George Karl on Tim Duncan

[SpurSwag]

Don't know if this has been posted and I don't really know how to embed the video, but on ESPN there's a video with George Karl of things to expect in the second half of the season. Tim Duncan came up, and Karl said he has heard whispers, with a call even coming in from san antonio, that Duncan is thinking this is his last year

I feel as if common knowledge was that he'd stick around another year, he's been doing so well. I think the reality that he's actually gonna be gone soon is starting to hit me, but I feel as if many of us had the expectation that this wasn't actually the last run in him.

Hope it's not true though, I can never get enough of seeing him play

[wildbill2u]

When Pop retires, what would y'all think of bringing George Karl back to the Spurs as head coach?

[exstatic]

I've been thinking that all year. My belief is that he didn't want a farewell tour, so he signed a two year deal, fully intending to walk away after one.

[Chinook]

When Pop retires, what would y'all think of bringing George Karl back to the Spurs as head coach?

Nope, he sucks. He's right there with Adelman.

[Chinook]

I've been thinking that all year. My belief is that he didn't want a farewell tour, so he signed a two year deal, fully intending to walk away after one.

You mean a three-year deal intending to walk after two?

[spurs10]

I can't even begin to think about that. It makes me want to buy some tickets though.

[Andthentherewas21]

Obviously hope its not true but it wouldn't surprise me, especially if the Spurs don't make some noise in the playoffs. Given everything that went on in his personal life this past year, his kids are probably a much higher priority at this point. Also with the light essentially at the end of the tunnel, its not like the front office will be able to attract any discernible talent especially when they've made it pretty clear they aren't looking for any post-2015 salary.

Ultimately though I think it depends on how the Spurs finish out this year. If the Spurs show they can hang with the contenders and make it to the WCF then it would at least give him something to think about. Anything short of that, however, and it might not be worth another year of training and being away from his kids.

[Libri]

Go see the great Tim while you still can.

[Baseline]

Last June, my coach threw away my fifth ring and fourth Finals MVP by benching me - twice - in the final minute of a closeout game. That guy is still my coach. So yeah, I'd walk too.

[boutons_deux]

It would really suck if Tim retired after a season is over, not giving NBA fans a farewell tour to show their appreciation. I would spend $100s to see Tim's last game @ATT

[FromWayDowntown]

I noted it in the other thread about how this year's Spurs would be different if they had won the title last year, and I'm fairly convinced that if they had closed out Miami, Tim would have walked to the podium and made his last comment something like "I'm retiring," and quite literally walked away. Tony Parker talked pretty openly last year about sending Tim "out on top," and Danny Green talked last Friday on ESPN (I think) about wishing the Spurs could have sent Tim out on top. It goes without saying, but obviously, you don't ensure that someone will "go out on top" by winning a title if that guy's planing on coming back to play the following season.

I think anyone who believes that Tim Duncan would let there be a farewell tour for him hasn't been paying attention.

[admiralsnackbar]

In what universe does the Spurs office (officially or informally) call George fucking Karl to tell him Tim Duncan is thinking about retiring at season's end? Fat clown isn't even in the NBA anymore! :lol

[HemisfairArena]

No way Timmy D. hangs them up. Not a chance. He has said on many different occasions that he plans to play until the wheels come off. I can easily see him play into his 40's with how productive and injury free he's been this year and last. When you go 30 and 17 in game 6 in the Finals and would have won Finals MVP if Spurs prevailed, you got plenty of game left. I think he'd like to stick around and groom the heir apparent in the paint like Robinson did for him. I know it' my own pipe dream but I sure wish there was a way to get Anthony Davis or Drummond to come here and carry on the tradition.

[hater]

In what universe does the Spurs office (officially or informally) call George fucking Karl to tell him Tim Duncan is thinking about retiring at season's end? Fat clown isn't even in the NBA anymore! :lol

Karl is one of Pop's best friend dummy

Its silly to speculate on Duncan but chances are this is his last year. He is listening to his body and in his own words "the wheels are falling off"

one more year and he would look like a 41 year old Robert Parish, just kinda pathetic to watch imo.

let's hope the wheels hold on for a few more months so Spurs can have a chance in hell to get past round 2

[aal04]

Its been a pretty bad year injury wise.

