Tim Duncan is often considered one of the best teammates in NBA history. Aside from being a superstar in the NBA, with multiple NBA championships and MVP wins, Duncan was also a role model for his entire team.
Without a doubt, TD was the leader for the San Antonio Spurs and helped the franchise win 5 NBA championships during his stint with the franchise.
Duncan was a consummate professional on and off the court. For the Spurs, the big man was as crucial in coordinating the squad as Gregg Popovich. Duncan set the standard for his teammates to follow, leading them with unselfish play and smart basketball.
But no one can argue that his methods didn’t bring success. Duncan is considered the greatest player to play at the power forward position. That’s how impactful he was on the game. Duncan will always be remembered for the success he brought to the city of San Antonio.
But as he entered the later stages of his career, Duncan’s impact on the team reduced compared to his prime years. He became the role model for his teammates and a big-brother figure for the young players on the Spurs franchise.
Despite this, even Duncan didn’t sign up for what happened in 2015. In the 2015 NBA playoffs, the LA Clippers knocked out the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs were the defending champions and got knocked out in the first round.
After the game, the Spurs squad was spotted in Los Angeles leaving a nightclub. Tim Duncan stepped out of the club with an inebriated Aron Baynes draped around his arms. Duncan helped carry him back to the bus.
On this walk back, a reporter praised Duncan and the Spurs. A drunk Baynes began to scream ‘thank you.’ Duncan, seemingly laughing at Baynes, told him to “shut the f*ck up”.
While Duncan was never the flashiest player on the court, he was more than effective during his time with the Spurs. Tim Duncan is often forgotten in conversations about the greatest of all time because of his methodical and no-frills approach to basketball.
