San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan announced on Monday that he is retiring after 19 seasons in the NBA.
Duncan, who turned 40 in April, was drafted by the Spurs in 1997 as the No. 1 overall pick. He spent his entire career with the Spurs and won Rookie of the Year. He also earned All-NBA First-Team honors and made the NBA All-Defensive First Team eight teams. In his career he averaged 19 points, 10.8 rebounds, three assists, and 2.2 blocks, according to ESPN. Duncan ranks 14th all-time in points (26, 4960), sixth in rebounds (15,091), and fifth in blocks (3,020). He won five NBA titles, two NBA MVP awards, was the NBA Finals MVP three times, and made 15 All-Star appearances. He is considered to be one of the greatest players in league history.
The Spurs are 1,072-438 in the regular season since drafting Duncan. That's the best record in NBA history over a 19-year period.
"Tim Duncan is one of the most dominant players in NBA history. His devotion to excellence and mastery of the game led to five NBA championships, two regular-season MVP awards and a place among the all-time greats, while his understated selflessness made him the ultimate teammate,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
The commissioner went on to say that Duncan represented the Spurs and the league with class and everyone in the NBA thanks him for his impact on the game.
Players from around the league, as well as former players all took to Twitter to react to Duncan’s retirement.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett is the only player who played in the NBA in 1997-98 that is still in the league with Duncan and Kobe Bryant retiring. Garnett is signed through next season.