Reflect on Tim Duncan’s impressive 19-year NBA career, replete with MVPs, Finals distinctions, championships, and more.
SAN ANTONIO — The contents inside Lonnie Walker IV’s gut churned, retched up and splattered into a puddle on the floor.
There’s no disgrace for a rookie who’s not in top form to vomit after training with the retired Tim Duncan.
Duncan immediately rushed over to clean up the mess.
Spurs CEO R.C. Buford recently recounted a memory at a local Mexican restaurant’s empty patio. “After we had tidied up, Timmy said to Lonnie, ‘Get back on the court, Lonnie. There’s work to be done,” he recalled. Timmy was in the gym that day, helping Lonnie who had fallen out of shape due to a lengthy absence – he had torn his meniscus and missed the season’s initial eight weeks. Tim wasn’t even a coach at that point. But it says a lot when Tim Duncan is the one cleaning up after you,” remarked Buford.
Adding just one more to two decades worth in a 19-season NBA career, Duncan’s immeasurable contributions have shaped the culture of the San Antonio Spurs. This culminated in his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday.
“Indeed, it’s an extraordinary tale,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “Everybody is familiar with it, and it’s factual. We’re all extremely pleased about it. Whenever we dine, we still raise a toast to him: ‘We appreciate you, Timmy.’ Therefore, it’s evidently special.”
Honestly, it’s impossible to encapsulate Duncan’s career into mere words or an extensive analysis. We are already familiar with his staggering statistics, his five championships, his two MVP titles and 15 All-Star recognitions. Let’s not forget that 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 championship in 1999 and his last in 2014 is the second longest in NBA history. This record is only surpassed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who had a 17-year span between his first and last titles. This record is only for players who participated in both NBA Finals series.
We understand that only Duncan and John Salley have won NBA titles in three different decades. Moreover, Duncan is the first Hall of Fame inductee to spend his entire career of at least 15 seasons playing for the same coach.
Explore Tim Duncan’s career milestones, from his initial points in Milwaukee to his 25,000th point at the Staples Center.
Who can overlook the fact that Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili collectively achieved 126 playoff victories – the most in NBA history by any trio? This group also holds the record for most regular-season victories in NBA history with 575 wins. Additionally, they were the first trio or more to win four championships together since Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper, and Kurt Rambis, as per the Elias Sports Bureau.
Duncan expressed, “My competitiveness, passion for the game, dislike for losing, combined with the organization’s dedication to providing the best resources for the city, team, and players like myself to have a chance at winning year after year, all contribute to the current situation.”
Though, the explanation of how Duncan achieved everything is more complex.
Always remember that Duncan, despite his impeccable fundamentals, never showcased extraordinary athleticism. His former Wake Forest teammate and good friend, Marc Blucas, humorously remarks that both he and Duncan would admit that Duncan couldn’t leap over a phone book.
A closer examination of Tim Duncan as an individual sheds light on how a skinny kid from the U.S. Virgin Islands, who once dreamt of being an Olympic swimmer before Hurricane Hugo ruined all the local swimming pools in 1989, managed to cause a sensation in the league. His simple but vital character traits, instilled by his parents Delysia Ione and William Duncan on the 82-square-mile island of St. Croix in the Caribbean, not only uplifted the untested Popovich but also 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. It wasn’t so strict and inflexible anymore. I believe that the bond between Pop and Tim also contributed to creating a very nurturing environment.”
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 class of 1993, anticipated redshirting during his freshman year.
Marc Blucas (center), a longtime friend of Tim Duncan, shares a laugh with him and Grant Hill in 2014.
After participating in just one pick-up ball session with Duncan, Blucas and his co-senior captain, Randolph Childress, promptly formulated a new strategy.
“Blucas remarked, ‘It was evident. He was already performing as if he was part of the team. He remained calm under pressure, yet fiercely competitive. I distinctly remember telling Randolph Childress, ‘We must inform Coach Odom not to redshirt this young player.’ We immediately went and shared our thoughts with him.”
As a freshman at Wake Forest, Duncan started 32 out of 33 games. Blucas was deeply impressed by that one season playing alongside the power forward.
