Tim Duncan
From Hoopedia
| Name |
|---|
|
| Position Power Foward |
| Nickname(s) "Big Fundamental" |
| League NBA |
| Height 6 ft 11 |
| Weight 260 lbs |
| Team San Antonio Spurs |
| Born April 25, 1976 in St. Croix, U.S Virgin Islands |
| College Wake Forest |
| Drafted 1st overall in 1997 by the San Antonio Spurs |
| Pro Career 1997 - |
| Former Teams none |
Timothy Theodore Duncan (born April 25, 1976) is a NBA Power Forward for the San Antonio Spurs. Nicknamed "The Big Fundamental", he is noted for his poise, scoring, rebounding, and positioning ability in the offensive post, and effectiveness using some of the most basic and fundamental basketball moves. His list of accomplishments and leadership in the Spurs' NBA title runs in 1999, 2003, and 2005 have led many to consider him to be one of the greatest power forwards in history.
NBA Career
He was drafted with the first pick of the NBA Draft 1997 by the San Antonio Spurs, and immediately made an impact, averaging 21.1 points per game in his first season. The Spurs were able to pick Duncan (the first senior to be selected first overall since Larry Johnson) due to the fact that they were coming off a 20-62 season due to a David Robinson injury.
During the lockout-shortened 1999 NBA season, Duncan and David Robinson formed the Spurs' "Twin Towers" and both led the Spurs to the franchise's first NBA Finals trophy by beating the New York Knicks in five games.
In the 2001-02 season, Duncan was named the league's Most Valuable Player, joining teammate David Robinson as Spurs members who have earned the honor. After 2002-03, Duncan was named MVP for the second season in a row. Duncan and his Spurs teammates made it to the finals once again, defeating the New Jersey Nets 88-77 in Game Six to win the NBA championship. Duncan was named NBA Finals MVP once again, and he and Robinson shared Sports Illustrated magazine's 2003 "Sportsmen of the Year" award.
His lifetime averages in points, blocks, assists, and rebounds are higher in the playoffs than in the regular season. In the last game of the 2003 NBA Finals, Duncan was two blocks away from a quadruple-double, finishing with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 blocks. In 2005, Duncan came up big in Game 7 of the finals with 25 points and 11 rebounds to defeat the Detroit Pistons, despite struggling from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Duncan won his third NBA Finals MVP Award, joining Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Magic Johnson as the only players to win it three times.
Duncan is famous for his graceful finesse on the court and for his low key demeanor. Possessing a sound all-around game, he has been dubbed "The Big Fundamental" by fellow NBA player Shaquille O'Neal. He has also been called "Groundhog Day" by former basketball star and current NBA analyst for TNT Charles Barkley because of his ability to produce very consistently on a day-to-day basis. His signature offensive moves are his smooth footwork and his accurate bank shot. Duncan scored a career high 53 points in an NBA game on December 26, 2001 in a home game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Duncan was ranked as the "greatest power forward of all time" in a 2005 ESPN poll of sportswriters, former players, and coaches.
Tim is also known for his low-profile and sportsmanship off the court as well as on. Duncan is also a benefactor of many charities for cancer research since both his parents died of the disease.
Personal
He and wife, Amy, an ex-cheerleader at Wake Forest University, were married in the summer of 2001. The couple had their first child in the summer of 2005. Created the Tim Duncan Foundation in November of 2001. Amy serves as the executive vice president of the organization which is setup to serve “the areas of health awareness and research, education and youth sports and recreation” in San Antonio, Winston-Salem and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Foundation holds two major fundraisers each year: the annual Tim Duncan Bowling for Dollar$ Charity Bowl-A-Thon and the annual Slam Duncan Charity Golf Classic (since its creation the Foundation has raised approximately $750,000). Through the Tim Duncan Character Champions program donates 50 tickets to each game to students who demonstrate integrity, respect, dependability, fairness, caring or civic responsibility Member of the NBA All-Star Reading Team. The winner of the 2001 Home Team Community Service Award given by the Fannie Mae Foundation and the NBA. Named one of the “Good Guys” in sports by The Sporting News in both 2001 and 2002. Also supports the Children's Bereavement Center, the Children's Center of San Antonio and the Cancer Therapy and Research Center. Received his degree in psychology from Wake Forest. Didn't play organized basketball until ninth grade.
Known for wearing his practice shorts backwards, a trend he started while in college. Has two sisters, Cheryl and Tricia. Tricia was a member of the Virgin Islands swim team in the 1988 Olympics. Has a large knife collection which includes a three-foot samurai sword. Admits to being afraid of heights and sharks. Favorite movie is The Crow. A video game junkie... More
Controversy
April 17, 2007: NBA referee Joey Crawford was suspended indefinitely by commissioner David Stern on Tuesday for his conduct toward Tim Duncan, who contends the official challenged him to a fight. Crawford, who has worked more playoff games than any active ref, ejected Duncan from a game in Dallas on Sunday, April 15. He called a second technical foul on the San Antonio Spurs star while he was on the bench.(full news article (AP) moremore)
