Tim Duncan’s special NBA Finals stat is one Spurs fans can use in NBA debates

Tim Duncan's legacy is filled with impressive stats, so Spurs fans already have plenty of ammunition to defend The Big Fundamental when people launch their ridiculous takes into the stratosphere, but there’s one in particular that will be perfect for any NBA debate about all-time greats: Duncan has the highest plus-minus in NBA Finals games after turning 35. Here’s how it shakes out:

To put it simply, Duncan wasn’t just an impact player during his prime; he was a difference-maker until the very end of his career. That’s especially impressive when you consider the level of competition he faced in the Finals. The fact that he retired at 39 years old, yet still maintained this level of excellence, speaks volumes about his lasting dominance.

Duncan always did what he needed to do to get the job done for the Spurs

Even in his late 30s, Duncan was hooping like a spry, young man (kinda). When the Spurs made the Finals in 2013 and 2014, Duncan was 36 and 37 years old, but you wouldn’t have known it by watching him play. Spurs fans will never forget his dismantling of Miami’s frontcourt. Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem couldn't do anything with him. They were getting destroyed time after time.

In the 2013 Finals against the Miami Heat, Duncan scored over 20 points four times and even cracked the 30-point mark in the infamous Game 6. In the 2014 rematch, Duncan set the tone early by going 9/10 from the field in Game 1, signaling that age meant absolutely nothing to him.

Despite being an elder statesman, Duncan was still collecting MVP and Defensive Player of the Year votes—he received MVP votes in four of his last five seasons and Defensive Player of the Year votes in three of his final four. That’s nearly unheard of for a player nearing the end of their career, especially in a league dominated by younger, faster athletes.

While Duncan may not have the all-time scoring totals of LeBron James or Michael Jordan, in the ways that matter—winning, leading his team, and stepping up when the stakes were highest—Duncan stands second to none. His Finals +/- stat isn’t just a number; it’s a reflection of how much he impacted winning, even as his career was winding down.

So, the next time someone questions Duncan’s greatness in comparison to other legends, Spurs fans can add this undeniably impressive stat to their arsenal of retorts. Duncan was a machine from the moment he entered the league until his quiet retirement, and in the biggest moments, nobody was better at doing what mattered most: winning.