Chris Ballard SI piece on Tim Duncan for May 21.

[flipcritic]

Sorry if this has been posted already.

TIM DUNCAN is the most successful player of his generation, maybe even its best, the foundation of yet another Spurs team built to win it all. So why haven't you fallen for him? The reasons aren't all black-and-white

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1198491/index.htm

[flipcritic]

5 His Buddy KG

Just kidding, as this might count in his favor. In fact, Duncan hates Kevin Garnett. Hates him the way liberals hate Sean Hannity. This information comes from very reliable sources, who talk about how KG has made a career of trying to punk Duncan, baiting him and slapping him and whispering really weird smack into his ear. They talk about how funny this is, because the worst thing you can do as an opponent is piss off Duncan. Then, as Malik Rose says, "he f------ destroys you." Duncan's lifetime numbers versus Garnett's teams, by the way: 19.4 points per game, 11.6 boards and a 44--17 record, including the postseason.

Duncan is diplomatic about the topic. Asked if perhaps all those years battling Garnett have softened his feelings for the man, led to a Magic-Larry type of kinship, Duncan leans back on the couch in his hotel room and grins. There is a pause. A longer pause. Finally he says, "Define kinship."

[flipcritic]

8 Captain Jack

In 2001, when Stephen Jackson was in his second year and Duncan in his fourth, Jackson used to get so mad when he was subbed out of the game that he'd walk in a giant arc to the bench, nearly reaching the opposite baseline in an attempt to stay as far from Popovich as possible. Once seated, Jackson would unleash a stream of profanity so curdling that nearby fans would turn ashen. When it got to be too much, Duncan would approach Popovich. "I got him," Duncan would say.

And the funny thing is, Duncan did. He'd take Jackson aside, put a big, lanky arm around him and break it down. He'd joke with him, hang with him, make plans to play paintball with him. They made for an odd couple: Duncan, one of the squarest players in the league, and Jackson, who never met a club he couldn't close down, a team he couldn't tear apart or a bottle he couldn't pop.

This season, after an 11-year separation as Jackson moved from one team to another, seven in all, the two men are reunited in pursuit of another championship, and this is what Jackson has to say about Duncan: "I'm humbled to be able to say that Tim Duncan is a good friend of mine."

Turns out lots of people feel that way. During his 15 years with the Spurs, Tim Duncan has had 116 teammates. They range from the celebrated (David Robinson) to the not-so-much (Cory Joseph), with a heavy emphasis on the latter. Last year Duncan tried to count them all but couldn't do it. Throughout, Duncan has been the center around which all else has orbited.

Most important, he's allowed Popovich to coach him. For 15 straight seasons Pop has gone after his franchise player in practice. We're talking neck veins bulging, spittle flying, a Gatling gun of obscenities. And all Duncan has done is stare back, absorbing it. "He hasn't always liked it," says former teammate Sean Elliott, now a team announcer, "but he takes it. You know how important that is for the rest of the team to see?"

Or, as one Spurs coach puts it, "How could a guy like Stephen Jackson complain when Pop was motherf------ Tim every day?"

[duhoh]

That closing sentence.

:tu

[rjv]

nice to hear (even if indirectly) that tim hates KG.

[flipcritic]

10 Ferry Hunting

O.K., it's a toss-up as to how this will make you feel about Duncan: Did he once invite a bunch of teammates to a paintball course even though most had never played paintball? Perhaps. Did Duncan then stack his team with ringers and bring his own high-powered paintball gun? Maybe. Did he give certain players such as Danny Ferry guns that, according to Ferry, "were bent and shot six feet to the left every time"? There's a chance. And did Duncan then take great delight in hunting down his teammates, chasing the pale, balding, shorts-wearing Ferry until he was in close range, at which point Duncan unleashed a hail of water-soluble hellfire upon the man? It's possible.

[flipcritic]

13 New York

Great parlor-game discussion: What would have happened if Duncan had been drafted by the Knicks? Would he be the league's marquee name? Or would the spotlight have been too much?

"He'd have been great," says Popovich.

"He would have adapted," says Kerr. "The beat writers would have chased him around for a year and eventually given up."

Says Duncan, "It would have been torture. I probably wouldn't have lasted there very long."

[MI21]

Cheers, really good read.

Did you write this one to, timvp?

[flipcritic]

Cheers, really good read.

Did you write this one to, timvp?