No other team manages their player minutes more than us, and no other team is more injured than us.

Sometimes this can be a nasty reality check and moods can swing in an instant.

[Dex]

Tim loves the game. If his body will allow him to play up to his expectations next year, I think he will play. If it doesn't, he won't.

I really think it's as simple as that with Tim.

[Chomag]

I think it depends how he feels going through the final stretch.

[cd98]

Players as old as Tim make decisions regarding playing another year at the beginning of each season. I don't imagine they make it in the middle of the season.

[HI-FI]

no thanks on Karl taking over. I'd rather go with someone young. I think Celtics were smart to grab Brad Stevens imo.

[TheGoldStandard]

If only jerry sloan was a tad bit younger

[Johnny RIngo]

This just makes Parker's irresponsible decision to play for France even worse. Duncan gifts the Frenchie three titles and TP pays him back by prioritizing a worthless FIBA tournament.

[admiralsnackbar]

Karl is one of Pop's best friend dummy



And Timmy is Pop's meal-ticket, dick -- there's no way Pop would open up that can of media circus on the team by revealing Tim was retiring. Karl is trying to transition into an analyst job, and the way to do that is pretend you have access, and the way you do that is by suggesting big splashy news. He said there were rumors at the ASG. He said he got a call from San Antonio. So... he really didn't say much at all. If you want to believe Pop's perfect record -- repeat: perfect record -- of not revealing sensitive player/team information finally got tarnished, have at it. I think Karl was just free-ballin' a suspicion to seem relevant.

[DMC]

Last June, my coach threw away my fifth ring and fourth Finals MVP by benching me - twice - in the final minute of a closeout game. That guy is still my coach. So yeah, I'd walk too.

He'd never have to worry about another coach doing that because no other coach/front office could get to the Finals with that group.

[DMC]

Tim has bills to pay. If he can ride the bench for a year and make 10m, I think he does it.

[DeadlyDynasty]

I've been saying it since last year but I'll repeat it: Once Duncan retires (inevitably w/o #5) all the pain and anguish of 6 will feel fresh again.

[ThaBigFundamental21]

Wow, if this is true this makes me incredibly sad. I just got chills up and down my body thinking this could be it. I assumed next year would be it. But nobody really knows. It would be just like Tim to walk away without getting his farewell tour. It's just how the man handles his business.

As for George Karl, he isn't the type to talk for no reason.

[exstatic]

No way Timmy D. hangs them up. Not a chance. He has said on many different occasions that he plans to play until the wheels come off. I can easily see him play into his 40's with how productive and injury free he's been this year and last. When you go 30 and 17 in game 6 in the Finals and would have won Finals MVP if Spurs prevailed, you got plenty of game left. I think he'd like to stick around and groom the heir apparent in the paint like Robinson did for him. I know it' my own pipe dream but I sure wish there was a way to get Anthony Davis or Drummond to come here and carry on the tradition.

All of those quotes were pre-divorce. I think that had a profound effect on his career outlook.

[Tuddy]

He can't hang them up, he's playing too good

[HemisfairArena]

All of those quotes were pre-divorce. I think that had a profound effect on his career outlook.

Naw man..I think he's looking at the All Time lists and loving it. He will hit a huge milestone in the NBA if he plays next year....that being 25K career points. Plus hitting top 10 ever in rebounds and top 6 in blocks....he's not going anywhere....no way.

[Obstructed_View]

What struck me about that video was that Karl, while talking about the Spurs without Timmy, looked like he was a bit choked up. Very respectful.

[Obstructed_View]

I've been saying it since last year but I'll repeat it: Once Duncan retires (inevitably w/o #5) all the pain and anguish of 6 will feel fresh again.

Now that you've been saying it and feel the need to repeat it, would you mind translating it?

[KaiRMD1]

When Pop retires, what would y'all think of bringing George Karl back to the Spurs as head coach?

I would much rather we go for Lionel Hollins. The work he did with the Grizzlies is one of the reasons that I respected those guys so much with Hollins at the helm. The ol' sport is a great coach and he doesn't get the credit he deserves. No offense to George Karl but I'd much rather go with Hollins, the ol' sport has an edge in him as a coach that this organization would benefit heavily from

[Sean Cagney]

I've been saying it since last year but I'll repeat it: Once Duncan retires (inevitably w/o #5) all the pain and anguish of 6 will feel fresh again.

