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 disgrace if a rookie who isn’t in shape vomits after a workout with the retired Tim Duncan.

Duncan rushed over immediately to clean up the mess.

“Once the cleanup was done, Timmy said to Lonnie, ‘Lonnie, return to the court. We have work to do,'” recently remembered Spurs CEO R.C. Buford while sitting on an empty patio at a local Mexican restaurant. “Timmy was in the gym that day, just working with Lonnie who was out of shape after being sidelined due to a torn meniscus, which caused him to miss the first eight weeks of the season. Tim wasn’t even a coach at that point. But when you have someone like Tim Duncan cleaning up your mess, it sends a powerful message.”

Adding one more to two decades, in a 19-season NBA career, Duncan made immeasurable contributions towards establishing the culture of the San Antonio Spurs. This ultimately led to his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday.

“Indeed, it’s an extraordinary tale,” expressed Gregg Popovich, the coach of Spurs. “The story is known by everyone, yet it’s factual. That’s something we all cherish greatly. We continue to celebrate him at dinner times: ‘We appreciate you, Timmy.’ Clearly, it’s remarkable.”

Truthfully, it’s impossible to encapsulate Duncan’s career in words or an extensive analysis. His staggering stats, five championships, two MVP awards and 15 All-Star appearances are well-known. Furthermore, upon his 2016 retirement, Duncan 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 is the second longest in league history. This record is only surpassed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 17-year span, considering players who participated in both NBA Finals series.

We understand that Duncan and John Salley are the sole players in NBA history to secure titles in three distinct decades. Additionally, Duncan is the first inductee into the Hall of Fame who has played his entire career of a minimum of 15 seasons under the same coach.

Who could forget Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili’s legendary team-up that led to 126 playoff wins, the highest in NBA history for any trio. This trio also holds the record for most regular-season victories in NBA history, with 575 wins to their names. This distinguished set of three teammates was also the first to secure four championships together since the days of Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper, and Kurt Rambis, as per the Elias Sports Bureau records.

“Duncan said, “It’s all a mix of my personal competitiveness, passion for the game, dislike for losing, and a dedicated organization that ensures the best resources are in place. This gives a city, a team, and a player like myself a chance to win consistently.”

Though, the explanation behind Duncan’s accomplishments falls into more complex territory.

Bear in mind, although Duncan had almost impeccable fundamentals, he didn’t showcase stunning athleticism. His ex-teammate from Wake Forest and good friend, Marc Blucas, humorously claims that both he and Duncan would admit that Duncan couldn’t jump over a phone book.

Examining the personal history of Tim Duncan gives insight into how a slim young man from the U.S. Virgin Islands, who had dreams of becoming an Olympic swimmer until Hurricane Hugo destroyed all local pools in 1989, stormed into the league. His simple but significant character traits, instilled by his parents, Delysia Ione and William Duncan in their home on the 82-square-mile island of St. Croix in the Caribbean, not only elevated the previously unproven Coach 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, “It became gentler with Timmy. Things weren’t as strict and inflexible as before. The connection between Pop and Tim transformed it into 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 advertised among Wake Forest’s three recruits from the 1993 class, anticipated redshirting during his freshman year.

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

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

“Blucas confessed, “It was evident. He played as if he was already part of the team. He was simultaneously calm and competitive. I vividly recall telling Randolph Childress, ‘We have to inform (coach Dave) Odom that redshirting this kid would be a mistake.’ So, we went down and communicated just that.”

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

“He expressed his desire to understand the other’s origins, the lessons, morals, and everything he incorporated into the game. He revealed, “After spending time with him, I immediately expressed my desire to explore what shaped him as a person. I expressed my wish to visit St. Croix for a week or more to understand how it all began.”

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

Blucas now finds the story of Lonnie Walker IV’s vomiting episode amusing, as it brings to mind a similar incident from their visit to St. Croix. This story showcases Duncan’s sharp wit and humor, qualities that are valuable in dealing with the demands of a lengthy NBA season.

“Doing exactly that is so typical of Tim,” said Blucas. “He’ll do something incredibly humbling, and then catch you off guard with a funny joke or tell you to toughen up, return to the court, and continue playing. He’d essentially say, ‘Alright, so you vomited. I cleaned it up. Let’s move on.'”

While snorkeling in St. Croix on a sunny summer day with Duncan, Blucas accidentally stepped on a sea urchin, creating a story reminiscent of Lonnie Walker’s.

“Feels like it’s stinging like hell,” Blucas stated.

Thus, when they get back to the beach, Duncan explains in a composed manner, “Hey, you need to urinate on it.”