Not yet. Not sure how. Haven't logged on in years. :)

[flipcritic]

They talk about how, in contrast to David Robinson, who was lovable and smart and marketable but never could remember all the plays, Duncan "knows every play from front to back, position one through five." As longtime assistant coach Mike Budenholzer says, "Tim could coach the team if he needed to."

[flipcritic]

19 Mind Games

His on-court demeanor is so reserved that The Onion once ran a story titled, TIM DUNCAN HAMS IT UP FOR CROWD BY ARCHING LEFT EYEBROW SLIGHTLY. This impression is intentional, it turns out. Duncan has said he uses silence to "destroy people's psyches." He explains, "The best mind game you can run on someone is just to keep going at them and at them until they break." Don't respond, don't show emotion. Just keep playing. "Eventually," he says with a grin, "you'll piss them off."

[flipcritic]

21 The Last Word

The 20 minutes Duncan proposed have become 40, and he is still talking. He's comfortable here in his hotel room, having jacked up the heat. ("An island thing," he says.) He's thoughtful, possessed of a dry wit—Duncan is a big giggler—and gracious. It's a side his teammates are all familiar with.

The question has to be asked: Why not let the public see this side of you? "With the media, I just keep it basic, surface, to the point," he says. "You're here to talk about basketball. I'll give you what you want, and let's go home. I don't really care about anyone getting to know me, or getting into my life or anything else like that."

This is understandable, even admirable in a way. After all, how many of us would want total strangers knowing intimate details of our lives? Yet when Duncan's gone, will we suddenly realize how much we miss him? Will we realize how singular his career has been? Will we begin to appreciate him not just for all that he was but also for all that he was not?

Then again, maybe it's not too late to start. He's asked about it. Doesn't he care about how he's viewed, how he's remembered?

Duncan thinks for a second, pulls on the sleeve of his silver Spurs sweatshirt. "Why?" he says. "I have no control of that. All I can do is play and try to play well. Winning should be the only thing that matters. I can't manipulate how people see me."

But that's not true at all, he's told.

He considers this, then frowns. "I mean, I guess I could. I could be more accessible and be the darling for everybody. I could open up my life and get more endorsements and be out there and be a fan favorite. But why would that help?"

He pauses for a moment. "Why should it?"

[Dex]

Incredible article. Thanks for posting. :tu

[Bill_Brasky]

Loled pretty hard at Ferry hunting

[wildbill2u]

Sorry if this has been posted already.

TIM DUNCAN is the most successful player of his generation, maybe even its best, the foundation of yet another Spurs team built to win it all. So why haven't you fallen for him? The reasons aren't all black-and-white

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1198491/index.htm

Here's the money quote for Duncan fans and Spurs fans:

"Yet when Duncan's gone, will we suddenly realize how much we miss him? Will we realize how singular his career has been? Will we begin to appreciate him not just for all that he was but also for all that he was not?

Then again, maybe it's not too late to start."

That says it all.

[Seventyniner]

Fantastic piece. It's hard to imagine Tim hating anyone, but KG makes sense. KG is the anti-Duncan in terms of personality, behavior both on and off the court, and with the media. In fact, I'd love to see the Spurs sweep Boston out of the Finals, and instead of Duncan kissing the logo in Boston or yelling "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!", he just looks at Garnett, winks, and walks off the court.

[Rummpd]

This is simply one of the best articles on any superstar ever. Props.

[Dr. John R. Brinkley]

Great article. The writer did a great job of creating context.

[EVAY]

What a superb find! Thanks for finding it and posting it.

Great, great article.

[spursparker9]

These days the tirades are less frequent, but Popovich leans on his star in other ways. When the Spurs call a timeout and you see the San Antonio coaches huddle a few feet from the bench, it's not to hash out strategy. Rather, Pop is giving Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker time with the team. "You'll see Timmy over there with a young kid, talking about how he should do this or that or what we meant by such and such," says Popovich. "I'll come back to the timeouts sometimes and say, 'Are we square?' and Timmy will say, 'Yeah, we got 'em.'"

Popovich pauses. "He commands that type of respect because he doesn't demand it, if that makes sense."

Oh, so this is why pop and the coaches alway walk onto the court during a timeout.

[Shastafarian]

Fantastic piece. It's hard to imagine Tim hating anyone, but KG makes sense. KG is the anti-Duncan in terms of personality, behavior both on and off the court, and with the media. In fact, I'd love to see the Spurs sweep Boston out of the Finals, and instead of Duncan kissing the logo in Boston or yelling "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!", he just looks at Garnett, winks, and walks off the court.

