Whether fan or hater, supporter or detractor, one thing is universally accepted as fact: Tim Duncan is one of the greatest players of all time. Regardless of position.
At a time in which the NBA had begun to transform into an league driven by athleticism and brute force, Tim Duncan honed his fundamentals. From his picture perfect bank shot to one of the best low-post games in the history of this great league, Duncan had it all.
He even schooled a few of the older guys on how to play D.
Entering the 2013 NBA season, however, Tim Duncan appears to be on his last legs. He's entering a three-year contract which could be the final stretch of his career, which signals the end to a legendary career.
Rather than reminisce, however, it's much more fitting to look to the future. A future that could put a golden touch on the end of a player who transcends era.
2012-13
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Position: Center
Age: 37
Experience: 16th season
Proper expectations for Tim Duncan's 2013 season are difficult to gauge. He's coming off of a season in which he averaged 28.2 minutes per game and tallied a season average of 15.4 points and 9.0 rebounds. Pair that with his 2.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per game and you have legitimate All-Star numbers.
Numbers that will drop, but just how far?
Duncan is likely to see much more limited time on the court. He's much more important to the Spurs in the postseason than he is the regular season, as chasing a title is the only thing on the mind of this veteran roster.
As a result, Gregg Popovich will do what he always does: protect his players. Duncan will post exceptional per 40 minute averages, though they will drop overall.
Projected Season Averages
26.4 MPG, 13.6 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.2 BPG, 0.7 SPG
2013-14
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Position: Center
Age: 38
Experience: 17th season
Tim Duncan will be 38 years old by the time the 2014 NBA season concludes. He'll also have completed his 17th season in the league and begin to see how small the window of opportunity truly is for this current Spurs unit to win a title.
Time to turn it on.
A great comparison for Tim Duncan at this stage would be Marcus Camby. While his fundamentals on offense are far superior to Camby, thus providing him with a much higher point and assist rate, Duncan's rebounding and shot-blocking will become his focus.
Due to this fact, Duncan will have a statistically brilliant year on the defensive end while tempering the numbers on offense. What will increase, however, are his assist per game numbers.
One of the greatest low-post passers of all time will show us how it's done, even at 38 years of age.
Projected Season Averages
24.7 MPG, 12.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.4 BPG, 0.6 SPG
2014-15
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Position: Center
Age: 39
Experience: 18th season
Could this be Tim Duncan's last hoorah? Will we actually see Tim Duncan walk away from the game that he mastered for 18 incredible seasons? As painful as it may be to hear, the answer will be yes.
An emotional, league-changing yes.Â
Just one year after Tim Duncan's greatest rival, Kobe Bryant, could retire, Duncan will go out with his own blaze of glory. From dominance on the glass to a clinic on the interior, Tim Duncan will post some of the best assist and shot-blocking numbers of his career.
After all, there's only one thing to know about Tim Duncan: the guy will do anything and everything in his power to secure the W. In 2015, he'll do everything in his power to make sure he and the San Antonio Spurs take home one last title in his two decades of destruction.
An all-time great player will be lost and a year of memories will be made. Tim Duncan will go down as one of the best who ever did it.
Projected Season Averages
24.7 MPG, 11.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.7 BPG, 0.4 SPG
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