Your on a roll in here today aren't you? It might to some, it might not to some. I will think of it and say damn POP you fucked up sitting him late in that game and that was #5. I will think of it but when he hangs it up I will realize what he has done and he won't be out there again for this team to get them to 50 wins every year, that long term part will sting just as much if not more. I will miss the legend when he hangs it up.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Your on a roll in here today aren't you? It might to some, it might not to some. I will think of it and say damn POP you fucked up sitting him late in that game and that was #5. I will think of it but when he hangs it up I will realize what he has done and he won't be out there again for this team to get them to 50 wins every year, that long term part will sting just as much if not more. I will miss the legend when he hangs it up.
You're misreading me...I'm not pinning 6 or the Finals on Duncan...but the pain of that moment will all come rushing back when he retires--knowing his last Finals moment he was cheated out of #5 by Manu and Pop, and that the Spurs will likely not be back to that stage in our lifetimes

[Biernutz]

I don't understand why the Nuggets let Karl go and why he is not
coaching another team. He must be waiting for the right job to open up
as he is too good of a coach to sit for very long. As a replacment for when Pop leaves,
I'm good with that.......

[Budkin]

I've been saying it since last year but I'll repeat it: Once Duncan retires (inevitably w/o #5) all the pain and anguish of 6 will feel fresh again.

Painful yes but I'll think more of the titles we actually won. 2003 is still my favorite. All I know is that the Spurs better not turn into the fucking Bills of the NBA after they begin "rebuilding."

[HI-FI]

Painful yes but I'll think more of the titles we actually won. 2003 is still my favorite. All I know is that the Spurs better not turn into the fucking Bills of the NBA after they begin "rebuilding."
You don't have to worry about that, the ownership isn't as bad as Ralph Wilson plus Spurs have 4 titles as opposed to losing 4. Winning some actually does help mitigate the shitty effects of 6. If a franchise had never won anything and experienced 6, they would be in far worse shape imho. Least there are some great victories to fall back on. Just have to hope Spurs have learned from what happened this past season.

[Sean Cagney]

You're misreading me...I'm not pinning 6 or the Finals on Duncan...but the pain of that moment will all come rushing back when he retires--knowing his last Finals moment he was cheated out of #5 by Manu and Pop, and that the Spurs will likely not be back to that stage in our lifetimes

You might be right sir! Perhaps you are..... I agree. I guess I will have to love the other 4 titles! I never thought they would have one title and then they had 4, so I guess I will just have to think positive there Deadly. When he is gone though, there is no sunshine.
You don't have to worry about that, the ownership isn't as bad as Ralph Wilson plus Spurs have 4 titles as opposed to losing 4. Winning some actually does help mitigate the shitty effects of 6. If a franchise had never won anything and experienced 6, they would be in far worse shape imho. Least there are some great victories to fall back on. Just have to hope Spurs have learned from what happened this past season.I said this to a friend in late summer! If we never won a title at all as in before 99 and they lost 6........ I would be on suicide as a fan! I would be in tears all summer long if they never won a title and then pulled that 6th game on us! That would hurt 100 times worse then.

[dunkman]

Tim's still playing well, don't see him retiring tbh.

[cjw]

Slightly off topic, but rewatched game 5 of the 2005 finals last night and the fourth quarter / OT of that game could have haunted Timmy for ages (missed putback, missed FTs, turnover late in game) if not for Horry's heroics, great play by Manu all around and a nice defensive stand by Parker on Rip. He probably feels the same way about that missed layup in 7 last year.

[gambit1990]

i see him playing one more season at least. he still has game and is in great shape.

[MilesTeg]

"I can play in the NBA later, but I can never go back to college later" - Tim Duncan, justifying his decision to play college ball (paraphrasing). Let's hope he uses the same reasoning now...

[G-Dawgg]

Players as old as Tim make decisions regarding playing another year at the beginning of each season. I don't imagine they make it in the middle of the season.

Unless their team has been decimated by injuries through the season... I can see that being a discouragement along with no longer being an allstar level player..