Seems like the "Mother's Day" incident really did happen.

[Kuestmaster]

Great article :toast
But I have the feeling most of non-spurs fan will skip it... sad

[flipcritic]

SI.com writes the best articles IMO and this is from someone who had read countless articles from ESPN, CBSSports, FoxSports, NBA.com, NFL.com, SI.Com, Yahoo!Sports, etc. etc. through a better part of a decade.

This is your classic SI.com article.

I've read SI for a long time. And they're way past their glory days. But they've still got a few great writers. Chris Ballard is best when he dedicates himself to longform writing.

[roycrikside]

super article.

[urunobili]

worth bookmarking for the ages! :)

[BlackSilver]

Fabulous article.

I always thought Timmy was made for an endorsement deal with Maytag. You know, just sitting there, drinking a beer and watching TV with the Maytag repair guy. Something like that. He wouldn't need to say a word. "Just keeps going."

Companies are idiots for not figuring out how to get him for something like that. They probably could have to have promised to invest $$$$ in St Croix instead of paying him.

[Kuestmaster]

I don't think Timmy hates much players in the league. But I totally understands him hating KG, even more after the comments the jerk said to Timmy in Mother's day

[Jimcs50]

Great article :toast
But I have the feeling most of non-spurs fan will skip it... sad


This should be required reading for all NBA rookies.

[degarza22]

I don't think Timmy hates much players in the league. But I totally understands him hating KG, even more after the comments the jerk said to Timmy in Mother's day

What did KG say?

[Shastafarian]

What did KG say?

*Supposedly* KG came up to Tim during the game on Mother's Day and wished him a happy mother's day. It was likely in KG-tone aka like a thug. KG, and I'm sure many players, know Tim's mom died when he was 14. So yeah, KG is a douche.

[gameFACE]

5 His Buddy KG

Last round I was really wanting there to be a Spurs/Celtics Finals. Looks like that's a strong possibility now. Nothing would be better than for Tim to put an exclamation point on his superiorness to KG.

[lefty]

Nice article about the Spurs = "good read"


:lol Spurstalk

[Spursmania]

Fantastic article. I'd prefer not to think aout the Spurs without Timmy yet. I'm unprepared for the void that will be left.

[justinandimcool]

Great article.

[T Park]

Man years perfectly acceptable after reading that...

[bklynspursfan]

This has taken Twitter by storm... Everyones talking about it

[dylankerouac]

Great article!

[BillMc]

*Supposedly* KG came up to Tim during the game on Mother's Day and wished him a happy mother's day. It was likely in KG-tone aka like a thug. KG, and I'm sure many players, know Tim's mom died when he was 14. So yeah, KG is a douche.


If this is true, I just lost all respect for KG. I knew he was a thug, but that's not gamesmenship that's being a prick...

[Shastafarian]

If this is true, I just lost all respect for KG. I knew he was a thug, but that's not gamesmenship that's being a prick...

What do you expect from a guy who crawls on the court barking like a dog? :lol

[Sec24Row7]

Good article... Though he acted like he was going to get first hand insight into Tim's psyche and he still got shut down in the end.

[Kuestmaster]

@FakeCoachPop

Yes, I'm aware of the Sports Illustrated article with Tim. It will be addressed. Attention whoring has no place here.

:lol

[TampaDude]

:toast :hat

[The Reckoning]

http://i45.tinypic.com/2pzbl80.jpg

[LoneStarState'sPride]

What a beautifully written, poignant, masterfully well-done article! Had my emotions all over the spectrum. Best article I've ever read on a superstar.

17.8/10, tbh.

[TampaDude]

http://i45.tinypic.com/2pzbl80.jpg

Guess I'll have to pick up a copy this weekend. :hat

[LoneStarState'sPride]

Guess I'll have to pick up a copy this weekend. :hat

Same. Haven't bought an SI in eons, but damn it I'm going to get my hands on this one.

[Spur|n|Austin]

FANTASTIC read! It'll will go on the wall in a frame right next to my "The Quiet Dynasty" cover.. Thanks OP!

[crc21209]

So is this issue out already or will it not be on stands till the 21st? Anyone know?

[100%duncan]

Reading it now. :lol at the sjax part

[MannyIsGod]

How can you not miss Duncan already? I mean even if we get a couple of more years, you know the end is near and it sucks. I remember hearing it live when we won the lotto and just being extatic but I could never have predicted this.

Its just been so awesome as a Spurs fan and I'm fairly confident that it will never be this good again. Magic, Bird, Jordan, Duncan....

