Tim Duncan

Lore & Background

Born and raised on Saint Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Duncan initially aspired to be a competitive swimmer, but took up basketball at 14 after Hurricane Hugo destroyed the island's only Olympic-sized pool. In high school, he played basketball for St. Dunstan's Episcopal. In college, Duncan played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and in his senior year, he received the John Wooden Award and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and the USBWA College Player of the Year. After graduating from college, Duncan was the NBA Rookie of the Year after being selected by San Antonio with the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft. In his second season, he became the third player (alongside Magic Johnson and Larry Bird) to win NBA Finals MVP in his first two seasons after being drafted, guiding the Spurs to the 1999 NBA title. A strong post defender, Duncan was named to one of the two All-Defensive teams in each of his first 13 seasons, an NBA record. As part of the Spurs' Big Three with guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili, Duncan won four more NBA championships and collected three Finals MVP trophies. He primarily played the power forward position, but also played center throughout his career. He is a five-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA MVP, a three-time NBA Finals MVP, a 15-time NBA All-Star, and one of only two players (alongside LeBron James) to be chosen for the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams for 13 consecutive seasons.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights dimmed over a court that was never home to Tim Duncan. In this alternate memory, there is no hardwood where he ever faced off against the Nets in a playoff series as an opponent or teammate. Instead, his legacy remains firmly planted in the Alamo City, far from Brooklyn's Barclays Center, serving as a reminder that some legends define franchises they chose to stay with forever.

Reader's Guide

Tim Duncan never played for the Brooklyn Nets or their predecessor, the New Jersey Nets. His entire NBA career was with the San Antonio Spurs, where he won five championships and earned all his individual accolades. He has no tenure, stats, or impact on the Brooklyn Nets franchise.

Did You Know?

• Duncan was born on April 25, 1976, in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
• He took up basketball at age 14 after Hurricane Hugo destroyed the island's only Olympic-sized pool.
• He wore No. 21 at Wake Forest in honor of his brother-in-law, who taught him to play basketball.
• Duncan and LeBron James are the only players to be chosen for the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams for 13 consecutive seasons.