“He said, “I was keen to understand his origins, the teachings, ethics, and everything he incorporated into the game. After spending some time with him, I immediately expressed, ‘I am genuinely interested in uncovering what shaped you. I wish to visit St. Croix for about a week to understand how it all began.'”
Thus, Blucas booked the trip to the island after graduation.
Blucas now chuckles heartily at the story of Lonnie Walker IV’s vomiting incident, as it brings back memories of a similar occurrence during their visit to St. Croix. This story underscores Duncan’s sharp wit and quick humor, qualities that prove invaluable in navigating the tough rigors of an extended NBA season.
“Doing exactly that is so typical of Tim,” stated Blucas. “He’d do something incredibly humbling, and then follow up with an unexpected joke or motivate you to toughen up, get back into the game and play. It’s as if he’s saying, ‘Alright, you vomited. I took care of it. Let’s move on.'”
As Blucas was snorkeling with Duncan on a sunny summer day in St. Croix, he unintentionally stepped on a sea urchin, creating his own story reminiscent of Lonnie Walker.
“Blucas said, “It’s stinging like hell.”
So, upon their return to the beach, Duncan says in a calm manner, “Hey, you need to urinate on it.”
Blucas said, “I laughed and told him, ‘Nice try, Island Boy. You’re not going to trick this landlocked white kid into believing I need to urinate on my foot to relieve the pain.'” He added, “Tim replied seriously, ‘I’m not joking. It’s really painful. I’ve tried it. The acidity and pH level of the urine actually reduce the pain. Go ahead, urinate on it.’ I told him, ‘I don’t need to pee.’ He looked at me, grinning widely, and said, ‘Well, I do.'”
Telling the story, Blucas bursts into laughter.
Tim Duncan remembers his upbringing in St. Croix, before his college and NBA career.
He said, “I remember responding, ‘Absolutely not. You’re not going to make a fool of me. I’m fully aware that this is nonsense.'” “However, as it turned out, it wasn’t nonsense. I did end up urinating on my foot and it felt much better. It’s a story quite similar to Lonnie’s. It’s about not taking yourself too seriously, having a sense of humor, and maintaining a balance. It’s about working hard, which is expected from everyone, but also ensuring we enjoy the process and genuinely become friends.”
The identity of Tim, Pop and their whole team is greatly defined by their character, which I believe was purposefully crafted. Their strategy was to draft players based on the leadership qualities of their superstar. The Spurs selected players who would feel motivated when they saw their so-called superstar being scolded by Pop or cleaning up someone else’s mess. This would prompt them to think, ‘I need to pull my weight because he’s putting in more than his fair share.’
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 numerous displays of professionalism over the years have established a standard for the rest of the franchise to emulate, and this is just one example.
Before even drafting him, the Spurs saw other examples.
Despite Buford’s assumption that Duncan could have been the first overall pick even as a sophomore or freshman, Duncan chose to remain at Wake Forest for all four years. This decision was influenced by his commitment to fulfill a promise he made to his mother to graduate, his desire to support his teammates, and his wish to fully experience college life.
Hear Tim Duncan’s post-Draft phone conversation with Coach Gregg Popovich in 1997.
“His primary focus was, I believe, the experience, the journey, and the bonding with his teammates,” Blucas stated. “If that wasn’t the case, Tim wasn’t intrigued. He competed to win, but he also played for the camaraderie and shared experiences with his peers. He was a person who preferred to savour the present moment rather than constantly planning for the future,” Blucas elaborated.
During the pre-Draft process, Popovich learned as much firsthand.
“Pop was so eccentric, he believed we should draft Scot Pollard,” said Buford. However, when it was decided that Duncan would be the No. 1 overall pick, Popovich immediately arranged a trip to the Virgin Islands to bond with Duncan.
“Buford explained that he got to know about Tim’s family and the significant role his mother played in his life, whom he lost at the age of 14. He believes that Pop shared aspects of his own life and background, something he seldom does now. They seemed to have gained a deep understanding of each other. When Pop returned, he didn’t reveal much but expressed that Tim was a genuinely good person and that they were excited to embark on this journey with him,” Buford said.
Immediately, Popovich recognized all the qualities in Duncan that made him exceptional.
