Tim Duncan is part of one of the great what-ifs in NBA history. The Boston Celtics enjoyed an unrivaled amount of success in the 20th century. They won 16 titles, 11 with Bill Rusell during the 1950s and 60s, two in the 1970's thanks to John Havlicek, and three in the 1980s due to their dominant front line of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish. Though there was one decade, in particular, that was not too kind to the Celtics in the 1990s.
From the 1990-91 to 1999-00 seasons, Boston made the playoffs just four times, and they never advanced past the Eastern Conference Semifinals in this span. This lack of success seemed to carry over into the 21st century, as they were never a true contender to win it all prior to their title run in the 2007-08 campaign.
What If Tim Duncan Was Selected By Celtics In 1997 NBA Draft?
Though if the 1997 NBA Draft Lottery went Boston's way, the league's winningest franchise could have added a few additional banners to the rafters in TD Garden. The 1996-97 season was arguably the low point in what was a decade full of disappointment for the Celtics faithful. Beantown finished with an abysmal record of 15-67 (the worst in the NBA), and their leading scorer was a rookie Antoine Walker, who averaged 17.5 points per game in his first stint as a pro.
Asides from the promising play of Walker, there was not much Celtics news to look forward to at the time other than the draft lottery. Because the green and white finished with the worst record in basketball, they were given the best odds at the number one overall pick (27.51%).
By the time the lottery rolled around in the spring of 1997, it was clear who Boston would nab if they happened to land the top selection; a former Wake Forest standout by the name of Tim Duncan. Duncan was perceived as unarguably the top prospect in what was a loaded draft class, as a senior, he tallied 20.8 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks in 36.7 minutes of action.
Unfortunately, the C's were unable to receive any of that Leprechaun luck that they so desperately needed on May 18, 1997. Instead, Boston dropped to the third pick in the draft while the San Antonio Spurs, owners of the second-best odds to land the first pick, lucked out and subsequently drafted the all-time great just over a month later.
It is also worth mentioning that the C's also owned the pick with the sixth-best odds (8.8%), which led to the green ending up with the sixth selection along with the third. The following seasons were rough for Boston, to say the least, the team would not reach the postseason again until the 2001-02 campaign, which saw Paul Pierce and Walker lead an overachieving squad to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they bowed out to the then-New Jersey Nets in six games.
If Duncan donned a Celtics jersey to end the 1990s and beyond, it is likely that a lowly era in Boston basketball would be remembered as the opposite. While it would have probably led to the C's missing out on drafting Pierce in 1998, it cannot be argued that Duncan was the superior talent and leader. The Big Fundamental may have had help from a generational coach in Gregg Popovich and a slew of all-star teammates during his tenure in San Antonio, though it is safe to say that he would still have seen success had he been drafted by Boston.
If it was not for sheer luck, Tim Duncan would be a Celtics legend.
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