The years of Tim Duncan dominating the NBA with his steady play have come and passed. This slow decline is not at all a knock at arguably the best power forward of all time. All players go through this tough transition in the twilight of their careers. Few, if any have done it with more class than Tim Duncan. He has taken a backseat to two younger and more talented players at this point and his team is all the better for it. Let’s take a closer look at Tim Duncan’s transformation from MVP of the entire league, to the ultimate role player.
The trio of stars, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan have led the San Antonio Spurs to the playoffs every year they have been together, won three titles and have made this team a perennial contender. The Spurs are a tough-minded team you can never count out, who go about their business quietly, much like the great Tim Duncan.
They are extremely well-coached by Gregg Popovich. He demands nothing but perfection from his group of savvy veterans. Now, with the departure of Jerry Sloan from the Utah Jazz, he has become the longest tenured coach in the NBA. This is an incredible accomplishment in a league where coaches must take the fall for sub-par performance. This speaks to the winning consistency that these Spurs have had since Tim Duncan was drafted number one overall in the 1997 Draft.
