Humble, hard-working Tim Duncan followed unorthodox path to Hall of Fame

SAN ANTONIO — The contents inside Lonnie Walker IV’s gut churned, retched up and splattered into a puddle on the floor.

There’s no embarrassment if a novice who’s not in peak physical condition throws up after working out with the retired Tim Duncan.

Duncan immediately rushed over to clean up the mess.

“Once the cleaning was done, Timmy told Lonnie, ‘Get back on the court, we have work to do,'” remembered Spurs CEO R.C. Buford recently, while sitting on a deserted patio at a local Mexican restaurant. “Timmy was in the gym that day, solely working with Lonnie who was out of shape after tearing his meniscus and missing the starting eight weeks of the season. Tim wasn’t even a coach yet. But when you have Tim Duncan cleaning up your mess, it speaks volumes.”

Adding another to two decades’ worth in his 19-season NBA career, Duncan’s immense contributions helped shape the culture of the San Antonio Spurs. This culminated in his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday.

“The tale is quite remarkable,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “Everyone is familiar with the story, and it’s factual. We’re all extremely pleased about it. We continue to raise a toast to him during our meals, expressing our gratitude with, ‘Thank you, Timmy.’ So, it’s evidently extraordinary.”

In all honesty, it’s impracticable to encapsulate Duncan’s career into words or any extended analytical article. We are already aware of his staggering statistics, five championships, two MVPs, and 15 All-Star appearances. Not to forget, when Duncan retired in 2016, he was ranked second in playoff victories, first in playoff double-doubles, and third in postseason rebounds.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the 15-year gap between Duncan’s first (1999) and last (2014) title ranks as the second longest in league history. This record is only surpassed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 17-year span, among players who participated in both NBA Finals series.

We understand that Duncan and John Salley are the exclusive players in NBA history to have won titles in three separate decades. Furthermore, Duncan is the first Hall of Fame inductee who has played his entire career of a minimum of 15 seasons under the same coach.

Who can overlook the fact that Duncan joined forces with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to achieve a record-breaking 126 playoff victories, the highest in NBA history by any trio? This same trio also holds the record for most regular-season victories in NBA history with 575. Moreover, they were the first group of three or more teammates to win four championships together since Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper, and Kurt Rambis, as per Elias Sports Bureau.

“Duncan said, “It’s a blend of my personal competitiveness, passion for the game, abhorrence of losing, and a dedicated organization that ensures the best conditions to offer a city, a team, and a player like me the chance to win year after year.”

Though, the explanation of how Duncan achieved everything is more complex.

Remember, although Duncan’s fundamentals were almost perfect, he wasn’t known for his spectacular athleticism. His ex-teammate from Wake Forest and close friend, Marc Blucas humorously remarks, “Both of us will admit that he can’t jump over a phone book.”

Exploring the inner life of Tim Duncan can give us some insight into how a skinny kid from the U.S. Virgin Islands – who initially dreamed of becoming an Olympic swimmer until Hurricane Hugo demolished all the local pools in 1989 – stormed the NBA league. It wasn’t just his skills, but his vital character traits, instilled by his parents, Delysia Ione and William Duncan, on the small 82-square-mile island of St. Croix in the Caribbean. These traits not only elevated the untested Popovich but also uplifted an entire NBA franchise.

Make no mistake. Before Duncan arrived in San Antonio as the top pick of the 1997 draft, the San Antonio Spurs were already functioning as somewhat of a militaristic, regimented franchise under Popovich and what Buford called “a really principled group of standard bearers” such as David Robinson, Mario Elie, Avery Johnson, Sean Elliott and Terry Porter.

Buford explained, “Timmy brought a softening influence. The environment wasn’t as regimented and rigid as before. The bond between Pop and Tim also contributed to creating a more nurturing atmosphere.”

SENSE OF HUMOR: Before joining the cast of the TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and later starring opposite Katie Holmes in “First Daughter” in an acting career spanning more than 30 movie credits, Marc Blucas was a senior guard at Wake Forest “playing above my gene pool” when a 17-year-old Duncan walked into the gym on the first day of school.

Duncan, who was the least hyped among Wake Forest’s three recruits from the 1993 class, anticipated redshirting during his freshman year.

Marc Blucas, a longtime friend of Tim Duncan, shared a laugh with him and Grant Hill in 2014.

After playing just one session of pick-up ball with Duncan, Blucas and his fellow senior captain Randolph Childress quickly came up with a new plan.

