The 7 Greatest Spurs in history, ranked by Player Efficiency Rating (PER)

2. Tim Duncan - 24.2

Much of the reason people thought Kawhi would follow in Tim Duncan's footsteps was the stark similarity between the two in terms of their demeanor. Both were stoic, unflappable in the face of pressure, and seemingly delivered every time the stakes were high. It almost seemed too perfect of a fit.

But in the end, Kawhi was not meant to carry the mantle of Spurs basketball for 19 seasons the way Tim Duncan did. As a prospect from the US Virgin Islands who was unknown for many years before being recruited by Wake Forest, Duncan had to earn everything in a way few other all-time greats ever did.

After playing four years in college for the Demon Deacons and fulfilling a promise he made to his late mother that he would finish school, Duncan entered the league as a pro-ready big man with a rounded game. He was extremely adept at scoring on the low block with his signature bank shot, and his defensive capability made him the missing piece for a team that been falling just short of a championship for years.

Timmy's extremely effective style of play earned him the nickname "the big fundamental," and his unrelenting competitive nature drove him to become one of the best this sport has ever seen. It is honestly surprising that he is not first on this list.