Tim Duncan officially retired from the NBA on Monday morning with nothing but a simple press release from the Spurs. Duncan played in San Antonio for 19 seasons, winning five NBA championships, two MVP awards and three Bill Russell Finals MVP awards, while making 10 All-NBA first-teams, and 15 All-Star games.
He will obviously be incredibly missed by fans, players, and the media alike, but let’s start things off with the players who have tweeted out their admiration and veneration for Old Man Riverwalk.
Kobe Bryant tells me of frequent foe Tim Duncan: "More cutthroat than people give him credit for. I loved everything about him on the court"
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 11, 2016
Congrats TD #19yrs #GoSpursGo
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 11, 2016
Thank you Timmy D for the great memories. #Legend
— Emmanuel Mudiay (@emmanuelmudiay) July 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/wilsonchandler/status/752508628129632256
😢😢😢 RT @spurs: After 19 seasons, Tim Duncan announces retirement » https://t.co/argFVAaxLJ#ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/g7GuSj6oPg
— SLOWMO (@KyleAnderson5) July 11, 2016
Salute to the greatest power forward ever! Illustrious career!! Much respect Timmy D.
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) July 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/kevin_seraphin/status/752504537743851521
Tim Duncan #Legend
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) July 11, 2016
Kevin Martin, TD's last new teammate, tells ESPN: "I got to see firsthand why Spurs basketball has been so stable & successful for 20 years"
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 11, 2016
Shaquille O'Neal (@SHAQ) to ESPN on the retirement of longtime rival Tim Duncan: "Greatest power forward ever. Unbreakable power forward."
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 11, 2016
Wow man one of the best teammates I've ever had and the best PF of all time has just retired #21 #TD #GOAT https://t.co/8jhFDK1kC6
— Austin Daye (@Adaye5) July 11, 2016
Ex-Spur Bruce Bowen on Tim Duncan: "Best example of a leader. Didn't give lip service. Wanted guys to put time in to get the best results."
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 11, 2016
Quote from former Spurs guard Avery Johnson on Tim Duncan's retirement. @CoachAvery6 #spurs pic.twitter.com/XY3Qujt68H
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 11, 2016
Dirk Nowitzki to ESPN on Timmy: "He was always about winning, never about making a brand out of himself. That's what I appreciated the most"
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 11, 2016
Then there were the media members who took time during their summer sojourn to Vegas to offer up their thoughts on The Big Fundamental saying goodbye.
Nobody will ever do it the way Tim Duncan did ever again. Four years of school and still dominated for all these years with no bravado.
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) July 11, 2016
I don't know how to put Tim Duncan's career into words except to say: No matter how good you think he was, he was better.
— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) July 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/BenHoffmanNYT/status/752511796297211904
https://twitter.com/BrooklynBrett/status/752511697110245378
One of the best to ever do it. We'll miss you Tim Duncan. pic.twitter.com/sakC58fHt4
— Eric Garland (@EricJGarland) July 11, 2016
Power forward? Center? Doesn't matter. Tim Duncan will be remembered as the trustiest great player of his era. A modern-day Bill Russell.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 11, 2016
Tim Duncan retires. No statement. No letter. Just a brief Spurs release: 1,072-438 (.710) record. Five championships. Goodbye No. 21.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 11, 2016
Tim Duncan – the greatest power forward of all time. Congrats on a fantastic career.
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 11, 2016
A moment to appreciate Tim Duncan's fashion choices through the years. #ThankyouTD pic.twitter.com/oKUu8A7i9y
— Eric Fawcett (@EricFawcett_) July 11, 2016
Much respect! 🙏#ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/09As0Cd0HA
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 11, 2016
Wow. No more Kobe and now no more TD 😟 a new era indeed in the NBA. #ThankYouTD what a career! 👍🏼 https://t.co/cKxj5JVjJw
— TJ Manotoc (@tjmanotoc) July 11, 2016
Tim Duncan made those 5 banners possible. More importantly he remains an upstanding member of our community, leading by example. #ThankYouTD
— Emily Baucum (@EmilyBaucum) July 11, 2016
The Spurs also released this special tribute video for Duncan, who played with them in three different decades and helped lead them to the playoffs every season he was there.
The @Spurs released this tribute video for Tim Duncan's retirement. https://t.co/SgsRl0XM3I
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 11, 2016
His long-time partner in crime, Manu Ginobili, who was Duncan’s teammate for four of his five championships in San Antonio, also took the time out to thank his former teammate.
Even tho I knew it was coming, I'm still moved by the news. What a HUGE honor to have played with him for 14 seasons! #ThankYouTD
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) July 11, 2016
The Spurs will still be a great team next season with Gregg Popovich patrolling the sidelines, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard leading the way on the floor, and Tony Parker, Ginobili, and Pau Gasol providing the veteran championship pedigree that the Spurs are known for. However, they just will not be the same without No. 21 in the middle.
He will be missed by all.
