:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50088483/450690038.0.jpg)
Tim Duncan, the best player in Wake Forest history, and one of the greatest players in NBA history, announced his retirement on Monday morning. In typical Tim Duncan fashion, he announced his retirement via a press release without much fanfare. Duncan, once again, let his game and accomplishments do the talking.
Throughout Duncan’s illustrious career, he won 5 NBA titles, 3 Finals MVPs, 2 regular season MVPs, and was a 15-time all-star. He was first or second team All-NBA 14 times, and was first or second team All-Defensive 15 times. Duncan was a model of consistency and a model of class. He never once demanded a trade, and was widely regarded as the greatest teammate you could ever have. During Duncan’s career, he put up some absurd statistics. Below are some of my favorites.
Tim Duncan is the only player in league history to start and win a title in three different decades. pic.twitter.com/pqR8u7129I
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 11, 2016
In the 2003 NBA Finals (the Spurs won in 6 games), Tim Duncan AVERAGED 24.2 points, 17.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists & 5.3 blocks per game.
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) July 11, 2016
Across Tim Duncan Era, the Spurs had the NBA's best Defensive Rating (100.5). By a mile... pic.twitter.com/y9C7mgwuXh
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 11, 2016
"He was truly the best of his generation." @kpelton with the numbers on Tim Duncan's career. https://t.co/xqMbmKIfr4 [in]
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) July 11, 2016
Career plus-minus including playoffs since 1996:
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) July 11, 2016
Tim Duncan +10,000
Dirk Nowitzki +6,725
LeBron James +6,658
Yes, exactly 10,000.
Best Plus-Minus since Tim Duncan debuted in 1997:
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) July 11, 2016
+8910, Tim Duncan
No one else above +7000
Tim Duncan: only player in NBA history with 100 defensive win shares and 100 offensive win shares, per @bball_ref . pic.twitter.com/1iiMCDTXce
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) July 11, 2016
Spurs won 1,072 games during Tim Duncan Era (1997-2016), 155 more than any other NBA franchise... pic.twitter.com/mNiNWfcztU
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 11, 2016
Tim Duncan is 1 of 2 players in NBA history to record at least 26,000 Pts, 15,000 Reb and 3,000 Blk in his career. pic.twitter.com/yvpRBAikVa
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 11, 2016
Tim Duncan leaves his legacy with the Spurs:
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 11, 2016
• 2x NBA MVP
• 3x NBA Finals MVP
• 5x NBA champion pic.twitter.com/4auwXIb1kK
Tim Duncan won 157 playoff games in his career.
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) July 11, 2016
He has more postseason wins than 24 of the 30 FRANCHISES in the NBA today.
Honestly just check out Tim Duncan’s Basketball Reference page. It’s comical how ridiculously consistent and incredible his per 36 minute numbers are. Every stat on there is remarkable. He’s not just the best power forward of all-time, he’s the best player of his generation.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6776259/Tim%20Duncan%20stats.PNG)
The defense rests.
#ThankYouTD, for everything.https://t.co/tsjN4go8Rk
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 11, 2016