Developing.
Nineteen seasons. Five rings. One team.
Duncan has led the Spurs to the best winning percentage in sports over the past two decades. On Monday, he announced his retirement.
Behind Duncan, the Spurs have reached the playoffs in every one of his 19 seasons and won 50 or more games in the past 17 seasons, the longest streak in NBA history.
Duncan is a two-time NBA MVP, 15-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA selection and 15-time All-Defensive team selection. He holds Spurs records for points, blocks and rebounds.
Coach Gregg Popovich and Duncan began building trust shortly after Duncan was drafted, as Pop went to St. Croix to meet with his newest player for a few days. They swam and spoke about life rather than basketball.
"I really cherish that time," Popovich said to Sports Illustrated in 2012. "It was like an instant respect and understanding of each other. Almost like we were soul mates."
2007/ Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein, NBA
They have referred to their relationship as kind of a marriage, and Duncan’s openness to coaching set a standard for the rest of the team. Superstar treatment in San Antonio meant listening to Pop.
Popovich and Duncan have been together for all 1,001 of Duncan’s regular season wins. No other player-coach duo has won more than 775 games together.
“It’s great to have confidence in who’s leading your organization and your team and knowing that they have your best interests at hand,” Duncan said in 2014.“That’s what made me stay and that’s what kept me here all these years.”
Had the privilege of being a freshman at Wake when he was a senior.
Knew it was coming, but this absolutely sucks. He's the reason I love the sport - glad I got to see him play before he retired.