On April 27, 1998, a lanky rookie from Wake Forest made it known to the basketball world that he was here to stay by winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award. As the first overall pick that season, Tim Duncan was surrounded by high expectations. He joined David “The Admiral” Robinson, who was coming off of an injury-riddled 1996-1997 season. Together they combined for an imposing duo nicknamed “The Twin Towers.”
Duncan shined as a rookie, winning every Rookie of the Month award that season and making the All-Star team. He averaged 21.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. His most impressive performance of the year came against one of the greatest rebounders of all time, Dennis Rodman. In just his second career road game, Duncan grabbed 22 boards against “The Worm,” proving that he could play with the best of the best. The Spurs made the playoffs that season but lost to the Utah Jazz in the conference finals. Duncan was named to the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive Second Team at the end of the season. Fans knew that they had something special with their new star. Everyone was excited for the 1999 season, and rightfully so.
The Spurs entered the lockout-shortened 1998-1999 season as heavy favorites to make a deep playoff run. Anchored by Duncan and Robinson, they were able to do just that. They reached the NBA Finals, where they defeated the New York Knicks in five games. Duncan’s short career was already on the path to great success, and he would not slow down. He led the Spurs to four more championships in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.
This season has been no exception, as the Spurs have been the second best team all season behind the historic Golden State Warriors. Duncan doesn’t play as many minutes as he did in his younger days. This season he averaged just 25.2 points per game, which is a significant drop from the 39.1 he played as a rookie, but he’s not a rookie anymore. He has a problem with his legs that causes him to look like he’s dragging it on his side while he runs up the court.
This season, the Spurs acquired a young, big man named LaMarcus Aldridge whom Duncan is grooming to be a champion, similar to the treatment he received from Robinson. Duncan is getting ready to hand over the keys and walk into the sunset, but he is a fighter and will not go down easily. The Spurs are in the midst of the playoffs right now and are picked by many to be the Western Conference representative. Make no mistake about it, Duncan is the heart and soul of the team and is viewed as the elder statesman. He is leading his men into battle, even if that means he’s sitting for half the game.
This very well could be Duncan’s last season in the NBA. A few weeks ago we got to watch Kobe Bryant score 60 points, ending his retirement tour and career. That’s not Duncan’s style. He’s expecting to walk off a champion in his final game. Maybe he’ll go home and look at that Rookie of the Year trophy and think about that kid, the lanky rookie from Wake Forest.
