The Top 30 NBA Spurs: Duncan stands atop list of greatest Spurs
Web Posted: 04/07/2007 11:42 PM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
Thirty years ago the
Spurs played their first NBA season after being one of four teams from the American Basketball Association to join the older league. To commemorate this anniversary, on Sundays the Express-News has recognized our selections as the 30 greatest NBA Spurs.
Tim Duncan, 1997-present, is No. 1.
When the Express-News decided to commemorate the Spurs' 30 years as an NBA franchise by compiling a list of the 30 greatest players from the team's NBA years, there was one given: Nos. 1 through 3 would be
Tim Duncan, David Robinson and George Gervin.
Gervin embodied the team's success as the franchise transitioned from the ABA into the NBA. He was the team's first superstar.
Robinson was the face of the franchise for 14 seasons, the team's first NBA Most Valuable Player and the anchor of the lock-down defense that became the team's hallmark after the go-go approach that carried over from the ABA into the first seasons in the NBA.
Duncan in 1997 picked up the mantle from Robinson, leading the team to three championships while being recognized as the best big man in the game, a two-time MVP and three-time MVP of the NBA Finals.
Each player had his place in the team's impact on San Antonio. Without question, they are the three most important players in franchise history.
There was consensus among those of us who compiled the top 30 list about placing them in one-two-three order, too. While some readers already have expressed disappointment that Duncan was placed ahead of Robinson, recognizing Duncan as the greatest player in franchise history was a matter of minimal debate.
Start with raw numbers.
Still 18 days shy of his 31st birthday, Duncan already ranks second in
Spurs NBA history in games played (741, before Saturday's Spurs-Warriors game), rebounds (8,816) and blocked shots (1,825). He's third in points scored (16,191), field goals made (6,194) and attempted (12,195), free throws made (3,779) and attempted (5,551). He's fifth in assists (2,346), seventh in steals (591) and ninth in field goal percentage (50.8).
Duncan was named the NBA's MVP in 2002 and 2003, one of 10 players in league history to win multiple MVP awards. In the nine seasons he has played before 2006-07, he has been first-team All-NBA eight times and was a second-team selection the only season he was not voted to the first team. He has earned All-Defensive first-team honors six times and All-Defensive second team three times. He is the first player in league history to be named to an All-NBA team and an All-Defensive team in each of his first nine seasons. Duncan, the 1998 Rookie of the Year, has been an All-Star each of his 10 NBA seasons.
What truly made the choice of Duncan as the No. 1 player in franchise history easy, though, is the impact he made on the Spurs' playoff success. Before he arrived, the
Spurs had won more than one NBA playoff series only once.
With Duncan, the
Spurs have won three titles, and with three distinctly different sets of teammates surrounding him. In the club's first championship season, Duncan was with a mostly veteran outfit that included Robinson, Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson. In the second championship run, in 2003,
Tony Parker was in his second season and still learning how to be an effective NBA point guard,
Manu Ginobili was a rookie and Stephen Jackson was a major offensive contributor. In 2005, Duncan played alongside a new center, Rasho Nesterovic, and
Robert Horry and
Brent Barry had filled important roles.
Duncan was the constant, voted MVP of all three NBA Finals.
It may well be that the
Spurs remained in San Antonio because of Duncan. A referendum to commit public funds to construction of a new arena, deemed vital by ownership if the team was to remain in the Alamo City, trailed in pre-election polls before Duncan led the
Spurs to the 1999 title. Voting on the same day the
Spurs were presented their championship rings, San Antonians overwhelmingly approved public support for what is now the AT&T Center.
Here are Duncan's rankings in the
Spurs playoff history: No. 1 in points scored (2,858), rebounds (1,499), field goals made (1,038) and attempted (2,056), free throws made (759) and attempted (1,078) and blocked shots (318). He's No. 2 in games played (118), assists (424), scoring average (24.1) and rebounding average (12.7); No. 4 in steals (80); No. 9 in field goal percentage (50.5).
Duncan's importance to the Spurs' success on the court goes beyond numbers. He is a leader by example; few players in NBA history have been more devoted to self-improvement. His work ethic has been praised by coach Gregg Popovich from the moment he arrived for his rookie season.
Barry recalls the day he arrived in San Antonio to sign a free-agent contract on July 15, 2004. The
Spurs had been eliminated by the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals in late May, but as Barry signed his contract in an office just off the Spurs' practice court, he heard the squeak of basketball shoes on hardwood, so he looked to see who was working out.
It was Duncan, practicing defensive slides.
1.
Tim Duncan
2. David Robinson
3. George Gervin
4.
Manu Ginobili
5. Sean Elliott
6.
Tony Parker
7. Larry Kenon
8. Avery Johnson
9. James Silas
10. Alvin Robertson
11. Mike Mitchell
12. Artis Gilmore
13. Johnny Moore
14.
Bruce Bowen
15.
Malik Rose
16. Terry Cummings
17. Billy Paultz
18. Dennis Rodman
19.
Robert Horry
20. Mark Olberding
21. Steve Kerr
22. Vinny Del Negro
23. Mario Elie
24. Gene Banks
25. Mike Gale
26. Chuck Person
27. Coby Dietrick
28. Dave Corzine
29. Willie Anderson
30. Stephen Jackson
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