SAN ANTONIO – Tim Duncan has not announced whether he will retire or return to the Spurs for another season, but one hoops website has already taken the privilege of ranking Duncan’s top 10 teammates of all-time.
Hoopshype.com compiled the top 10 list from the 138 teammates Duncan has played with over his illustrious 19-year career with the silver and black.
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The two key factors for being on the list were accolades and stats while playing with Duncan. Here are the Top 10, according to Hoopshype.com:
- 10. LaMarcus Aldridge
- 9. Boris Diaw
- 8. Michael Finley
- 7. Malik Rose
- 6. Danny Green
- 5. Bruce Bowen
- 4. Kawhi Leonard
- 3. David Robinson
- 2. Manu Ginobili
- 1. Tony Parker
A few things stick out to me from this list. First LaMarcus Aldridge at No. 10? A big reason Aldridge signed with San Antonio is because of Duncan, but he’s only played with Tim for a year.
If we’re strictly talking lifelong friendships, then Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson are on this list, but truth is they did not play with Duncan for too long. I’d still have them ahead of Aldridge though.
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Even George Hill, who Duncan enjoyed playing with, would be ahead in my list despite San Antonio not winning a championship during Hill’s time with the Spurs.
Boris Diaw is a little bit of a reach as well. He won a title with Duncan in 2014, but was he more important than let’s say Robert Horry? "Big Shot Bob" had a huge impact in Spurs titles in 2005 and 2007. I’d slide Horry in here, even ahead of Danny Green.
The rest of the list is solid until we get to the top three. It’s nearly impossible to pick between the three, but I go Manu at No. 3, Parker at No. 2 and Robinson at No. 1.
The Spurs "Big Three" is untouchable in NBA history, but the trio might not have existed without Robinson mentoring Duncan early in his career and showing him how to be a professional.
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And then there’s the summer of 2000 when Duncan nearly left for Orlando in free agency.
Here’s a snippet from a March 2010 NBA.com article that reviewed Duncan’s near departure from the Spurs, and how Robinson essentially saved the organization.
The Spurs also had one more trick in the bag; Robinson cut short a Hawaiian vacation to make a personal plea.
“There were several reasons for staying," Duncan said after he decided to stay in San Antonio. "It really came down to being comfortable.” -- NBA.com
There was also this. Possibly the most emotion Duncan has shown throughout his entire career.
So my top 10 list would be:
- 10. George Hill
- 9. Danny Green
- 8. Michael Finley
- 7. Robert Horry
- 6. Malik Rose
- 5. Bruce Bowen
- 4. Kawhi Leonard
- 3. Manu Ginobili
- 2. Tony Parker
- 1. David Robinson