Tim Duncan changed the history of the San Antonio Spurs, and one could argue that he changed NBA history as a whole as well.
The legendary power forward is turning 47 years old today, and while his name isn’t mentioned in the GOAT debate often, his résumé is one of the most impressive of all time.
Happy Birthday Tim Duncan
Greatest “power forward” ever
5 x NBA Champion
3 x Finals MVP 2 x MVP
15 x All-Defense
15 x All-NBA
1 x ejected for laughing on the bench
0 x missed the playoffs in 19 seasons
Fashion Icon
Top 10 Player ever?pic.twitter.com/Pmtjpb3AgS— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 25, 2023
Duncan immediately turned the Spurs into a contender, and he had to get past some legendary teams to lead them to championships.
He put the Spurs on the map in an era that was ruled by the Lakers and then kept them relevant throughout the course of his career, even dethroning the Miami Heat’s Big 3.
Duncan went 5-1 in the NBA Finals and was one offensive rebound away from going 6-0, just like Michael Jordan.
The Hall of Famer was a three-time Finals MVP, two-time MVP, 15-time All-NBA, 15-time All-Defense, 15-time All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, NBA Rookie of the Year, and he never missed the playoffs in his career.
Duncan averaged a triple-double (19.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game) and was highly regarded as one of the most dominant interior defenders this game has ever seen.
His game wasn’t flashy by any means, and his iconic bank shots weren’t always pretty to watch, but his footwork was elite, and he was a much better playmaker than people credit him for.
So, happy birthday, Tim, and let’s just hope you get the praise and recognition you deserve from now on.
NEXT:
Gregg Popovich’s Impact On The NBA Is Clear