Popovich stated, “His high intelligence and great sense of humor were pretty evident. He was serious about the game and his primary concern was winning. Aside from that, nothing else mattered to him. He was enjoyable to be around. These were likely the first traits I noticed when I spent time with him.”
What Popovich couldn’t have anticipated is the profound depth of it all.
Reflect on how Tim Duncan and Coach Gregg Popovich formed their tight-knit relationship during Duncan’s career.
Lon Babby, Duncan’s former agent who later became a front office executive with the Phoenix Suns, said he learned a valuable lesson from the power forward before Duncan even played a 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 their conversation. “I told Tim, ‘My duty is to represent you, so David’s perspective is not my main concern’,” Babby said. He then shared Tim’s response, “‘While you may not need to worry about David’s viewpoint, I do. As his future teammate and given he’s been the star of the team, I need to be considerate of his feelings.'”
I recall telling him, ‘Look, I’m 40 and you’re 22. Yet, you’re the one teaching me about teamwork and leadership.’ He was consistently prepared to suppress his own ego for the improvement of his teammates.
Duncan behaved the same way with the franchise concerning transactions over the years. Buford and Popovich consistently ensured to include the team’s star player in any discussions about necessary potential moves. Buford even confessed, “Becoming good friends with Tim was the kiss of death because I think we traded everyone Timmy was close with. It started with Cory Alexander, then (Phoenix Suns coach) Monty (Williams), then Malik (Rose), Antonio Daniels.”
Duncan never made any attempt to persuade the management to keep his friends on the team. In fact, Popovich and Duncan reached a consensus that if there was ever a discussion about possibly transferring close friends, the team wouldn’t even seek Duncan’s viewpoint.
“Buford said, ‘In every decision he made, he prioritized what was best for the team, it was never about him. Tim’s stoic approach to life is simply unique. He perceives life and his surroundings in a way that’s different from most. Observing him assess and evaluate his teammates, new players, and opponents through a completely different perspective than most typical NBA players was often fascinating.'”
Tim Duncan acutely understood how his words and actions could influence his teammates, regardless of whether they were superstars or role players.
Then, there’s Duncan’s everyday presence at the team’s training facility, leading through actions instead of words.
Duncan continues to frequent the Spurs’ practice gym on the Northwest side of San Antonio to this day. Despite being retired, he messages the Spurs staff expressing his longing for them and eagerness to return to the gym with them.
NBA players utilize a shooting machine known as The Gun during their daily practices on courts all over the league. This contraption collects and returns the ball to the shooter, eliminating the need for a rebounder to retrieve balls. Typically, an assistant or equipment manager is responsible for setting up the machine for the players.
Not in San Antonio.
“Timmy was self-reliant in setting up and taking down The Gun, something that no other player did,” Buford explained. “Typically, players would have the manager set it up and take it down for them. Timmy’s actions, rather than his words, set the tone. It was his personality that established that tone.”
The team’s facility still echoes with it loudly.
As the Spurs began planning for Duncan’s induction ceremony, a group of staff members walked by general manager Brian Wright’s office. Unexpectedly, they found both of Duncan’s MVP trophies and one of his three Finals MVP awards in a box, covered in dust.
Buford chuckled, “Who can tell where on earth they’ve been? They’re not exactly displayed prominently in the house for polishing. But if a man of such caliber keeps his trophies hidden away in the back, gathering dust in a closet, then that’s likely where all of ours should be too.”
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 the time, was finally transitioning into retirement, regularly attending his children’s events, and embracing his role as a “real dad,” he has shared with friends.
Yet Duncan quickly gave up that life to join Popovich’s staff as an assistant.
William, the father of Duncan, passed away in 2002. Prior to his death, he requested Popovich to keep his son down-to-earth so that he would remain the same person post-superstardom as he was prior to it. Duncan has always seen Popovich as a paternal figure. It is a regular occurrence for the two of them to gather for a beer and profound discussions on the anniversary of William’s demise.
During the 2019-20 season, Tim Duncan was an assistant coach for the Spurs.
Therefore, when Popovich’s main assistants exited the team, Duncan, according to several staff members, didn’t wish to abandon his coach. Buford became emotional and teary-eyed when questioned about Duncan’s incorporation into the staff, and he chose not to discuss the matter extensively.
