The Misunderstood Greatness Of Tim Duncan

After 19 iconic seasons, San Antonio Spurs star and NBA legend Tim Duncan retires with a misunderstood legacy as one of the greatest of all-time.

Over the past 19 seasons, Tim Duncan has epitomized the term, “Consistency.” Selected at No. 1 overall in the 1997 NBA Draft, Duncan has been the stabilizing force for both the San Antonio Spurs and the NBA as a whole.

On July 11, 2016, that stability subsided as this chapter of Duncan’s life and career came to a characteristically quiet end.

Though there was no farewell tour, nor a star-studded sendoff, Duncan’s retirement will shake the NBA at its core.

Over the past 19 seasons, no player has been more consistent than Duncan. Unfortunately, with consistency comes misunderstanding and under-appreciation—two trademarks of Duncan’s career.

As statistics and money overwhelm the basketball community, Duncan has somehow flown under the radar en route to his current stature as an all-time great.

We’ve all heard the criticisms. Some complain that his game was boring or that his numbers were pedestrian for a superstar; others claim that more athletic power forwards were, “Better players,” based off of mere physical ability.

Though he may not care at all what others think of him, it’s time to combat the misunderstanding of Tim Duncan.

Next: The Numbers