Blucas commented, “You can’t fool me, Island Boy. I’m not going to be tricked into thinking I need to pee on my own foot to relieve the pain.” He continued, “Tim then insisted, ‘I’m not joking. It’s incredibly painful. I’ve done it before. The acidic nature and PH of urine can actually ease the pain. Urinate on it.’ I responded, ‘But, I don’t need to pee.’ Tim, grinning broadly, then said, ‘Well, I do.'”

Telling the story, Blucas bursts into laughter.

He said, “I replied, ‘Absolutely not. You aren’t going to make me your target. I know this is nonsense.’ However, it wasn’t. I ended up urinating on my foot and it felt much better. It’s very similar to Lonnie’s story. It’s about not taking oneself too seriously. It’s important to maintain a sense of humor. It’s a delicate balance of, ‘We’re expected to work extremely hard, so let’s enjoy the process and truly be friends.'”

The identity of Tim, Pop, and that entire group is largely intentional, and I believe it greatly influences their drafting strategy. They draft around their superstar, focusing on their leadership qualities. The Spurs select players who would feel motivated seeing their so-called superstar being reprimanded by Pop or cleaning up another person’s vomit. This is done to instil the thought, ‘I need to pull my weight because he’s doing far more than he ought to.’

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, just one of many over the years, has set a standard for the rest of the franchise to emulate.

Before even drafting him, the Spurs saw other examples.

Keep in mind, Duncan remained at Wake Forest for his full four-year term, contradicting Buford’s assumption that he could have been the top pick in his sophomore year, or potentially even his freshman year. Duncan completed his education at Wake Forest as a commitment to his mother that he would earn his degree. Additionally, Duncan was keen on supporting his teammates and fully immersing himself in the college experience.

Blucas commented, “In my opinion, his main focus was about the experience, the journey, and his teammates. If it wasn’t like that, Tim wasn’t interested. His motivation for playing the game was not only to win but also to build friendships and spend time with his teammates. He was the type of person who preferred to live in the moment rather than always planning for the future.”

During the pre-Draft process, Popovich gained firsthand knowledge.

“Pop was crazy enough to consider drafting Scot Pollard,” said Buford. However, when it was decided that Duncan would be the first overall pick, Popovich immediately arranged a trip to the Virgin Islands to spend time with Duncan.

“Buford shared that he had learned about Tim’s family and the significant role his mother played in his life, a loss he experienced at the age of 14. He believed that Pop shared aspects of his own background, something he doesn’t do often nowadays. Buford felt they had a genuine connection and upon Pop’s return, he didn’t reveal much except expressing his high regard for Tim, describing him as a ‘really good person’ and someone they would enjoy accompanying on this journey,” he said.

Popovich instantly recognized the unique attributes in Duncan that set him apart.

“From the time I spent with him, I first noticed his high intelligence, great sense of humor, and seriousness about the game,” said Popovich. “His main concern was winning, nothing else. He was enjoyable to be around. Those were probably his most noticeable qualities.”

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

Lon Babby, Duncan’s former agent who later became a front office executive with the Phoenix Suns, stated that he learned a valuable lesson from the power forward even before Duncan had 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 a conversation, “I told Tim, ‘Look, I’m here to represent you. Therefore, I can’t be overly concerned with David’s perspective on this.’ Tim responded, ‘Well, I do need to worry about it. David has been the leading player in the team, and I’m about to be his teammate. I need to consider his feelings.”

“I recall telling him, ‘Look, I’m 40 and you’re 22. Yet, you’re educating me about teamwork and leadership.’ He was always ready to suppress his own ego for the improvement of his teammates.”

Over the years, Duncan maintained a consistent approach towards the franchise’s transactions. Both Buford and Popovich made it a priority to include the team’s star player in any deliberations concerning potential maneuvers. Buford even confessed that becoming close friends with Tim was a precursor to being traded, as they seemed to trade every player that Timmy was good friends with. This began with Cory Alexander, followed by Monty Williams, who is now the coach of the Phoenix Suns, and then Malik Rose and Antonio Daniels.

Duncan never attempted to persuade the top executives to retain his friends. Actually, the situation escalated to a level where Popovich and Duncan concurred that the power forward wouldn’t even be consulted about potential moves involving his close friends.

“Tim constantly prioritized what was best for the team in his decisions,” stated Buford. “His actions were never about personal gain, but always about the team’s interest. His stoic approach to life is uncommon and offers a unique perspective. He views life and his surroundings differently than many others. It was always intriguing to see him assess his teammates, new players, and opponents from a distinct angle, unlike the typical NBA player,” Buford continued.

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

Then, there’s Duncan’s daily 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. Despite being retired, he regularly sends messages to the Spurs staff expressing his longing to see them and his eagerness to rejoin them in the gym.

