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timmy still has a few good years left IMHO...
he hasn't had a year like this in some time and looks to be in great shape
I’ve been surprised to hear fans and talking heads speculating recently that Tim Duncan could be a year or two away from retirement. When I hear that notion floated, I have to wonder... barring chronic injury trouble, why would he even consider retiring at 37 or 38 years of age?
There are two names that immediately come to mind, which persuade me to consider such speculation insane… Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. Both played the game with finesse, sound footwork, a soft touch and guile (sound like anyone we know?), and both remained among the best big men in the league throughout their 30’s.
"Duncan reminds me a lot of Kareem. Kareem wasn't a physical center, he was a finesse center. And he played until he was 41 years old." -- Pat Riley
Kareem:
Age 36: 32.8 min per game, 21.5 ppg, 7.3 reb, 1.79 blk
Age 37: 33.3 min, 21.5 ppg, 7.9 reb, 2.05 blk
Age 38: 33.3 min, 23.4 ppg, 6.1 reb, 1.65 blk
Age 39: 31.3 min, 17.5 ppg, 6.7 reb, 1.24 blk
Age 40: 28.9 min, 14.6 ppg, 6.0 reb, 1.15 blk
Age 41: 22.9 min, 10.1 ppg, 4.5 reb, 1.15 blk
Malone:
Age 36: 35.9 min, 25.5 ppg, 9.5 reb
Age 37: 35.7 min, 23.2 ppg, 8.3 reb
Age 38: 38.0 min, 22.4 ppg, 8.6 reb
Age 39: 36.2 min, 20.6 ppg, 7.8 reb
Age 40: 32.7 min, 13.2 ppg, 8.8 reb
Duncan’s numbers are down the past couple of seasons, largely because his minutes are also down (We know how Pop likes to put Timmy on ice for the postseason) and because he simply isn’t asked to carry as much of the load as he used to. Duncan is still very capable of averaging 20 points, 10 boards and 2 blocks per game if those numbers were required of him. And so far in the ’12 playoffs, I believe he’s made that quite obvious.
I can see no reason why Duncan can’t continue to play the game at a very high level for several more years. And if he can, why wouldn’t he?
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Last edited by Kent_in_Atlanta; 05-19-2012 at 10:49 PM.
timmy still has a few good years left IMHO...
he hasn't had a year like this in some time and looks to be in great shape
The showtime Spurs... barring injury, as mentioned before, I see longevity for Tim, thanks to his skillset. He wants to win, and if he can contribute even in a diminished role, I think he would do so. He didn't seem to qualify when he said he wanted to play till the wheels fall off imo tbh
I just don't see Tim hanging around until all his JuJu is gone. I see him and Amy and the kids sliding off to the islands while he is still near the top of his game. What does he have left to prove? Every year just gets harder and he already has more money than his grandkids can spend.
Because he enjoys playing? The fire obviously hasn't died in him. So the counter question is, why would he walk away while he still loves to play the game, and is still effective?
Anyway, I do think he'll continue to play into his early 40's. From his play this season, it's clear that he and the training staff have found the magic formula for keeping his body in tiptop shape. Like he's been quoted as saying before, he'll continue to play "until the wheels fall off."
I remember watching an interview with Kareem and he talked that Duncan's game was kinda like his. He said that he thought Duncan could play in the league a lot longer then other guys.
What was he supposed to say? When my contracts up I'm bailing? If he retires after the playoffs this year I would just want to shake his hand and thank him for all the memories. Watching Olajuwon decline was painful to watch.
It's Tim's fundamental brilliance where he never relied on his athleticism to carry his game that makes it possible for him to play at a high level still. He says until the wheels fall off but his wheels seem to have lots of tread.
with how the league is with bigs, he can play till he feels his body is not up to it, unless he loses motivation and hangs it up...
I'll cry like a little baby the day Tim hangs em up.
With his supporting cast now, i don't see why Tim couldn't do a Kareem and pile up a few more championships into his early 40s
Don't think past this postseason..
stay in the moment...
Do you have some unique information which leads you to believe that he wasn't just speaking honestly about how he feels? Like your "inside information" about Tony having a "serious" shoulder injury just before the playoffs?
Duncan has played fabulous in the playoffs!!! Timmy ROCKS!!!
When Tim's salary drops, and it will, he will be less inclined to maintain the grind. He feels good now. Why retire with bad knees or a bad back? I wouldn't want to go out like Mutombo or Yao. I would want to be able to enjoy my retirement and my kids for years to come.
He doesn't have the ego, and like Pop I don't think he loves the game itself. He plays because he's good, but I think he would prefer to be doing something else.
Well first off he has stated recently that he believes he will be playing another couple years. But beyond that, he has also said he enjoys playing the game even now. Throw in the relationship he has with Tony and Manu, I doubt he would leave while he could still contribute to the team's success. Now if a semi-serious injury were to occur then I could see him hanging things up, but he knows when hes healthy he still has game and is going to keep it going.
Spurs lose he'll be back next year. Spurs win the championship and its 50-50 imho. I think the drive for a back to back win brings him back for another year.
If he could go back to back and leave a squad that can compete on its own, that would be the ultimate way to go out.
How do people come up with this crap?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...91/8/index.htmAsk those who know Duncan what drives him, however, and they all say the same things: He loves the game. He cares just as much as the little guys do. It's one thing to claim to love the game and another, as Ferry says, "to make the sacrifices that are necessary to win." They point out how Duncan lost those 15 pounds in the last couple of years to protect his knees, at an age when most 7-footers only get stockier (and indeed, to see him in the locker room with his shirt off, devoid of body fat, is jarring). 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."
If they win this year, I'd be surprised if he doesn't go for the repeat, tbh..
The NBA is relatively weak, at the moment..this would be Duncan's best chance at a potential repeat..
If he is in a hurry to get into HOF, he will retire in 2 years. I can see him playing 3 more seasons, quite honestly, if he stays healthy.
If he can win the 5th ring this year, then I think he will be somewhat motivated to win 6.
While I'm confident Tim can play productively for several more years, I think he's got maybe 2 years left in which he can serve as the primary big man for a championship caliber team. We also have probably a couple of years before Parker begins to show early effects of aging into his 30's. So after this year, the team as cons uted now likely has a 2-year window to add another championship (hopefully, #5 will be this year).
What?? I get what you're saying, but I don't get why you're saying it.
"til the wheels fall off". Wheels looking good so far.
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