“You could easily discern,” said Blucas. “His play indicated he was already part of the team. He was extremely composed yet fiercely competitive. I distinctly remember telling Randolph Childress, ‘We need to inform (coach Dave) Odom not to redshirt this young player.’ We promptly went and conveyed our thoughts to him.”

At Wake Forest, Duncan started in 32 out of 33 games during his freshman year. Blucas was greatly impressed by playing alongside the power forward for that one season.

“He expressed his desire to understand the origins of the man, his lessons, morals, and how these influenced his game,” he said. “After spending some time with him, he eagerly told him, ‘I am keen to see what shaped you. I want to spend a week or so in St. Croix to witness firsthand how it all began.'”

Thus, Blucas booked a trip to the island after graduation.

Blucas now finds the story of Lonnie Walker IV’s vomit amusing because it brings to mind a similar incident from their visit to St. Croix. This incident showcased Duncan’s quick wit and humor, qualities that prove beneficial in dealing with the long and demanding NBA season.

“That’s just like Tim,” Blucas remarked. “He’ll do the most humbling things you can imagine, and then he’ll either hit you with an unexpected joke or tell you to toughen up, get back on the court, and continue playing. It’s as if he’s saying, ‘Alright, you threw up. I cleaned it. Now, let’s move on.'”

Blucas unknowingly stepped on a sea urchin and inadvertently created his own Lonnie Walker-like tale while snorkeling with Duncan on a sunny summer day in St. Croix.

“Blucas said, “It’s stinging like hell.”

Therefore, upon their return to the beach, Duncan explains in a calm manner, “Hey, you’ve got to urinate on it.”

Blucas chuckled, “Funny Island Boy, you’re not going to trick this inland white kid into believing I have to urinate on my foot to alleviate pain.” Tim, however, was adamant. “I’m not joking. It’s extremely painful. I’ve tried it. The acidity and PH level of urine can actually reduce the pain. Urinate on it.” I responded, “Well, I don’t need to pee.” He looked at me, grinning broadly, and said, “Well, I do.”

Telling the story, Blucas bursts into laughter.

He stated, “I told them, ‘Forget it. You’re not going to upset me. I know this is nonsense.'” However, he admitted, “Turns out it wasn’t nonsense. I did eventually pee on my foot and it felt much better. But it’s very similar to Lonnie’s story. It’s about not taking oneself too seriously. It’s about having a sense of humor. It’s this wonderful equilibrium of, ‘We’re going to work extremely hard, and that’s what’s expected from everyone. So, let’s enjoy ourselves while we’re at it. Let’s genuinely be friends.'”

Tim, Pop, and their entire crew embody a very specific design. They draft their team based on the leadership qualities of their superstar. In the Spurs’ case, they choose players who would feel inspired to see the alleged superstar being scolded by Pop, or even cleaning up someone else’s mess on the field. This motivates them to think, ‘I should pull my weight because he’s going above and beyond his duties.’

LEADERSHIP THROUGH SELFLESSNESS: In Duncan’s 19 seasons as a player and one as an assistant on the Spurs staff, Buford said nobody in the organization can remember a single instance he was late.

Duncan’s display of professionalism, one of many over the years, has set a standard for the entire franchise to emulate.

Before even drafting him, the Spurs saw other examples.

Keep in mind that Duncan remained at Wake Forest for his entire four-year stint, contrary to Buford’s assumption that he could have been the first overall pick in his sophomore year, or possibly even his freshman year. Duncan completed his education at Wake Forest, fulfilling a promise to his mother to graduate. Additionally, Duncan had a desire to support his teammates and fully immerse himself in the college experience.

“His primary focus was, in my opinion, on the experience, the journey, and the camaraderie with his teammates,” explained Blucas. “If that wasn’t the case, Tim simply wasn’t interested. He played the game to win, but he also played to foster his friendships and enjoy the time with his teammates. He was the kind of guy who wanted to live in the present moment, rather than always looking to the future or daydreaming.”

During the pre-Draft process, Popovich learned as much firsthand.

“Pop was out of his mind, thinking we should draft Scot Pollard,” said Buford. However, once it was decided that Duncan would be the No. 1 overall pick, Popovich scheduled a trip to the Virgin Islands to get to know Duncan.

Buford said, “He discovered details about Tim’s family, including the significance of Tim’s mother, who died when Tim was 14. I believe Pop revealed stories about his own life and background, which he seldom does now. I think they truly got to understand each other. When Pop returned, all he shared was, ‘This is an exceptional individual, and we’re going to enjoy experiencing this journey with him.'”

