You may be shocked to hear this, but when Tim Duncan retires, he wants to do it as inconspicuously as possible. Okay, you were the exact opposite of shocked to hear this, but whatever.
Anyway, Duncan’s retirement is probably coming sooner rather than later. The 19-year veteran likely can’t play for much longer, so we all are going to have to come to grips with the quietest, most consistent superstar in league history hanging them up. It’ll mark the first retirement by a transcendent star since Kobe Bryant ended his career last week, but unlike Kobe – whose retirement tour featured a fair amount of hoopla – Duncan wants to go out quietly. When asked about whether he wants to have a big ol’ tour, Duncan simply told the San Antonio Express-News that a victory lap is “not my deal” and “not my style.”
It would actually be kind of cool to see Duncan go out in a blaze of glory with something like this. Despite being lauded as one of the best players ever, Duncan is still somehow underappreciated by basketball fans who insist that he’s boring. Sure, Duncan isn’t a highflier or the kind of guy who wears his emotions on his sleeve, but people who call Duncan boring have no appreciation for how great he is at basketball.
Then again, the thought of people getting super excited over Tim Duncan is kind of weird, so maybe holding off on a Kobe-esque retirement tour is a good idea. As long as the Spurs give him an Edible Arrangement or something he’ll probably be happy.
(h/t Basketball Insiders)
