Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. (Getty)
As the San Antonio Spurs’ season came to a close at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, attention will undoubtedly now turn to their future Hall of Famer.
That would be Tim Duncan. And the attention he will be receiving will come in the form of this question: Is Tim Duncan retiring from the NBA?
At this point, he is tight-lipped on his future, telling reporters after the Game 6 season-ending loss that’ll he’ll take his time with the decision:
Duncan on his future…he’ll take his time #Spurs
Duncan tight-lipped and staying out the spotlight? That’s the Duncan we’ve known for almost two decades in the NBA. So if he sticks around for another year, don’t expect Duncan to be too keen on the Kobe Bryant treatment.
Duncan does have a player option for next year, but he recently turned 40 (in April) and statistically had the worst season of his illustrious 19-year career.
If Duncan does decide to retire, he’ll go out as one of the best to ever play in the NBA. Right now, he’s 14th on the all-time scoring list, 6th in rebounding and 5th in blocks.
Teammate Manu Ginobili’s name has also surfaced in retirement talks. Like Duncan, Ginobili has a player option for next year and has kept mum on his plans. Duncan did tell CBS Sports in March that the two wouldn’t be making a group decision, but rather “individually.”
Check out some of the numbers and highlights of his career below:
Tim Duncan’s Career Highlights
— First overall pick in 1997 NBA Draft
— 5-time NBA champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
— 3-time NBA Finals MVP (1999, 2003, 2005)
— 2-time NBA Most Valuable Player (2002–2003)
— 15-time NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2011, 2013, 2015)
— NBA All-Star Game MVP (2000)
— 10-time All-NBA First Team (1998–2005, 2007, 2013)
— 3-time All-NBA Second Team (2006, 2008–2009)
— 2-time All-NBA Third Team (2010, 2015)
— 8-time NBA All-Defensive First Team (1999–2003, 2005, 2007–2008)
— 7-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1998, 2004, 2006, 2009–2010, 2013, 2015)
— NBA Rookie of the Year (1998)
— San Antonio Spurs all-time leading scorer
— USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2003)
— Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (2003)
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Is Tim Duncan Retiring After the 2016 NBA Season?