Just in case you didn't know, Tim Duncan is back with the San Antonio Spurs as a coach. New York Knicks coach David Fizdale is not having any of it.
The Big Fundamental helped Gregg Popovich take down the Knicks, 111-104. Fizdale was naturally asked about Duncan's performance at the sideline during the game, and he replied with an interesting tidbit.
“I'm just tired of Tim Duncan altogether,” Knicks coach David Fizdale said dryly, via Mike Vorkunov. “He kicked my butt before as a player. Now I gotta look at him as a coach and he's a brilliant basketball mind.”
It's a hilarious compliment to how good of a coach Duncan has become since joining Pop on the sidelines this season. However, only a few people will disagree with Duncan becoming a head coach because he has the track record to show for his accomplishments.
He's played with the Spurs his entire professional career, so he's more than familiar with how Pop runs the game. He was very successful in his system as a player, averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists over a 19-year career. He can definitely find and develop players into the system the moment Pop decides to shelf the clipboard.
Before the game, Fizdale said that they were going to play the then-5-11 Spurs with the same amount of respect they've demanded over the decade:
“Wounded animal and those are the most dangerous,” Fizdale said, via Newsday. “They’re still the Spurs to us. I don’t think we have that luxury to look at any team any other way but with respect.”
Knowing it's coming and stopping it from happening are two different things, though. And it's going to be tough for them to contain the Spurs for the coming years if Duncan continues to soak in everything Pop has to offer.
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