Tim Duncan’s Final Chance At History

Apr 10, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) reacts after a play during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The Spurs won 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

It goes without saying that for many true hardcore NBA fans, Tim Duncan is ranked up there as one of the best of all time. As a player and a power forward. It’s arguable that he can go down in history as one of the best big men to ever play the game. Duncan has been as good as anyone since 2000. Yes, I know most would put LeBron James and Kobe Bryant ahead of him, but honestly based on what? If it’s a statistical thing, then maybe, I would agree. But his other accomplishments speak for themselves.

-5x NBA Champion

-3x NBA Finals MVP

-2x NBA Most Valuable Player

-15x NBA All Star

-10x All-NBA First Team

The list goes on and on, but what is so special about Duncan is that he has done it all with the team that drafted him back in 1996, the San Antonio Spurs. That alone is a feat rarely accomplished in the sport of basketball. What’s even more astonishing is what’s in store for him these next two years. A chance at history. Duncan is a 5-time NBA Champion and shares that category with current and future hall of famers like Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Magic Johnson, and Steve Kerr just to name a few.

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The G.O.A.T. as we all know is Michael Jordan. Jordan has a stacked list of accomplishments that have gone down in the record books. He is the greatest player of all time and has his jersey retired not only in Chicago, but Miami simply out of respect for his greatness. It’s hard to imagine anyone doing what he has done in his career. Here are a list of Jordan’s accomplishments:

-6x NBA Champion

-6x NBA Finals MVP

-5x NBA Most Valuable Player

-14x NBA All-Star

-10x All-NBA First Team

Obviously the list goes on, but what I’m trying to compare here is what both Duncan and Jordan have achieved and how similar some of those feats are. Now Duncan probably won’t reach Jordans Finals MVP’s or NBA MVP’s but he has a chance at something greater than that. He can become a six-time NBA Champion. The mere fact that Duncan has stayed with the Spurs and has continued playing even at the age of 39 is marvelous, but to win 5 NBA championships with one team is something out of this world. The Spurs have made the playoffs every year since 1997. It is stunning to continue watching San Antonio compete in the toughest conference and always finding themselves with a playoff berth come July, and more than that always finding them as favorites to win it all.

Jordan will always be considered the greatest ever, but what Duncan has a chance to accomplish here is something truly historic. He will go down as the best Spur to grace San Antonio. There is a possibility that he can finish his career sitting next to Kareem, Pippen, and Jordan as a six-time NBA Champion is basically the cherry on top of the icing. To make things more interesting, he also has a chance to possibly pass Jordan and even attain something San Antonio has never had the opportunity to do so, win back to back NBA titles.

I mean it is obviously far fetched at the moment, but not entirely impossible. They just had the best offseason in the NBA and with LaMarcus joining their team, they are the biggest threat to the Warriors next season.

Duncan will look to end his career with a bang.

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