Tim Duncan is a top 5 player of all time...

 

When talking about perfect careers Tim Duncans name is often the first to come to mind. In fact, I would argue that Tim Duncan had the most flawless career in NBA history. Duncan played his whole career with the San Antonio Spurs winning 5 championships along with 2 most valuable player awards and 15 all NBA selections. However, that's Just the tip of the iceberg. Certain aspects of Duncans career often don't get enough spotlight. Duncan isn't top 10 in some peoples eyes but Duncan should be recognized as a top 5 player in NBA history. Everyone will have different different opinions about this claim but one things certain: Tim Duncans career will always be remembered for the rest of NBA history.....

 

Longevity: Let's face it...in the longevity aspect of basketball not many players accomplished what Duncan did. Tim Duncan is the only player in NBA history to make an All NBA 1st team and win a championship in 3 different decades. But in addition to that Duncan is tied for the 2nd most all NBA teams ever and has the most all defensive selections ever by a comfortable margin. No player other player in NBA history was ever able to make 15 all NBA teams and 15 all defensive teams which not only emphasises his longevity but also his dominance on both sides of the basketball.

Throughout his time in the league Duncan was never known for being a scorer. However along with LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Karl Malone, Duncan is 1 of 4 players to ever score 1,000 or more points in 17 different seasons. But look at it this way...from age 21 all the way to age 37 (a 17 year span) Duncan launched statistics of 22.7 points per game, 12.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 blocks, on 50.6% shooting from the floor (per 75 possessions). That is a 1,256 game span in which Duncans statistical outputs were at All NBA standard...incredible isn't it?

Winning: It goes without saying that winning is the most important aspect in any given sport. Well, Duncan was no slouch here at all...Tim Duncan got the pleasure of holding up the Larry O'Brien trophy in 5 different occasions in his career and has a 5-1 finals record. But in the overall playoffs Duncan was just as well rounded as he a playoff win percentage of 62.5% which is higher than Larry Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaq, and Kobe Brant. As if today Tim Duncan has 157 total playoff wins which is 3rd in NBA history giving him more postseason wins than every other star player besides LeBron James.

Most superstars have off years, years in which the miss the playoffs, or their team has a bad record. But this was never the case for Tim Duncan. Besides the 1999 NBA season (when the season was shortened) Tim Duncan and the Spurs won 50 or more games every other regular season for his career...and describing that as breath taking would still be an understatement. Duncan would also make the NBA playoffs every year of his career. This might not sound too impressive at face value but almost no other legend has ever done this. Not Jordan, not LeBron, not Kareem etc.

 

Peak: Duncans peak is definitely worthy of a mention here. He would have one of the greatest in NBA history all the way from his statistical numbers to his accomplishments. To prove it here are Duncan peaks stats and accomplishments per 75 possessions: (1999-2003): 24.6 PPG, 13.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 55.6% TS, 2x champion, 2x time FMVP, 2 most valuable player awards, 5x all NBA 1st, 5x all defensive 1st.

And for comparison heres how that would rank among other legendary big man:

Kareem (1977-81 per 75): 23.1 PPG, 10.9 Rebounds, 3.9 assists, 61.3% TS, 1x champion, 0x FMVP, 2x MVP, 3x all NBA 1st, 3x all defensive 1st.

Hakeem Olajuwon (1993-1996 per 75): 25.9 PPG, 11.2 Rebounds, 3.4 assists, 56.6% TS, 2x all NBA 1st, 2x all defensive 1st, 2x champion, 2x FMVP, 1x MVP, 2x DPOY.

A problem i've found is that some people think Duncan at his peak wasn't that great but in reality a player launching stats of 25 and 13 (per 75) and winning multiple championships and MVPs as well as making all NBA 1st team every year is a very rare occasion in the NBA.

Impact: I wouldn't go as far to say Duncan is the most impactful player ever but make no mistake about it the impact Duncan has on the Spurs was eye opening. Duncans arrival in 1997 elevated the team to title contention and his presence kept them there for nearly 2 decades. In his prime (1998-2010) Duncan had a on/off standing at +9.8, a box plus minus of 6.1 and a PER standing at 25.0. Even if you're not a statistical guy Duncans impact can be best seen in the 2000 NBA playoffs.

In the 1999 season Duncan and the Spurs would go on to win their 1st ever championship in their franchise history also making Duncan the second youngest FMVP of all time. So in the 2000 season the Spurs won 53 games and has a good chance at repeating as champions. However Duncan would tear his meniscus in the 78th game of the season so the front office decided to sit him out for the remainder of the season. 

But fans bring up the fact that Duncan had "multiple hall of famers" and "too much help" and by the way they over exaggerate this you'd think this wouldn't be that big of an issue. But this was not the case. In the 2000 postseason the Spurs faced the Suns who had 1 hall of famer in Jason Kidd but making it even easier for San Antonio Jason Kidd only played 1 game in this series so Phoenix was lacking a guard so they called Kevin Johnson out of retirement. And without Duncans presence the Spurs would still go on to lose in 5 games in the first round. Phoenix only averaged 83 PPG on 39.7% shooting from the floor, 27.1% from 3PT and 69.4% from the FT line. But with no Duncan that is what the Spurs lost too. Furthermore proving the point of Duncans ridiculous impact on San Antonio. With Duncan there the Spurs were NBA championship but with him not playing the lost to a very underarmed Phoenix Suns team. 

Accolades: As you have noticed may have noticed by now, Tim Duncan is a 1 in a million type of player. Because of this he racked up great accolades during the course of his career. Overall Tim Duncan is one of the most accomplished players in history. He has 15 all star selections, 15 all NBA selections, and has the most all defensive teams ever. He led his team to 5 championship rings and won FMVP in 1999, 2003, and 2005 respectively. He was awarded the Kia NBA MVP award in 2 different occasions in 2002, and 2003. Duncan is just 1 of 3 players with 5 rings, 3 FMVPs, and 2 MVPs. Accompanied only by Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

Two-Way dominance: Duncan was a great offensive player and probably even underrated on that end. His low post game premised around the classic bank shot which was always a reliable move. He wasn't too bad of a midrange shooter as well, and would often get past other bigs with a spin move near the basket. He supplied around 23 points a night on 50% shooting on very fundamental basketball. His had a good passing touch for a big man and all these things allowed him to big a big piece in the Spurs offense even when his peak days were behind him. Every move his took out of his arsenal was simple but effective. 

But it didn't stop there because he was even better on the defensive end. Rim protecters are important in the 2010s and 2020s but nowhere near as important as the were in the 90s and 2000s. And that was something Duncan provided with on San Antonio. And even until his late days this was something Duncan always helped out with. In 2015 even as a 38 year old Duncan still blocked an average of 2 shots a night and was even named to an all defensive team. This type of consistency is a big piece as to way the Spurs won 5 rings under Duncans presence. 

Duncan is 6th in career blocks, 2rd in career DWS, 3rd in career defensive rating, and 12th in career Defensive Box Plus minus. And as mentioned numerous times in this article he made 15 all defensive teams with 8 of the being 1st teams. Duncan was top 8 in DPOY voting and MVP voting 9 times which is tied for 1st of all time along with Michael Jordan. And he finished top 5 in MVP and DPOY voting 6 times which is 2nd on all time. 

So what really makes Duncan a top 5 player in history? Well, Duncan represents winning better than almost any other player to play the game, his longevity is nearly unmatched, and we have never seen a more consistent player than Duncan.