You don't replace those stars. Maybe you even win rings again like LA and Boston, but you never replace and replicate what those players brought.

I really do miss him already.

[easjer]

How can you not miss Duncan already? I mean even if we get a couple of more years, you know the end is near and it sucks. I remember hearing it live when we won the lotto and just being extatic but I could never have predicted this.

Its just been so awesome as a Spurs fan and I'm fairly confident that it will never be this good again. Magic, Bird, Jordan, Duncan....

You don't replace those stars. Maybe you even win rings again like LA and Boston, but you never replace and replicate what those players brought.

I really do miss him already.

Ditto.

[Spurfect21]

Soak this shit in yall...there will NEVER be another Tim. We have truly been given a once in a lifetime legend as Spurs fans. I will enjoy every second left that this man wears the 21. Props to SI for showing respect

[MannyIsGod]

Man that cover is just fantastic and the story lives up to it. In the age where Lebron gets his god damn decision special and you see idiots Artest and McGee running around I just don't get how you can't look at Duncan and just think WOW.

[spurs1990]

Ok I'm being overly niggling here but howza bout some fact checking in that article.

Duncan's brief foray with Orlando was in 2000, not 2003, and secondly Kerr and Ferry were not on the roster in Fall 2003.

[TampaDude]

SAN ANTONIO—Spurs forward Tim Duncan engaged in a rare display of showmanship during Tuesday's win over the Thunder, punctuating a 10-foot jumper with a nearly imperceptible upward motion of his left eyebrow. "I saw him do it, and I was like, 'What! What was that?'" said teammate Michael Finley, who compared the display to a 2006 game in which Duncan gave the crowd an unexpected and nearly flamboyant thumbs-up. "We were playing pretty flat, but Timmy flickered his eyebrow like that and it energized the whole team. Everyone thinks he's so stoic, but he knows how to have a good time. Once, in the locker room, he almost winked. Wild." When asked about this display, Tim Duncan denied any intent to show anyone up and personally called every member of the Thunder organization to apologize.

:lmao

[Russo21]

Fantastic Article dedicated to a great man.

[Russo21]

SAN ANTONIO—Spurs forward Tim Duncan engaged in a rare display of showmanship during Tuesday's win over the Thunder, punctuating a 10-foot jumper with a nearly imperceptible upward motion of his left eyebrow. "I saw him do it, and I was like, 'What! What was that?'" said teammate Michael Finley, who compared the display to a 2006 game in which Duncan gave the crowd an unexpected and nearly flamboyant thumbs-up. "We were playing pretty flat, but Timmy flickered his eyebrow like that and it energized the whole team. Everyone thinks he's so stoic, but he knows how to have a good time. Once, in the locker room, he almost winked. Wild." When asked about this display, Tim Duncan denied any intent to show anyone up and personally called every member of the Thunder organization to apologize.

:lmao

Thats one of my favorites to :toast

[crc21209]

So no one answered my question, is this on newsstands/magazine stands already or not? Because I went to Wal Mart and H-E-B here and they only had the previous week's edition with Junior Seau on the cover. Anyone know?

[justinandimcool]

Duncan's real record against KG is 29-19 though, according to bball ref.

kind of skeptical about the whole article now and if the interview actually happened....

[ECZ]

Great read

[Danny.Zhu]

Fantastic piece.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

damn good read....we'll never see another timmy again :cry

[flipcritic]

Duncan's real record against KG is 29-19 though, according to bball ref.

kind of skeptical about the whole article now and if the interview actually happened....

Piece says including playoffs.

[jesterbobman]

Some of the fact checking was a little weak(Saying Duncan flirted with Orlando in 2003) and saying S-Jax and Duncan reunited 11 years later(ignoring the fact S-Jax was here in 2003) but those are relatively minor points. Well written in general.

[SpurSpurSpurs]

That article gave me chills. Best read ever! I was hoping for more on the 10th page but I was disappointed. I could go on for ages reading stories about Tim.

Favorite:

10 Ferry Hunting
One story among many: In the fall of 2003, during the Spurs' preseason training camp, most of the players stayed at a local hotel at the team's behest. Ferry and Steve Kerr, however, decided to commute from their homes. Both were nearing the end of their careers and had kids. They figured the hotel was intended for the younger players, to keep them in line.

