ifwt_tim-duncan

The San Antonio Spurs retired Tim Duncan’s No. 21 jersey after they beat the New Orleans Pelicans 113-100 on Sunday.  Former teammates Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli gave speeches as well as Duncan’s infamous coach Gregg Popovich.

“I’m going to tell you this: I won a lot of bets tonight,” Duncan joked. “I didn’t wear jeans. I wore a sport coat, and I spoke for more than 30 seconds. Thank you, San Antonio. Thank you.”

In his typical understated fashion, Duncan spoke for 4 minutes, 18 seconds, thanking a group sitting at center court that included his college coach at Wake Forest, Dave Odom, along with his children, various family members, former teammates Bowen, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Robinson and Elliott, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, and general manager R.C. Buford.

Duncan played all 19 seasons of his NBA career under Popovich, and they captured five championships together. “To R.C. and Pop, we’re all part of a puzzle. You guys put it together, and we’re out here every year, winning and winning championships and creating an atmosphere that we like to take some credit for, but you guys put [it] together. Thank you,” Duncan said. “Thank you, Coach Pop, for being more than a coach — for being more like a father to me. Thank you.”

“To R.C. and Pop, we’re all part of a puzzle. You guys put it together, and we’re out here every year, winning and winning championships and creating an atmosphere that we like to take some credit for, but you guys put [it] together. Thank you,” Duncan said. “Thank you, Coach Pop, for being more than a coach — for being more like a father to me. Thank you.”

“I don’t even want to talk about rebounds, points and all that sort of thing,” Popovich said. “This individual made it possible for everybody we brought in throughout the years to be a part of this culture and be a part of this program. As everybody said: His empathy, his ability to make people welcome, and lead quietly, but with dignity and gravitas, made him special beyond most anybody that you could imagine.

“This is the most important comment that I can make about Tim Duncan: I can honestly say to Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, who have passed, that that man right there is exactly the same person now as he was when he walked in the door.”

Duncan became the eighth Spur in franchise history to have his jersey retired, joining a group that includes George Gervin (44), David Robinson (50), Sean Elliott (32), James Silas (13), Avery Johnson (6), Bruce Bowen (12) and Johnny Moore (00).  Duncan retired ranked second in playoff victories, first in postseason double-doubles and third in rebounds.

ShayAux: Twitter || Instagram

source: ESPN