Immediately, Popovich recognized all the qualities in Duncan that set him apart.

“From our time together, the first qualities I noticed in him were his exceptional intelligence, amazing sense of humor, and deep respect for the game,” said Popovich. “His primary concern was winning, and nothing else. Furthermore, his company was enjoyable. These were the characteristics that stood out to me initially.”

What Popovich couldn’t have anticipated is the profound depth of it all.

Lon Babby, Duncan’s former agent who subsequently worked as a front office executive with the Phoenix Suns, said he quickly learned a valuable lesson from the power forward even before Duncan played his first game in the NBA.

Prior to the start of Duncan’s rookie season, he and Babby rode in the back of a car on the way to a Schick commercial shoot that would feature the No. 1 draft pick playing one-on-one in a backyard with Spurs’ veteran star David Robinson. The premise of the commercial centered on the veteran teaching the rookie a lesson. But on the way to the shoot, an issue arose with the script about one of Robinson’s lines.

“Babby, who also represented Hall of Fame inductee Tamika Catchings, recounted a conversation he had. He said, ‘We were discussing it and I told Tim, ‘My responsibility is to look out for your interests, so David’s perspective isn’t my primary concern.’ However, Tim responded, ‘While you may not need to consider it, I do. I’ll be his teammate, and he’s been this team’s star. I need to be mindful of his sentiments.”

I recall looking at him and saying, ‘Look, I’m 40 and you’re 22, yet you’re teaching me about teamwork and leadership.’ He was always ready to suppress his own ego for the benefit of his team members.

Over the years, Duncan took a similar approach with the franchise regarding transactions. Both Buford and Popovich always ensured that the team’s star player was included in any discussions about potential changes. Buford confessed, “Befriending Tim was a kiss of death since we seemed to trade everyone he was close to. It started with Cory Alexander, followed by (Phoenix Suns coach) Monty (Williams), then Malik (Rose), and Antonio Daniels.”

Duncan never attempted to persuade the team’s management to retain his friends. Indeed, the situation escalated to the point where Popovich and Duncan concurred that in any conversation about possibly transferring close friends, the team wouldn’t even consult the power forward for his viewpoint.

“Tim constantly made decisions based on what was best for the team,” Buford noted. “His actions were always geared towards team interests, not personal ones. His stoic approach to life is quite unique. His perspective on life and his world is different from many people’s. Watching him assess and evaluate teammates, newcomers, and opponents through a lens that is not typical of most NBA players was often intriguing,” he added.

Tim Duncan acutely understood the influence his words and actions could have on his teammates, regardless of whether they were superstars or role players.

Then, there’s Duncan’s day-to-day presence at the team’s training facility, leading through actions rather than words.

Duncan continues to be a frequent presence in the Spurs’ practice gym on the Northwest side of San Antonio to this day. Even though he’s retired, he regularly messages Spurs staff to express his longing to see them and his eagerness to rejoin them in the gym.

Players in the NBA use a shooting machine known as The Gun on practice courts every day. This device gathers and returns the ball to the shooter, eliminating the need for a rebounder to retrieve balls. Typically, an assistant or equipment manager prepares the machine for the players.

Not in San Antonio.

“Timmy was the one who would set up and take down The Gun himself,” Buford said. “No other player did that. They would have the manager do it. It’s a precedent that he established. It wasn’t through his words, but through his personality that Timmy set the standard.”

The echo still rings loudly at the team’s facility.

As preparations for Duncan’s induction ceremony began, a group of Spurs staff members walked past the office of general manager Brian Wright. To their surprise, they found both of Duncan’s MVP awards and one of his three Finals MVP trophies in a box, coated in dust.

“Who the heck knows where they’ve been?” Buford chuckled. “They’re not exactly displayed in the center of the house. But if a successful person keeps his trophies stashed away in a dusty closet, then that’s likely where all of ours should be as well.”

CARING: Popovich lost his top two assistants in the summer of 2019 when Ime Udoka (currently a Brooklyn Nets assistant) joined the staff of the Philadelphia 76ers, while lead assistant Ettore Messina returned to Italy with Olimpia Milano.

Duncan, at that time, was finally settling into retirement, regularly attending his children’s events and telling friends he was “being a real dad”.

Yet Duncan quickly gave up that life to join Popovich’s staff as an assistant.

