Tim Duncan

Timothy Theodore Duncan ( born April 25, 1976 in Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands ) is an American professional basketball player. Since 1997 he plays in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs. The 2.11 m wide center / power forward won with the Spurs so far four NBA championships (1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007). In addition, he was honored with the first three championships as MVP of the finals series. He was also elected twice to the MVP of the regular season and was already in 13 NBA All- Star Games, 13 All- NBA Teams, and 13 NBA All-Defensive teams.

Career

Like its sister Tricia, who participated for the U.S. Virgin Islands at the Olympic Games in Seoul (1988 ), Duncan sought initially to a career as a swimmer. When Hurricane Hugo in September 1989 destroyed the only large swimming pool on Saint Croix, the training was moved to the open sea. The talented Duncan, who was afraid of sharks, then turned to basketball. Although he played exceptionally well, Duncan fell to his secluded island on any college coach. Only the small Wake Forest University in North Carolina offered him a scholarship, and that only because the former NBA player Chris King Duncan saw play randomly, and reported to his old college coach them.

From the beginning, Duncan was at the Demon Deacons and convince one of the best players in the relatively strong Atlantic Coast Conference. Duncan outclassed Maryland's Joe Smith, who was the same age as Duncan and was elected in 1995 as number 1 in the NBA Draft. Duncan, however, decided to stay in college. Even in 1996, when he had the chance to be selected first in the draft before Allen Iverson. In the same year he was voted " Player of the Year " in the ACC, and just a year later. He is one of the few players to have won this award more than once.

His departure from the College was established in 1997, and thus his participation in the NBA Draft 1997. Draft Lottery After winning the San Antonio Spurs Duncan chose in the first place. Since the Spurs with David Robinson already had a strong Centre, the duo Robinson / Duncan was called the Twin Towers, based on the previous Twin Towers of the Houston Rockets, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson.

In his first NBA season get Duncan multiple records. For one thing, he was the first to win any award for "Rookie of the Month". Secondly, it was after the season into the All -NBA Team, chosen the selection of the five best players in the league, making him at age 22 the youngest winner of this award ( this brand but was later surpassed by LeBron James ). Even when choosing the MVP, he got quite a few votes and landed at the end of 5th place

In Duncan's second season of the NBA lockout of the year 1998/99 fell. However, the season was finally if shortened to 50 games instead. In the playoffs, the Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers, each with 4-0 before the New York Knicks beat in the finals 4-1. For the Spurs, it was the first title in the club's history. As the second youngest player to Magic Johnson Duncan was elected MVP of the Finals.

In the 1999/00 season the Spurs could not defend her title, but lost in the first round against the Phoenix Suns because Duncan failed due to an injury. In 2000, Duncan's contract ran out with the Spurs, after which he was in great demand by all NBA teams. However, at the urging of David Robinson, he stayed with the Spurs. In the 2000 /01 season, the Spurs lost 0-4 against the Lakers, who were after an exceptional run of 15:1 wins NBA Champion 2001. 2002 lost the Spurs with Duncan again against the Lakers, this time with 1:4. However, Duncan Award this season for the first time as MVP of the league, which he also (after Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld ) is one of the youngest winners of this trophy.

In the playoffs in 2003 succeeded the first time since 1999 Spurs beat the Lakers. After they beat the Dallas Mavericks in the Conference Finals, they defeated the New Jersey Nets for Jason Kidd 4-2. Again, Duncan was named the MVP of the season and the Finals. In the decisive Game 6 of the final series Duncan scored with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 blocks nearly a so-called quadruple- double ( double figures in four categories), and placed besides the Finals record for shot blocks a. Duncan's team - mate David Robinson finished his career after this triumph. Duncan and he was chosen for the joint title win both by the magazine Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year 2003.

As a replacement for Robinson, the Spurs picked up for next season, the Slovenes Radoslav Nesterović. 2004 succeeded the Lakers, reinforced with Karl Malone and Gary Payton revenge. After a 4-2 victory over the Spurs they made ​​it to the finals.

After the trade of Shaquille O'Neal to Miami, the Lakers fell out as a favorite in the West, and thus Duncan's Spurs were considered a title contender. After relatively easy wins against the Seattle SuperSonics and Phoenix Suns, the Spurs moved for the third time in six years the final. After seven games, they had the Detroit Pistons defeated 4-3. Duncan was honored for the third time MVP of the Finals. In addition to Michael Jordan ( 6 times ), Magic Johnson (3 times) and Shaquille O'Neal (3 times) Duncan is the only player to win the award three times.

