One of the best big men of all-time, 'The Big Fundamental' is just as good at age 37

[djgruvy]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/52056813/ns/sports-nba/

Great read....

[JsnSA]

I was just going to post this myself. This is probably the best article on Timmy I have read.

[SpursRock20]

Great article! Duncan is the man!

[superbigtime]

Fantastic read. Tim is a once in a lifetime player.

[bthewigwam]

Wow, nice share. This is one of the best Duncan articles I've ever read I think, few nuggets I didn't know. What made it better is the writer, he's probably my favorite columnist in the country. Posnanski's nationally known now but I grew up on him when he wrote locally for the city I live in. Read his daily stuff and he never failed. Off topic but if you read some of Posnanski's general baseball or Buck O'Neil (Negro Leagues) stories, they wouldn't disappoint.

Thanks again for sharing.

[jhfenton]

I was just going to post this myself. This is probably the best article on Timmy I have read.

Agreed. One of the best TD articles I've ever read. The writing, the respectful emotional tone, some telling Tim Duncan stories: all great.

[silverblackfan]

Great find Op. Really enjoyed the read.

[barakz21]

The part where they talked about TD's Wake Forest coach trying to watch him play was pretty hilarious. I thought Tim sounded like some hustler, making sure he wins everything.

[BlackSilver]

:toast

[mrjap2x]

Loved the tidbits from his college career.:cry

[Phenomanul]

:tu

[michaelwcho]

Great writing. Great player.

The line in the article about Duncan taking the ball coast to coast reminds me of something--back in the mid-nineties, I was in college (yeah, I'm old), and one of my old hall-mates was from St. Thomas (Carribean island). Once when we were playing ball together, Tim Duncan somehow came up. Imagine that beautiful lilting Carribean accent: "Yeah, that Teem Duncan, he's a good player. But he's a big man, thinks he can put it on the floor. I took his candy." My friend Leonard went less than 6 feet and was real quick and fluid. I guess I believe he got a few on Tim, before he learned how to play :)

[DaSafan]

This part amazes me-
"Look at Duncan's per 36 minutes:2002-2003: 21.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.7 blocks, 0.6 steals.
Typical Duncan. And now:
2012-2013: 21.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.2 blocks, 0.9 steals"

Better get those assists up. Looks like he's slackin'.

[SouthernFried]

Glad I read this. Thanks dj.

[313]

This part amazes me-
"Look at Duncan's per 36 minutes:2002-2003: 21.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.7 blocks, 0.6 steals.
Typical Duncan. And now:
2012-2013: 21.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.2 blocks, 0.9 steals"

Better get those assists up. Looks like he's slackin'.
I was just about to post this.
Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

[moisaenz]

This part amazes me-
"Look at Duncan's per 36 minutes:2002-2003: 21.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.7 blocks, 0.6 steals.
Typical Duncan. And now:
2012-2013: 21.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.2 blocks, 0.9 steals"

Better get those assists up. Looks like he's slackin'.

He is too busy blocking shots..

[Spur|n|Austin]

:tu :toast, I've enjoyed reading all these great articles the past couple days. I don't remember this much anticipation for a Spurs Finals, though I was only 15 during the 1999 run. GSG!

2002-2003: 21.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.7 blocks, 0.6 steals.
Typical Duncan. And now:
2012-2013: 21.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.2 blocks, 0.9 steals.

:king

[Yuixafun]

Good, better, best

Never let it rest

Until your good is better

And your better is your best

---

I'm so thankful for stories and writings like this. It feels like the universe is bringing me see what I need to see at the right time that I need to see them.

Every few sections I had to take pause, digest what I just read, internalize it.. like pieces to a puzzle.

Growing.. by the hour!? When I read that it made me feel like... I have that ability to, I just never was aware, never activated it at my command. Now I know it's possible.


Fascinating read, extraordinary man. It's a shame that Tim Duncan shines so bright in such a vacuum.

But like Tupac said “I'm not saying I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.”

[Dingle Barry]

"A metronome of excellence" is a perfect description of Tim Duncan.

