Tim Duncan
(Born 1976)
Hall of Fame Induction: 2020
Card Shown:
2000 Topps Stars
Position: C/PF
Height: 6’11”
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Tim Duncan, “The Big Fundamental,” led the San Antonio Spurs to five NBA titles (in three different decades) during his nineteen-year professional basketball career. He teamed with coach Gregg Popovich to take the Spurs to the playoffs every season. Tim’s fundamental game was outstanding. His post moves and signature bank shot provided an anchor of stability for San Antonio amidst changing players and times. Many count Duncan as the greatest power forward of all time.
Awards and Honors
- Duncan was selected by the Spurs with the first overall selection in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft. He would go on to win the 1997-98 NBA Rookie of the Year
- Tim won five NBA championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. His teammates on those teams, at various times, included David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Kawhi Leonard. Duncan was the NBA Finals MVP in 1999, 2003, and 2005.
- Duncan was a fifteen-time NBA All-Star. In 2000, he took home the All-Star Game MVP award.
- Tim was recognized an amazing 31 times as an All-NBA player for both his offense and his defense. He was All-NBA First Team 10 times, All-NBA Second Team 3 times, All-NBA Third Team 2 times, All-Defensive First Team 8 times, and All-Defensive Second Team 7 times.
- In 2002, and again in 2003, Duncan received the NBA Most Valuable Player award.
Points of Interest
- Duncan played college basketball at Wake Forest University, where he stayed all four years and graduated, fulfilling a promise he had made to his mother. Tim was a three-time All-America selection at Wake Forest, including First Team All-America honors in 1995-96 and 1996-97.
- Tim began his athletic career with the desire to be a swimmer. His sister Tricia made the 1988 Olympics as a swimmer representing the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Duncan played with the Spurs for his entire (19-year) NBA career. Only Dirk Nowitzki (21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks) and Kobe Bryant (20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers) had longer careers for one team.
- Tim was a very rare NBA superstar who always put the team ahead of his personal interests, even financially. He took less in salary to help keep his Spurs team competitive. At 36 years of age, when he was still great enough to be selected All-NBA First Team, Duncan was making the 61st highest salary in the league.
- Duncan finished his NBA career with averages of 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game.
Statistics
Tim Duncan Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com
Personal Autograph Interactions
In May of 2021 my son and I were at the 2020 Hall of Fame Induction weekend. On Friday night there was an awards dinner before the players were to receive their orange Hall of Fame jackets and rings. When Duncan finished eating and left his table, my son Joshua approached him to sign a card and then he signed one for me as well (2012-13 Panini Signatures Stars pictured below). Tim is known to be a tough signer. After signing for us he left the event almost immediately.
In August 2023 we also attended the 2023 Hall of Fame Induction weekend. We had a brief interaction with Duncan at the hotel on Saturday afternoon in Springfield. He was down in the lobby picking up some food from a delivery guy. We were staying at the same hotel in Springfield. Joshua asked him for a signature and it looked like he might not stop on his way to the elevators. Then Josh said he had a card with the big three that had already been signed by Parker and Ginobili (2022-23 Panini Origins Nucleus pictured below). That seemed to make a difference and Tim stopped to sign for both of us again.
Although I don’t think Tim likes to sign a lot, he signed for us at both Hall of Fame weekends we attended. The Panini Origins Nucleus card was our “grail” card for the weekend and we were thrilled to get all three signatures on the card.
Thank you, Tim!
In-Person Autograph Photos
In 2021, Tim signed my 2012-13 Panini Signatures Stars card and in 2023 he signed my 2022-23 Panini Origins Nucleus card.