Duncan’s father, William, passed away in 2002. Prior to his death, he had entrusted Popovich with the task of ensuring his son remained humble, even amidst his rising fame, so that he would exit the game with the same character he had before becoming a superstar. Duncan has always seen Popovich as a fatherly figure and it has become a tradition for them to get together on the anniversary of William’s death for a beer and introspective discussions.

During the 2019-20 season, Tim Duncan was an assistant coach for the Spurs.

Therefore, when Popovich’s top assistants decided to leave the team, Duncan chose to stay and support his coach, as reported by several staff members. When Buford was questioned about Duncan joining the team, he became emotional and chose not to discuss the issue in detail.

Blucas understood.

“Tim found it hard to do, especially when he was already at home, able to attend his kids’ events, volleyball games, and car pickups without having to travel,” Blucas described. “I believe it was his loyalty to Pop and the organization. It definitely wasn’t guilt. But it was more like, ‘I can’t let him or them struggle without my involvement.’ I think there was a sense of responsibility that ties back to who Tim Duncan is as a person: loyal, honorable, and appreciative of those who have done things for him.”

Duncan led as a player on the sport’s most competitive stage with this level of caring.

“Babby described his mental image of Tim Duncan as a caring teammate, gently patting a colleague’s head as they leave the court after a timeout. He believes many have witnessed Duncan demonstrating this affectionate gesture numerous times, and to him, it encapsulates Duncan’s character perfectly.”

It’s authentic, too.

Blucas witnessed it in person as Duncan’s teammate in college. His experience came from lengthy discussions and sharing a bus seat with Duncan on the return journey to campus, after they both suffered a defeat in the power forward’s ACC debut as a freshman, facing Sharone Wright and the Clemson Tigers.

Blucas began by asserting, “Without being incredibly driven, you cannot achieve that level of success.” He continued, “However, he didn’t resort to boastful exhibitions or aggressive confrontations. Different top performers have varying leadership styles. Tim is the type who would comfort you before confronting you. It’s just in his nature. He will approach you with affection before challenging you with competitiveness, aggression, anger, and intensity.”

Maybe Duncan’s upbringing in the Virgin Islands, which we might all get to see in a future Tim Duncan documentary, has contributed to this. Duncan’s older brother, Scott, is collaborating with Rashidi Clenance, a childhood friend of the Hall of Famer, to document his early life.

Scott Duncan revealed that the documentary will spotlight how the island influenced Tim Duncan’s rise to success. Unexpectedly, Tim Duncan, who usually avoids interviews, has already completed between 30 and 40 hours of interviews.

Many people close to Duncan view the circumstances of his enshrinement as nearly perfect in many respects.

The segment of the ceremony where Michael Jordan will present the late Kobe Bryant is expected to be the highlight.

Blucas humorously suggests that Duncan might mimic Bubba Smith’s speech from “Police Academy,” where he would simply say ‘thanks’ and then walk away. However, that is entirely characteristic of Tim.

Buford, Blucas, and Babby are set to attend. The day of the ceremony coincides with the first game of a back-to-back set in San Antonio, where The Spurs will be playing against Monty Williams’ Phoenix Suns. Buford stated, “I think there’s no way Pop should miss that.” He also believes that Duncan’s former teammate Williams should not miss the event.

Expect to witness a group from the Duncan family, a delegation from Wake Forest, and a significant presence of Spurs.

Blucas said that Duncan sees his induction ceremony as a kind of family reunion. All these events – from his jersey retirements, MVP ceremonies, to his Wooden Award in college, Duncan views them as opportunities to gather people from various stages of his life. His desire is to have dinner with everyone, just to sit, chat, and catch up. This is what truly matters to Tim and it is incredibly genuine.

Clearly, he’s deeply honored and holds the Hall of Fame in high esteem, feeling a sense of pride and gratitude for the recognition. But, consistent with his character and accomplishments, he’s not focused on fame, public speeches, or awards. It’s a mystery how such success, wealth, fame, and influence hasn’t changed him. Incredibly, he remains the same person I knew when he was just a 17-year-old boy, barely weighing in at 200 pounds.

If he wasn’t 6-11, you wouldn’t know that he turned out to be who he is.

Of course, Duncan stands in the background at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino for one last time.

“Babby said, ‘He never basked too much in his own glory. With Kobe’s unfortunate death and Michael introducing him, the spotlight of the ceremony will not be on Tim, and he is completely fine with that. Even if Kobe was still alive, he’d still be the center of attention, and that suits Tim just fine because it truly embodies the core of his career and his personality.”

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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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