I thought I would post a link to this video made by Bill Simmons. For those of you who don't know Bill, he is one of the most knowledgable NBA analysts out there. He is the writer of The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy, which is by far the greatest book I have ever read on the NBA.
Despite all of the praise and publicity that guys like Kobe Bryant and even Kevin Garnett received in their careers, the reality is that Tim Duncan is the greatest player of his generation. Look at the stats, the wins, the accolades, the intangibles; and you will see why Duncan is so great. He doesn't have the egotistical personality that is common with superstars. He never fought with teammates, never cried to the media about unfair treatment, never made threats about leaving the team; but instead, only won basketball games. The Spurs have the greatest win percentage the past 16 years in ALL four major sports. They are the greatest dynasty in all four sports in that time period (yes, better than the Yankees, Patriots, etc.), and the primary reason for this is Mr. Duncan. It is unfortunate that so many people don't appreciate the man; and when he finally decides to retire, those people will regret not appreciating how basketball is supposed to be played.
I thought this would be a perfect time to make this thread with his fifth appearance in the Finals on the horizon. If the Spurs happen to play the Heat, you will be fortunate to witness the greatest players of two generations (Tim and LeBron). Just make sure you notice the former as much as the latter because he will be gone before you know it.
Bill Simmons's Video Tribute to Tim Duncan - The Triangle Blog - Grantland
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