and 11 inches. [57] Regarded as one of the league's best interior defenders, Duncan also ranked consistently as one of the top scorers, rebounders and shot-blockers in the league. With a win over the Warriors, the Spurs recorded their 35th straight home win of the season and their 44th straight at home dating to 2014–15, tied for the second-longest streak in NBA history with the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls. Double teamed by Duncan and Robinson, Knicks swingman Latrell Sprewell missed a last-second desperation shot,[37] and after closing out the series with a strong 31-point and 9-rebound showing in Game 5, Duncan was named Finals MVP, bringing San Antonio their first-ever NBA championship. [9] On her deathbed, she made Duncan and his sisters promise that they would graduate from college, going a long way in explaining Duncan's later refusal to leave college early for the NBA. Tim Duncan. Not for Tim though. [42] On the other hand, Duncan's team struggled with the fact that the aging Robinson was no longer able to sustain his level of performance, and backup center-forward Malik Rose had to step in more often. The story is too old to be commented. Through his 1,000th game, the Spurs have been 707–293; only Scottie Pippen (715–285) had a better record with his team through his first 1,000 games. [94] On April 12, he played his 1,330th career game against the Phoenix Suns, which passed Moses Malone for 11th all-time. At the ripe old age of 37, superstars usually have slowed down long ago, becoming a shadow of their former selves, or more commonly, have retired from the game with the NBA a happy but distant memory. The Suns—defeated by the Spurs in three of the past four seasons of playoffs—were out for revenge and featured a new player in four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal. [108] On April 5, in a win over the Utah Jazz, he became the third player with 1,000 victories in the regular season, following Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robert Parish. [74], With the Spurs looking to provide a more solid supporting cast in the 2009–10 season, they acquired Richard Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Antonio McDyess, DeJuan Blair, and Keith Bogans. [5] In the 1999 NBA playoffs, the Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 3–1, swept the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers 4–0, and defeated the Cinderella-story New York Knicks 4–1 in the Finals. "[57] Pistons center Ben Wallace remarked: "He put his team on his shoulders and carried them to a championship [...t]hat's what the great players do. Since 1997 to 2016, he played professionally. [46] In the Western Conference Semifinals against the Lakers, Duncan dominated forward Robert Horry[47] and closed out the series in style; Duncan finished Game 6 with 37 points and 16 rebounds. Tim Duncan Net worth, Salary, and Facts. [111] However, on July 11, 2016, he announced his retirement from the NBA after 19 seasons with San Antonio. I'm proud of his attitude and effort. Though it meant passing up a large amount of money, Duncan was loath to deviate from his determination to stay in school. Birthday: April 25, 1976 How Old - Age: 44. He played from the San Antonio Spurs throughout his 19-years-long career. On February 18, 2006, he was named one of the Next 10 Greatest Players on the tenth anniversary of the release of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team by the TNT broadcasting crew. Duncan started out as an aspiring swimmer and only began playing basketball in ninth grade, when Hurricane Hugo destroyed the only available Olympic-sized pool in his homeland of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. In game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, Duncan recorded his 500th playoff block, becoming the first player in NBA history to reach that milestone, although the NBA did not track blocks prior to the 1973–74 season. Duncan was subsequently named the Western Conference Player of the Week for the last week of November. [9] Detroit won the next two games and the series was eventually tied at 3–3, but Duncan was instrumental in Game 7, recording 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Spurs defeated the Pistons. Duncan earned his 15th career All-Star Game appearance in 2014–15 and led the team to 55 regular-season wins, but the Spurs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs while playing in a historically good Western Conference field. During his career with the San Antonio Spurs he won five NBA Championships and was named NBA Rookie of the Year and was named NBA finals Most Valuable Player three times. If your opponent picks up on this frustration, you are at a disadvantage. [13] The Duncans divorced in August 2013. During his early days, he dreamt of becoming a swimmer, but his interest quickly vanished when only an Olympic-sized swimming pool of Virgin Island by Hurricane Hugo. [93] Two days later, he recorded three blocks against the Denver Nuggets to surpass Patrick Ewing for sixth overall in career blocks. Duncan injured his meniscus shortly before the end of the regular season and was unable to play in even one postseason game. Coach Popovich