Tim Duncan, despite being one of the most successful players in NBA history plays out his career in San Antonio shrouded in obscurity. Often labeled “The Big Fundamental” for his sound, yet unflashy, all around game, Duncan has won 4 championships with the Spurs; each of these championships occurring with him as the centerpiece and the number one option on the team.
What are the reasons that the most accomplished winner of the last decade rarely gets mentioned among the game’s elite stars? Of course, we hear names like Kobe and Lebron and Duane Wade all the time. Yet, it also seems like players like Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Bosh, Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard get talked about more than Tim Duncan. Perhaps the stigma that Tim Duncan is a boring player has kept him from getting much pub. However, looking at a highlight video on youtube, one can see a player with a complete game, capable of making all the shots for a big man, putting the ball on the floor and even going up with power. Duncan also showed a great deal of toughness and even a little swagger. Perhaps it is his reserved nature that has kept him from garnering more attention. Also, he plays in San Antonio, by all accounts a small market. After Hurricane Katrina, when the Saints were considering a move to San Antonio, it was pointed out that Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina was a larger media market than San Antonio.
In reality, it’s probably a combination of all of these factors that has helped keep Duncan out of the spotlight that he deserves. Tim Duncan’s 4 titles are equivalent to the number of titles that Kobe and Shaq have won. Additionally, Tim Duncan won all of these titles as the first option. While he did win his first two titles as a sort of “twin towers” along with David Robinson, Duncan had already taken over as the main option. By the time the Spurs had won their first title it was clearly Tim Duncan’s team.
While Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli are certainly good players, they also do not qualify for star status on the same level of Kobe Bryant or Dwayne Wade, who helped Shaq to his titles. So, Tim Duncan has also won titles without the help of another major marquee player. Let’s put it this way. Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant are destined for the Hall of Fame. Are Manu Ginobili and Tony parker? They might be, but it’s debatable.
The other thing to consider is the amount of time that Duncan has been a dominant player in the league. The Spurs have won their titles over an 8 year period, taking home the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007. Almost equally impressive is the fact that in Tim Duncan’s 12 year career, the Spurs have never missed the playoffs. This is even more impressive when it is taken into account that in Tim Duncan’s rookie year the Spurs set the NBA record for the biggest single season turn around.
Tim Duncan is also a three time NBA Finals MVP, two time regular season MVP, and was also awarded the rookie of the year. Along with Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan is the only person to win the NBA Finals MVP three times. Maybe it’s time that people start mentioning his name along with theirs as well.
Tim Duncan’s career statistics:
Points: 21.4 Rebounds: 11.7 Assists: 3.2 Blocks: 2.3
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Spurs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Duncan