Blucas understood.
Blucas explained that Tim found it heart-wrenching to leave his home where he was able to attend his kids’ events, volleyball games, and handle car pickups instead of being on the road. He believed that Tim’s decision was driven by his loyalty to Pop and the organization, not out of guilt. It was as if he couldn’t allow them to face struggles without him joining the battle. Blucas believed that this sense of responsibility traced back to Tim Duncan’s core values as a person: loyalty, honor, and gratitude towards those who had supported him.
Duncan demonstrated this level of caring in his leadership as a player on the most competitive stage of the sport.
Babby said, “My mental image of Tim Duncan is him patting a teammate on the head in a loving manner as he leaves the court after a timeout. You’ve likely witnessed this action countless times. In my view, this gesture perfectly encapsulates who he is.”
It’s authentic, too.
Blucas witnessed Duncan’s experiences firsthand as his college teammate. He got to know him better through lengthy discussions and shared bus rides back to campus after they both suffered losses in the power forward’s ACC debut as a freshman. This debut was against Sharone Wright and the Clemson Tigers.
“Blucas started by saying, “You can’t achieve that level of success without a ruthless drive.” He added, “But he wasn’t the type to boast loudly or scream at people. Different superstars exhibit different types of leadership. Tim, however, will always be the kind of person who offers comfort before confrontation. This is part of his nature. He will approach you with kindness before he confronts you with challenge, aggression, competitiveness, anger, and intensity.”
Maybe Duncan’s upbringing in the Virgin Islands, which could be showcased in a future documentary on Tim Duncan, contributed to his character. Scott Duncan, his older brother, is collaborating with Rashidi Clenance, a childhood friend of the Hall of Famer, to document Duncan’s early life.
Teammates and players look back on the remarkable accomplishments of Tim Duncan.
Scott Duncan reveals that the documentary will emphasize the island’s impact on Tim Duncan’s rise to fame. In a surprising turn, Tim Duncan, known for his reluctance to give interviews, has already participated in 30-40 hours of interviews.
Many people close to Duncan view the circumstances of his enshrinement as almost perfect in many respects.
The part of the ceremony where Michael Jordan presents the late Kobe Bryant should take center stage.
Blucas jests that Duncan could potentially mimic Bubba Smith’s speech from “Police Academy”, simply saying ‘thanks’ and exiting. However, he concedes that such an act would be entirely in character for Tim.
Buford, Blucas, and Babby are confirmed to attend. The day of the ceremony will see the Spurs playing Monty Williams’ Phoenix Suns in the first of a two-game series in San Antonio. Buford expressed, “I believe Pop shouldn’t miss this at all.” Williams, who used to be Duncan’s teammate, should also not miss it.
Expect to witness a group from the Duncan family, a delegation from Wake Forest, and a prominent presence from the Spurs.
Blucas stated that Duncan perceives his enshrinement ceremony as a sort of family reunion. All these moments, from the retirement of his jerseys to MVP ceremonies and even back to his college days with the Wooden Award, are viewed by Duncan as opportunities to gather people from various stages of his life. His desire is to dine with everyone, to sit and catch up. This is what truly matters to Tim, and it’s incredibly genuine.
Without a doubt, he is deeply honored and holds the institution of the Hall of Fame in high regard. He takes immense pride in this recognition and is truly grateful. However, being consistent with his character and past actions, he doesn’t care much for the spotlight, the speeches or showcasing his trophies. It baffles me how such a degree of success, wealth, fame, and influence hasn’t altered him. But astonishingly, he remains the same young man I met when he was just a 17-year-old boy, weighing no more than 200 pounds.
“If he wasn’t 6-11, you wouldn’t realize that he became who he is.”
In a touching ceremony, the San Antonio Spurs retired Tim Duncan’s No. 21 jersey.
Of course, in the background, Duncan stands one last time at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino.
“Babby said, ‘He never sought too much attention for himself. Even with the tragic loss of Kobe and Michael presenting him, Tim won’t be the focus of the ceremony, and he’s totally fine with that. Even if Kobe were still with us, he would naturally garner most of the attention. This perfectly encapsulates Tim’s career and his character.'”
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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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