On the third day of camp, Ferry and Kerr pulled up to the practice facility just as the team bus arrived from the hotel. A succession of rookies exited the bus. At the rear was Duncan, six years in the league already. He took one look at Kerr and Ferry. "Wait a second, are you guys staying at home?" Duncan asked, incredulous.

"Yup," said Kerr.

Duncan's eyes got wider. "You mean you can do that?"

Ferry stared back at him. "Tim, you're the league MVP. You can do whatever you want."

[SA210]

:tu Awesome article. Tim will be missed. Let's hope he gets at least one more ring.

[Mark in Austin]

The NBA / Stern must be very desperate to keep their ratings up. Paying SI for a cover story hoping for the jinx to kick in? Pathetic.

[howbouthemspurs]

Best article i've read about Tim Duncan in a long time!

[Seventyniner]

So no one answered my question, is this on newsstands/magazine stands already or not? Because I went to Wal Mart and H-E-B here and they only had the previous week's edition with Junior Seau on the cover. Anyone know?

Thread title says May 21, so try waiting until then.

[silverblackfan]

Its a great article. Saw it referenced from Poundingtherock and really enjoyed it. The writer has a sense of humor and appropriate respect for one of the greatest to ever play the game.

[coyotes_geek]

How can you not miss Duncan already? I mean even if we get a couple of more years, you know the end is near and it sucks. I remember hearing it live when we won the lotto and just being extatic but I could never have predicted this.

Its just been so awesome as a Spurs fan and I'm fairly confident that it will never be this good again. Magic, Bird, Jordan, Duncan....

You don't replace those stars. Maybe you even win rings again like LA and Boston, but you never replace and replicate what those players brought.

I really do miss him already.

:tu

Perfectly stated. I agree 100%.

[Johnny RIngo]

It's so hard to find good sports journalism these days. This was fantastic though. Already knew a few of the bits in there from previous articles(dislike of KG, friendship with Jack) but was surprised that Duncan thinks he couldn't survive in a place like NY.

[Maddog]

How can you not miss Duncan already? I mean even if we get a couple of more years, you know the end is near and it sucks. I remember hearing it live when we won the lotto and just being extatic but I could never have predicted this.

Its just been so awesome as a Spurs fan and I'm fairly confident that it will never be this good again. Magic, Bird, Jordan, Duncan....

You don't replace those stars. Maybe you even win rings again like LA and Boston, but you never replace and replicate what those players brought.

I really do miss him already.

Jeesuz H christ
This is getting bad.
In 2003 at the end of game 6 of the finals- when they took David Robinson out and he hugged Willis then did a 360 pumping his fist...
I teared up.
If Timmy somehow gets another title I think I might actually weep.

[Obstructed_View]

Timmy's so funny and most people don't even realize it. Great article.

Seems kind of stupid to take a throwaway comment by Popovich to suddenly mean that Duncan's never been a power forward. Kevin Garnett has never been a center, Rasheed Wallace was never a center, and Chris Webber was never a center, just like David Robinson, Rasho Nesterovic and Nazr Mohammed were never power forwards.

[Spurs1234]

Anyone know if this Duncan cover is going nationwide or just in Texas? On SI's website, they are showing the next lebron as their cover boy, and a small picture of duncan on the top of the cover. I hate these regional covers (as you can see, i dont live in texas).

[Budkin]

Jeesuz H christ
This is getting bad.
In 2003 at the end of game 6 of the finals- when they took David Robinson out and he hugged Willis then did a 360 pumping his fist...
I teared up.
If Timmy somehow gets another title I think I might actually weep.

Dude the moment when DRob came out of the game I had tears running down my face. Of course I was drunk as shit too. Seeing Timmy leave the court for the final time is going to be rough.

[timaios]

Duncan's real record against KG is 29-19 though, according to bball ref.

kind of skeptical about the whole article now and if the interview actually happened....


Piece says including playoffs.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=duncati01&p2=garneke01

Regular Season
Tim Duncan 23 - 17 Kevin Garnett

Playoffs
Tim Duncan 6 - 2 Kevin Garnett

So justinandimcool is right, it's 29-19.

[DMC]

Bottom line: Time doesn't give a shit what you think about him and he doesn't think about you.

[GinobiliForTres]

Holy shit, what a great article.

[Man In Black]

Live in the now. Tim is still the MAN!
:flag: :flag: :flag:

[timvp]

Great article. One of the very best written in the Duncan Era.

But hopefully they fixed the factual errors before the paper copy, tbh. I count five.

[GuillermoDiazFan]

Duncan was certainly the 2nd best center of his generation.