Mitchell & Ness Swingman Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs 98/99 Jersey

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Popovich has said that whenever Duncan is ready, he can be "coach of anything he wants," but it's an offer the team doesn't expect Duncan to take. Popovich has said Duncan "is too smart for that."

The big thing that differentiates [Duncan] from the other superstars is that he wanted to be coached just like the 12th or 13th guy on the team," Gentry said. "You're able to get on him, you're able to do a lot of things, and he's just a tremendous guy. I was in Phoenix most of the time, and he made life miserable for us there. So we kind of wish he would've retired about eight years ago. I think we would have been much better off in Phoenix.The three-time NABC Defensive Player of the Year finished his senior season in the 1996-97 NCAA season with third Defensive Player of the Season and second ACC Player of the Season. And who can forget that Duncan teamed with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to reel off 126 playoff victories, the most in NBA history by any trio — which also owns the most regular-season victories in NBA history (575) — and register as the first set of three teammates or more to capture four championships side-by-side since Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper and Kurt Rambis, according to Elias Sports Bureau? Keep in mind that despite Duncan’s near-flawless fundamentals, he never flashed awe-inspiring athleticism. Former Wake Forest teammate and close friend Marc Blucas jokes that “he and I will both tell you that he can’t jump over a phone book.” Duncan conducted himself similarly with the franchise over the years when it came to transactions. Buford and Popovich always made it a point to involve the club’s star player in any discussions about potential moves that needed to be made. Buford even admitted that “the kiss of death was to become good friends with Tim because I think we traded everyone that Timmy was good friends with. It started with Cory Alexander, then (Phoenix Suns coach) Monty (Williams), then Malik (Rose), Antonio Daniels.”

But a look inside Tim Duncan, the man, provides some clues explaining how a rail-thin kid from the U.S. Virgin Islands — one with aspirations to become an Olympic swimmer before Hurricane Hugo destroyed all the local pools in 1989 — took the league by storm and elevated not only the unproven Popovich but an entire NBA franchise with simple, yet crucial character attributes instilled by his parents, Delysia Ione and William Duncan, on the 82-square-mile island of St. Croix in the Caribbean. Duncan remains embedded with the Spurs and has appeared frequently at practice this season, working out with former teammates while spending time playing one-on-one with Gasol and counseling younger players, such as Jonathon Simmons and rookie point guard Dejounte Murray.Pop being crazy, he thought Scot Pollard was who we should Draft,” Buford said. But once it became clear the plan was to select Duncan No. 1 overall, Popovich booked a flight to the Virgin Islands to spend time with Duncan. It began with Sean Elliott, the master of ceremonies, bringing up Duncan's "class and true humility." When he said that Duncan was the "ultimate teammate" and that he "changed the Spurs organization into the standard of the NBA and all professional sports," Duncan looked sheepish. Blucas jokes Duncan might “walk up there and give the Bubba Smith speech from “Police Academy.” He’ll say, ‘thanks’ and walk away. But that is perfectly Tim.” Duncan would start 32 of 33 games as a freshman at Wake Forest. That one season fighting alongside the power forward made a powerful impression on Blucas.

Duncan was selected in the 1997 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs. He paired with David Robinson, popularly known as “Twin Towers.” Earning good impressions from the beginning, Duncan was voted to the 1998 NBA All-Star Game by coaches. Gentry pointed to Duncan's reputation for being coachable as one of the keys to his success. Gentry gave his Pelicans players the freedom to attend the jersey retirement ceremony if they chose. He said his team would be spending the night in San Antonio after Sunday's game. In many ways, those close to Duncan consider the circumstances surrounding his enshrinement almost perfect.First off, you can’t have that level of success without being a killer,” Blucas said. “But he didn’t pound his chest and scream in people’s faces. Different superstars have different styles of leadership. Tim’s always going to be the guy to put his arm around you first instead of getting in your face. That’s just who he is. He’s gonna come to you with love before he comes at you with challenge, aggression, competitiveness, anger and intensity.” Duncan led the national team to qualify for the 2000 Olympics with a 10-0 finish in 1999. However, he missed out on the Olympics with a knee injury. He wanted to pursue a career in swimming. But the wish was ruined by a hurricane that destroyed his hometown’s only available Olympic-sized pool. You could just tell,” Blucas said. “He was already playing like he belonged. He was so even-keeled and so competitive at the same time. I’ll never forget looking at Randolph Childress and saying, ‘Hey, we’ve got to go tell (coach Dave) Odom not to redshirt this kid.’ We went down there and just told him.”

Later, after the 2004 Olympics, including Duncan, the U.S. Basketball team returned with only a bronze medal with a three-game loss. Honors & Achievements You knew that day was going to come,” Spurs guard Tony Parker told The Undefeated. “It’s already unbelievable that he played 19 years, especially with his knees. It’s a great honor. Well-deserved. He’s the best power forward of all time. I can’t wait for that day. It’s going to be a great night.”

Professional Career

Michael Jordan will present the late Kobe Bryant, and that part of the ceremony should dominate the spotlight.