[bklynspursfan]

TD hasn't been rested much this year. We've played 53 games and he's only sat 4. (I think 1 or 2 were from that elbow injury early on from Tony Allen) Maybe Pop is letting him play more since it is his last season? I guess we'll see if gets rested more or not post all star break.

[Johnny RIngo]

TD hasn't been rested much this year. We've played 53 games and he's only sat 4. (I think 1 or 2 were from that elbow injury early on from Tony Allen) Maybe Pop is letting him play more since it is his last season? I guess we'll see if gets rested more or not post all star break.

It has more to do with Parker/Manu being unreliable this year forcing TD to play more games than necessary. Embarrassing that the oldest player on the team is the most durable.

[Seventyniner]

Slightly off topic, but rewatched game 5 of the 2005 finals last night and the fourth quarter / OT of that game could have haunted Timmy for ages (missed putback, missed FTs, turnover late in game) if not for Horry's heroics, great play by Manu all around and a nice defensive stand by Parker on Rip. He probably feels the same way about that missed layup in 7 last year.

If Duncan doesn't feel all that bad about last year, this might be why. Game 5 in 2005 and game 6 last year were both extremely close and the Spurs won one and lost one. You can't have everything.

[bklynspursfan]

It has more to do with Parker/Manu being unreliable this year forcing TD to play more games than necessary. Embarrassing that the oldest player on the team is the most durable.

Yea but normally that wouldn't have any effect on Pop's decision. He would play 7 guys if it meant getting TD rest. Hell he did it against Miami last year with Big 3 + Green, and Leonard & Jackson were out. Even if it's for a game here or there.

[TheGreatYacht]

Duncan asked on Karl's report of retirement. "I'd like to know who he talked to. It's not something I'm thinking about." - benhunted

[DesignatedT]

Timmy ain't going no where.

[lefty]

Nope, he sucks. He's right there with Adelman.
adelman doesnt suck tbh

[Chinook]

adelman doesnt suck tbh

You must not have watched Wolves games or even Houston games from a few years ago.

[mystargtr34]

You're misreading me...I'm not pinning 6 or the Finals on Duncan...but the pain of that moment will all come rushing back when he retires--knowing his last Finals moment he was cheated out of #5 by Manu and Pop, and that the Spurs will likely not be back to that stage in our lifetimes

You think you an alpha male brah? :)

[Tuddy]

Karl just called Duncan the best big man ever

[Harry Callahan]

TD is still such a productive player (especially for his age). I think he will play again next year unless he gets seriously hurt in this last part of the season. Manu and Parker will be back next year and Tim will not bail on them.

If Duncan dropped to the level of 37 or 38 year old Hakeem in Toronto (basically a 6 PPG role player), I would think differently.

Tim is still a double double machine.

[exstatic]

Unless their team has been decimated by injuries through the season... I can see that being a discouragement along with no longer being an allstar level player..

?? Tim quietly passed the word that he didn't want to play this year, otherwise the coaches would have voted him in again.

[TJastal]

TD is still such a productive player (especially for his age). I think he will play again next year unless he gets seriously hurt in this last part of the season. Manu and Parker will be back next year and Tim will not bail on them.

If Duncan dropped to the level of 37 or 38 year old Hakeem in Toronto (basically a 6 PPG role player), I would think differently.

Tim is still a double double machine.

Agreed. The wheels haven't fallen off yet. Far from it.

[exstatic]

adelman doesnt suck tbh

ZERO rings. He sucks. That's your standard isn't it? If you don't ring, you're shit?

[exstatic]

Agreed. The wheels haven't fallen off yet. Far from it.

That quote was pre-divorce.

Before this season there was a TV interview where he said he absolutely will NOT play beyond this contract because he wants to spend more time with his kids. That's hard enough to do when you're divorced AND travelling all the time.

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

via ESPN


According to the San Antonio Express-News (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2014/02/19/duncan-refutes-rumor-hes-decided-to-retire-after-season/), former Nuggets coach George Karl mentioned Tuesday on ESPN that Tim Duncan (http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/215/tim-duncan) has decided to retire after this season. Duncan was asked about Karl's comments an he refuted the retirement talk.