[Mark in Austin]

good read

[m33p0]

thank you for sharing....
sniff... sniff...

found this there too
Gregg Popovich -- The bully, the buddy, the winner (http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/51591848/ns/sports-nba/)

Rule No. 1 on how to ask Gregg Popovich a question: Do not ask if he’s happy. He’s not happy. There are no exceptions to this. Well, it’s possible that he might be happy when he’s with his wife or friends in the best restaurant in any given city (and it’s ALWAYS the best restaurant), drinking the right wine, talking about the world. But he’s not going to talk to you about that. As a basketball coach, he’s not happy. Ever.

Example 1 (David Aldridge on the sidelines): “Are you happy with …”

Pop: “Happy? Happy? Happy’s not a word we think about in the game.”

Example 2 (reporter before game in Los Angeles): “Are you happy that the playoffs are about to begin?”

Pop: “Happy is not a concept coaches are comfortable with.”

* * *

[TheGoldStandard]

You can set your watch to Tim Duncan's game.

[thiste]

I had checked out his career per 36 a few weeks ago and just couldn't believe it.

Now it seems like every sports writer in the country is realizing it as well.

[Kuestmaster]

There's still good journalism after all. Good read.

[spurs1990]

Fantastic article. Absolutely filled in tons of gaps I had about Duncan, especially pre Spurs.

My favorite portion among many was the conservation with his college coach after deciding to return to college for his senior year:

Duncan said: “I didn’t agonize. I just thought, why should I try to do today what I will be better prepared to do a year from now.”

Odom looked over at the best player he would ever coach, and he wondered: “What kind of college junior thinks like that? Who has that sort of confidence, that sort of patience, that sort of inner peace? And then Duncan said the words that Odom thinks about almost every day.”

He said: “You know something coach? The NBA can do a lot for me. It really can. But there’s one thing it can’t do. The NBA can never make me 20 years old again.”


Odom is right. That quote is as relevant to any us as it was to Duncan at the time. Never take your youth for granted.

[Russo21]

:worthy:

[TheGoldStandard]

:worthy:

We're not worthy, we're not worthy

[pikkiwoki]

good piece of writing. :toast

that was like watching a rob reiner coming of age movie. :cry

[Danny.Zhu]

Great read.

[LoneStarState'sPride]

Those per 36 stats are fucking incredible. WOW Timmy is a damn machine.

[Yuixafun]

Fantastic article. Absolutely filled in tons of gaps I had about Duncan, especially pre Spurs.

My favorite portion among many was the conservation with his college coach after deciding to return to college for his senior year:


Odom is right. That quote is as relevant to any us as it was to Duncan at the time. Never take your youth for granted.

Ha... that's the exact passage I quoted on my facebook after I read the article.

[crc21209]

Damn, what an amazing piece. :tu Thanks for sharing!

[phyzik]

A lot of people don't realize how much Timmy is an Every-mans Man. If you got a nice ride and take it to Black Jack Speed Shop you might be lucky enough as I was to walk in and actually see him working on vehicles and chat it up with me about mine. I told him "I don't have the bank you do, but give me 2 years and I will embarrass your Challenger." :lol

9Q4cEY8R1R4

I see him once in a while out at San Antonio Raceway in his GT-R..... I SEE him, I don't bother him. Still have yet to challenge him at the tree. That GT-R is pretty damn quick and Timmy can drive. I'd get murdered as my car is right now and I can smoke stock corvettes (unless its like a ZR1) and new Camaro's. my best time is an 11.6 in the 1/4mi. In the next year or so I will have paid off the car and that's when the REAL fun begins, and THEN I will challenge Timmy in his Challenger to make good on my promise to him. :)

I might even have Black Jack install the procharger I'm planning on getting so Timmy can see what he's in for. :lol

with the work I've done so far on the bottom end and other components (in prep for forced induction), this is similar to the results I'm expecting once I really go full on with the mods...

hBNG6rnTK34

My point is, he is that approachable off the court if you have the same interests as he does and don't smother him with fandom. He is really a down to earth guy.

[KenziE]

21 should atleast give a shout out to Chris King if it wasnt for him Wake Forest wont know him

[benefactor]

Great, great read.

[Spurs Brazil]

Great read!

[TrueSpursFan]

Good, better, best

Never let it rest

Until your good is better

And your better is your best



We need shirts with this, if there isn't already ones out there!

[ffadicted]

This brought tears to my eyes. Amazing article