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Tim Duncan was a player unlike others — while most spoke through the cameras, headlines and 140 characters worth of tweets, the man known as the Big Fundamental spoke in baskets, rebounds, swats and clutch plays down the stretch.
An often quiet individual, many speculated he didn't have much to say because his game spoke louder than most — a five-time NBA champion, back-to-back MVP, three-time Finals MVP and to most — the ultimate winner.
The San Antonio Spurs will retire his jersey number “21” in front of a packed house on Sunday prior to the game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Likely the most quiet man in the Spurs organization will be forced to step out of his comfort zone and deliver a speech in front of thousands of fans before his jersey is hoisted up to the rafters.
“I just think he wants to get it over with because he knew it was coming at some point,” head coach Gregg Popovich told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. “The sooner, the better. The quicker, the better. He probably won’t say much. He probably wishes we wouldn’t do it.
“But he owes that to the fans to go out there and let them applaud him for what he’s done. He understands that.”
Popovich has been known as a fiery, no-nonsense type of coach, in a regime where he treats every player the same. But Duncan was a special player and so was their relationship, a trust that was built on several seasons of winning and doing so the right way.
If there was ever a moment where the former Spurs star and his coach were to shed a tear — Duncan’s jersey retirement ceremony could be the night.
“When you’ve been with somebody for 20 years, it’s pretty emotional,” said Popovich. “It’s already been that way, so hopefully there is none of that left in there. Hopefully, I will be good. Hopefully, I won’t be tearing up.”