During the NBA season 2005-2006 Duncan suffered for much of the season with plantar fasciitis which led to a drop in its performance. The Spurs reached the Western Conference semi-finals and had to face Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks. Duncan was superior to its counterpart with 32.2 to 27.1 points per game, but when it was three after six games to three, Duncan was a tragic figure. Although he was able to record 39 points in the seventh and deciding game, he missed in the extension of six of seven throws and the Spurs were beaten by the Mavericks. The following season, the Spurs were once again among the Favorite for the championship and made ​​it again in the playoffs. In the first round they could after five games prevail against the Utah Jazz for itself in five games against the Denver Nuggets in the second round in six games against the Phoenix Suns in the third round. In the final series, the Cleveland Cavaliers were waiting around superstar LeBron James on it, but the Spurs made ​​short work. After four dominant games the Spurs prevailed considerably and secured the championship. This time Duncan had for the first time the MVP title of the finals another player, the point guard the Spurs Tony Parker, left. Duncan described this as the best of the four championships, which he won. His former teammate, the Spurs legend David Robinson, named the four titles the " Tim Duncan era " coach Gregg Popovich and Duncan also praised.

In the NBA 2007-2008 season, Duncan brought his usual capacity of just under 20 points and 10 rebounds per game and led his team to 56 wins in 82 games. In the first round they had to compete against the Suns, who were eliminated in three of the last four seasons of the Spurs out of the playoffs again. This season, however, the Suns got themselves reinforcement in the form of Shaquille O'Neal, who was specially brought for the Suns to wear through the playoffs. In the first game of the series Duncan was called for and he countered with 40 points and a rare three point shot that sent the game into the second extension. In the end, the Spurs were able to achieve victory in this game, and later in the series. In the second round, the Spurs already had more problems against the New Orleans Hornets and their leader, Chris Paul, but were able to prevail after seven games. In the Western Conference finals but it was over for San Antonio: The Los Angeles Lakers were just too strong and eliminated the Spurs in five games. The following season, Duncan started strong, had to withdraw due to injury but something from the middle of the season. Despite these problems and the loss of Ginobili, the Spurs managed to qualify for the playoffs. In the first round they were but even after five games of the Mavericks eliminated from the tournament. 2009-2010 brought to the Spurs Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess, Theo Ratliff, DeJuan Blair, and Keith Bogans. Despite his advancing age, Duncan was still good for 20 points and 10 rebounds per game and he was elected to the starting grid of the Western Conference team for the NBA All- Star Game in 2010. This year they were able to prevail in the first round of the NBA playoffs after six games against the Mavericks, but had to unceremoniously after four games beaten the Suns in the second round.

In the NBA 2010-2011 season, the Spurs have won 42 of the first 50 games, and thus had the sixth- best season in the history of the NBA ( after 50 games). In the 2012-2013 season the Spurs made ​​it again in the NBA Finals had, however, in the decisive Game 7 of the Miami Heat defeated. This was Duncan's first final defeat of his career.

Awards

As of February 25, 2014

  • 4x NBA championships: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007
  • 3x NBA Finals MVP: 1999, 2003, 2005
  • 2x NBA MVP: 2002, 2003
  • 14x NBA All-Star: 1998, 2000-2011, 2013
  • 14x All- NBA Team 10x 1st Team: 1998-2005, 2007, 2013
  • 3x 2nd Team: 2006, 2008, 2009
  • 1x 3rd team: 2010
  • 8x 1st Team: 1999-2003, 2005, 2007, 2008
  • 6x 2nd Team: 1998, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013

Play

In each of his 13 NBA years Duncan was at the All- NBA team and 13 times in the All-Defensive Team ( sole record ). He is certainly not nearly as spectacular as for example Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, but knows how to impress with his large -like bases and his high basketball IQ. Particularly striking is his bank -shot ( shot with Brett ) from the middle distance and his great ball skills. Because of its very good basketball fundamentals him his years of rival Shaquille O'Neal gave the nickname " The Big Fundamental". Tim Duncan is one of the best players in the post- Jordan era as well as one of the best players of all time. His place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is well established.

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