NBA: Jeremy Lin, 15 Players Living Up To 2015 Contracts

NBA: 15 Players Living Up To 2015 Summer Contracts

November 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21, right) dribbles against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23, left) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Bulls 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 17, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) during player introductions before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Tim Duncan

Considering all that he means to the San Antonio Spurs franchise, Tim Duncan could’ve easily gotten any kind of contract he wanted last summer in free agency. But, in perfectly fitting fashion, he took a major discount (two years, $10.5 million) to re-sign with the only team he’s ever played for and leave them plenty of room to complete the rest of their desired moves.

San Antonio arguably had the best offseason of any team in the NBA thanks to that sacrifice, landing LaMarcus Aldridge and David West while also re-signing Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Manu Ginobili and Matt Bonner. With the way San Antonio was able to find key reserves like Jonathon Simmons and Boban Marjanovic, the losses of Tiago Splitter, Cory Joseph and Marco Belinelli haven’t even been felt.

This is Duncan’s worst year statistically, with the 19-year veteran averaging a 8.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game — all career lows. But his impact on what might be the NBA’s greatest defense of all time is also quite clear, with San Antonio’s stingy defense being 3.2 points per 100 possessions worse with Duncan off the floor.

Next: No. 9