San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan and the eye of the storm

As Hurricane Irma continues, San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan has taken initiative. Duncan committed to match up to $1 million in donations as well as $250,000 upfront.

In an open-letter on the Player’s Tribune, San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan announced his own relief efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The two-time MVP was born and raised on the island of St. Croix, which has been impacted by numerous hurricanes.

Duncan is not one to embrace the public eye. His vocalization of the relief efforts have been a testament to the hurricane’s magnitude in the Caribbean.

Tim Duncan is asking for your help for the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands to steadily rebuild their lives: https://t.co/AnVho3mnq6 pic.twitter.com/o3eogGduBa

— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) September 10, 2017

Since retiring in the Summer of 2016, Duncan has mostly kept to his family and his auto-customization business.

He walked away from the game right into a heap of new life experiences. In March of 2017, Duncan welcomed a baby girl named Quill into the world. In the following months, Duncan appeared in court to face former financial advisor Charles Banks. Reports indicate that Banks defrauded the five-time MVP of nearly $6 million.

Now, well over his $1 million dollar goal, Duncan continues to collect donations and supplies which he will fly to St. Croix.

Note from Tim this morning pic.twitter.com/yZXhyDXb7u

— Duncan USVI Relief (@DuncanRelief) September 9, 2017

Duncan’s Experience with Hugo

For most of his life, Tim Duncan was committed to becoming a professional swimmer. He competed in 50, 100 and 400 meter freestyle swimming competitions for most of his young life. His older sister, Tricia Duncan, competed in the 1988 Olympic Games, and inspired her brother to continue his pursuit of an Olympic medal.

The family resided in St. Croix, one of the more prevalent areas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Duncan’s passion for swimming was complimented by his hometown’s climate and location,. His family and friends wholeheartedly supported him in his dreams.

Unfortunately, disaster struck for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In September of 1989, a 13-year old Tim Duncan faced one of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history. Hurricane Hugo struck the U.S. Virgin Islands as a category four storm and tore his hometown apart.

Because of the wreckage and destruction of the storm, Duncan’s hometown of St. Croix was torn apart. As the storm’s eye passed through the island, the neighborhood pool where Duncan trained was destroyed.

This event changed the course of Duncan’s life, as his passion for swimming was blockaded by the storm’s aftermath. The unruly currents and high winds of the Caribbean seas forced Duncan to withdraw from swimming.

The end of his dream and the subsequent passing of his mother set him on a new life course. This is the course that landed Duncan in San Antonio as a two-time MVP and a five-time champion.

Next: Spurs’ presence at EuroBasket 2017

The Big Fundamental has faced the same adversity as Hurricane Irma’s victims. Now, nearly 28 years later, he’s working to rebuild his home again.