also praised Duncan: "Tim is the common denominator. In the same way a corporate executive should put the needs of employees, customers and shareholders above his or her … The Spurs won the 1997 Draft Lottery, and it didn’t take long for San Antonians to fall in love with Tim Duncan. It’s like the universe reversed itself and made Tim Duncan cool of a sudden. Timothy is alive and kicking and is currently 44 years old. [80] Along the way, the Spurs compiled a 12-game winning streak to go 13–2 after 15 games. [147], In 2017, Duncan and longtime girlfriend Vanessa Macias welcomed a child, daughter Quill Duncan. Among other things, she taught him and his sisters the nursery rhyme "Good, Better, Best. [138][139], On July 22, 2019, the San Antonio Spurs announced that Duncan was named an assistant coach. From the beginning, Duncan estab… He has been named to 15 NBA All-Star Teams (1997–98; 1999–2000 to 2010–11; 2012–13 and 2014–15), 15 All-NBA Teams (1997–98 to 2009–10, 2012–13, 2014–15; ten First Team nominations), and 15 All-Defensive Teams (1997–98 to 2009–10; 2012–13, 2014–15; eight First Team nominations). The duo earned a reputation for their exceptional defense close to the basket. ... Horry made several iconic big shots. After that season, Duncan was named league MVP, and The Admiral retired. Known for his intensity, defensive ability, and versatility, Garnett is considered one of the greatest power forwards of all time. In Game 1, Duncan set the tone with a 40-point game and a rare three-pointer that sent the game into double overtime. Retired NBA basketball player, Tim Duncan, is one of the greatest players of all time known as the “gentle giant”. [55], Duncan and his Spurs looked to re-assert themselves in the next 2004–05 season. [20] Later, during the NCAA tournament, Stanford University, led by future NBA point guard Brevin Knight, eliminated Wake Forest with a 72–66 win. The last person to leave the Spurs practice floor: Tim Duncan, same as the last 20 years pic.twitter.com/aPGkSSeAOP — Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) November 8, 2016 Duncan also moved into fifth all time on the NBA's blocks list. Tim was born on 25th April 1976 as the third child of William Duncan and Lone Duncan in Saint Croix, Virgin Islands. At the ripe old age of 37, superstars usually have slowed down long ago, becoming a shadow of their former selves, or more commonly, have retired from the game with the NBA a happy but distant memory. [82] The Spurs were 29–4 after 33 games—one of the ten best starts in NBA history[83]–and led the league at 35–6 halfway through the season. [150] In 2000, Legislature of the Virgin Islands President Vargrave Richards said, "He is a quiet giant. [73] As it turned out, Duncan and Parker were not enough to help the Spurs avoid a 4–1 defeat by Dallas, and the Spurs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2000. "[125] Sports journalist Kevin Kernan commented on his ability to relax and stay focused, stating that having a degree in psychology, Duncan often not only outplays, but out-psychs his opponents. [...] Other than his height, I couldn't tell him from any other student at Wake Forest. Tap to unmute. After graduating with honours in 1997, Duncan was the Spurs’ first overall pick. [52] His colleagues were more appreciative of Duncan; among others, ex-teammate David Robinson referred to the Spurs titles as the "Tim Duncan era", and lauded his leadership. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tim-Duncan, The Famous People - Biography of Tim Duncan, Tim Duncan - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). He gives all the extra effort and work and wants to become a better player. [39], In the next season, Duncan averaged 22.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 blocks per game. His mother died in 1990 due to breast cancer when he was just 14 years old. On July 11, 2012, Duncan agreed to re-sign with the Spurs. From his flourished basketball career, the player is now worth multi-million dollar. On May 31, 2012, in the third game of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Duncan set the record for most career blocks in playoffs history, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. "[30] Center Robinson was equally impressed with Duncan: "He's the real thing. [7] Cheryl was a champion swimmer before she became a nurse, and Tricia swam for the U.S. Virgin Islands at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. [122][123] Duncan's detractors, however, label him as "boring" because of his simple but effective style of play (thus earning him the nickname "The Big Fundamental"). In that postseason he led the Spurs to the franchise’s fifth appearance in the NBA finals, where the team lost a seven-game series to the Miami Heat. He was a 15-time NBA All-Star and led the Spurs to … But he was incredible and he was the force that got it done for us. Later, when Duncan played against opposing Houston Rockets Hall of Fame power forward Charles Barkley, Barkley was so impressed he said: "I have seen the future and he wears number 21. After 19 seasons, 1,643 total games, 56,738 total minutes, 31,668 total points, five championships and two MVP awards — Tim Duncan has retired.