On NBA practice courts everywhere, players make daily use of a shooting machine known as The Gun. This device gathers and returns the ball to a shooter, eliminating the need for a rebounder to collect balls. Typically, an assistant or an equipment manager is responsible for setting up the machine for the players.

Not in San Antonio.

“Timmy was the only one who would set up and take down The Gun all by himself,” Buford stated. “No other player has ever done that. They typically have the manager handle it. That’s the standard Timmy established. It wasn’t through his words, but his actions that demonstrated his leadership.”

The team’s facility still strongly resonates with it.

While preparing for Duncan’s induction ceremony, a group of Spurs staffers walked past General Manager Brian Wright’s office. To their surprise, they found both of Duncan’s MVP trophies and one of his three Finals MVP awards in a box, coated in dust.

“Where on earth have they been?” Buford chuckled. “They’re not exactly in the heart of the house getting shined. But if a man that successful stores his trophies in some dusty corner of the house, then probably that’s where all of ours ought to be.”

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 was finally acclimating to retirement at that time, regularly attending his children’s events and telling his friends that he was finally “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, William had requested Popovich to keep his son humble, so that Duncan wouldn’t be changed by his rise to fame. Duncan has always seen Popovich as a paternal figure, and it’s quite usual for them to get together on the anniversary of William’s passing to share a beer and engage in profound discussions.

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

Following the departure of Popovich’s main assistants, Duncan decided to stick with his coach, as reported by several staff members. Buford became emotional when questioned about Duncan joining the staff, choosing not to discuss the matter in depth.

Blucas understood.

Blucas explained, “Tim found it difficult when he was already home, able to attend his kids’ events, volleyball games, and handle car pickups without having to travel. I believe it was his loyalty to Pop and the organization that drove him. It wasn’t guilt, but more of a feeling like, ‘I won’t let them struggle without joining the fight.’ I think Tim Duncan’s character comes into play here: loyalty, honor, and gratitude for those who have done so much for him.”

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

“My mental image of Tim Duncan is him affectionately patting a teammate on the head as he walks off the court post-timeout,” Babby shared. “You may have seen this scene countless times. In my opinion, it perfectly encapsulates who he is.”

It’s authentic, too.

Blucas witnessed it directly as Duncan’s teammate in college. He felt it during lengthy discussions and while sitting beside Duncan on the bus ride back to the university, when they both were thoroughly defeated in Duncan’s ACC debut as a freshman against Sharone Wright and the Clemson Tigers.

Blucas began by stating, “Without a killer instinct, you can’t reach that level of success.” He added, “However, he wasn’t one to boast or yell at people. Each superstar has a unique leadership style. Tim is always the type to comfort you before confronting you. That’s simply his nature. He prefers approaching you with kindness, before resorting to challenge, aggression, competitiveness, anger, and intensity.”

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

Scott Duncan states that the documentary will emphasize the impact of the island on Tim Duncan’s rise to fame. Astonishingly, despite his aversion to interviews, Tim Duncan has already completed 30-40 hours of interviews.

In many respects, those close to Duncan view the circumstances of his enshrinement as nearly perfect.

The section of the ceremony where Michael Jordan presents the late Kobe Bryant is expected to take center stage.

Blucas humorously suggests that Duncan might just get up there and deliver a speech like Bubba Smith’s character from “Police Academy.” He might just say, ‘thanks’ and leave. But that would be quintessentially Tim.

Buford, Blucas, and Babby will attend. On the ceremony day, the Spurs will compete against Monty Williams’ Phoenix Suns in the first game of a consecutive set in San Antonio. Buford stated, “I believe Pop should not miss that.” Similarly, Duncan’s former teammate Williams should also be present.

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

Blucas says that Duncan perceives his enshrinement ceremony as akin to a family reunion. He considers all these moments – be it the retirement of his jerseys, the MVP ceremonies, or his Wooden Award from college – as opportunities to gather people from various parts of his life. He desires to have dinner with everyone just to reconnect and catch up. According to Blucas, this is what matters most to Tim, and it’s incredibly genuine.

Clearly, he feels honored and holds the institution of the Hall of Fame in high esteem, taking pride in his recognition. However, in line with his personality and past actions, he doesn’t crave the spotlight, the speeches, or the trophy room. It’s beyond me how such success, wealth, fame, and influence haven’t changed him. But astonishingly, he remains the same young man I met when he was just a 17-year-old, weighing 200 pounds after a soaking.

If he wasn’t 6-11, you wouldn’t realize who he eventually turned out to be.

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

“Babby stated, “He never sought too much attention for himself. Given Kobe’s unfortunate demise and Michael being his presenter, the spotlight will not be on Tim during the ceremony. And for him, that’s perfectly fine. Even if Kobe were still with us, Tim would still be overshadowed, which is perfectly fitting. It truly encapsulates his 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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