The Chirp: Tim Duncan Retirement

The Players' Tribune

The Voice of the Game

Jul 12, 2016

After 19 seasons in the league, Tim Duncan announced on Monday that he is retiring from the NBA. First drafted in 1997 by the San Antonio Spurs with the first overall pick, Duncan spent his entire career with the franchise, where he won five NBA Championships and two NBA MVP honors. Widely regarded as one of the best big men in the game, many from around the league and across the sports world reacted to the news and weighed in on the career and impact of “The Big Fundamental.”

Even tho I knew it was coming, I'm still moved by the news. What a HUGE honor to have played with him for 14 seasons! #ThankYouTD
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) July 11, 2016

Dear Tim Duncan. Thank you for the impact you had on the game of Basketball and playing next to you was a great experience. #Respect21
— Boris Diaw (@theborisdiaw) July 11, 2016

The best PF ever! Thanks for the memories old man. A great player and teammate. pic.twitter.com/Isl9jZzEm3
— LaMarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) July 11, 2016

Congrats TD #19yrs #GoSpursGo
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 11, 2016

Congrats TD on your unbelievable career. Loved to compete against you. Always an inspiration. #ThankYouTD
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) July 11, 2016

Congrats Tim Duncan on an amazing career!! Quiet and humble, but a killer and a champion on the court! #TheBigFundamental
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 11, 2016

Congratulations Tim Duncan.
Absolute Legend.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 11, 2016

Congratulations #TimDuncan on your hall-of-fame career. Weren't a lot of ways to stop you, usually ended w/ a foul.? pic.twitter.com/7W0wNsLpfP
— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins98) July 11, 2016

Congrats to Tim Duncan on an incredible 19 years in the @NBA! 5 titles over 3 different decades. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/XzyB7w14et
— Scottie Pippen (@ScottiePippen) July 11, 2016

Loved calling games of @TimSlamDuncan @WakeForest & no doubt to me GOAT big forward to play in @NBA https://t.co/BpJttsMLga
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) July 11, 2016

Salute to the greatest power forward ever! Illustrious career!! Much respect Timmy D.
— ? Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) July 11, 2016

View this post on Instagram

For many and different reasons thank you Mr. Tim Duncan. Always led by example, will miss you on the hardwood floors. #legend #nba #td #basketball #honor #respect

A post shared by Marc Gasol (@marcgasol) on Jul 11, 2016 at 10:42am PDT

Learned a lot about professionalism, discipline, and humility watching the great Tim Duncan. #greatness #gonnamissthebankshot
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) July 11, 2016

Thanks for being a ? Tim Duncan #21 #Champion
— Justin Anderson (@JusAnderson1) July 11, 2016

Sports/World need athletes/ppl like Tim Duncan,so many qualities I admire.I'm not a Spurs fan,but a fan of class. https://t.co/7jF7RKoyK2
— Cris Carter (@criscarter80) July 11, 2016

Congrats to a great competitor and champion. Incredible career. Pure class and the GOAT!! #ThankYouTD
— Mike Conley (@MCONLEY10) July 11, 2016

Congrats TD - you epitomized heart, humility & class. Will never be another. The Spurs, NBA & the game will never be the same. #ThankYouTD
— Sean Elliott (@seanelliott_32) July 11, 2016

Much respect to the best Power Forward to play the game: @spurs Tim Duncan #Champion #Legend
— Ruth Riley Hunter (@ruthriley00) July 11, 2016

Congrats Tim Duncan!!! Best Power Forward of All Time!!! Thank u!#BlessedRetirement
— Mark Jackson (@MarkJackson13) July 11, 2016

@spurs Tim Duncan the best power forward to ever play the game. Congratulations on a spectacular career. #class #champion #legend
— Isiah Thomas (@IsiahThomas) July 11, 2016

Tim Duncan is example for all of us? #TimDuncan #legend
— kevin seraphin (@french_savage) July 11, 2016

Tim Duncan. Will Never Be Another. Enjoy All Of Your Hard Work ?
— Eric Ebron (@Ebron85) July 11, 2016

Congrats to Tim Duncan, fellow #WFU alum on his #NBA retirement! You really put in work big fella pic.twitter.com/US1FUxSxdg
— Tyrone Muggsy Bogues (@MuggsyBogues) July 11, 2016

Tim Duncan retires after a magnificent 19-year career. One of the greatest players of all-time. pic.twitter.com/dEAYhvnlRX
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) July 11, 2016

Farewell to Tim Duncan the #BigFundamental, 19 years of excellence! A pleasure watching you play.
— solomon hill (@solohill) July 11, 2016

Got a chance to play against Duncan for 10years and every time I played against him I was in amazement!! Congrats on a great career!!
— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) July 11, 2016

Had every pair of Timmy's shoes growing up. Wanted to be just like him. True professional and champion. Thank you for 19 years of excellence

— Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) July 11, 2016

Thanks Timmy D!! A1 Ambassador of the game and gave out that WORK over the years. Congrats on a great career big homie. @NBA
— Anthony Morrow (@MrAnthonyMorrow) July 11, 2016

Thank you Timmy D for the great memories. #Legend
— Emmanuel Mudiay (@emmanuelmudiay) July 11, 2016

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Congratulations to a Hall of Fame career and welcome to the over the hill gang! Love u bra!!!

A post shared by Allen Iverson (@theofficialai3) on Jul 11, 2016 at 10:47am PDT

Congrats to Tim Duncan. Probably a top 5 all time player and undoubtedly a top 5 all time teammate. Wow, what a career.
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) July 11, 2016

The moment it all began. #ThankYouTD

?? https://t.co/jkKFas3Ujk https://t.co/OqEQLB3iQD
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 11, 2016

Salute to Mr. Fundamental! One of the best to ever do it! pic.twitter.com/4xbQKh7QlW
— Ray McCallum (@RayMac3) July 11, 2016

Congrats Tim Duncan, on an incredible career! #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/oTK8bCmqas

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) July 11, 2016

Congratulations Tim Duncan on a great career! #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/SpIxO0eSVF
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 11, 2016

21 on 21 through the years. #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/v5inXGzg64
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 11, 2016

Congratulations on a legendary career, Tim Duncan. See you in Springfield. #ThankYouTD
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 11, 2016

A young All-Star and an all-time legend. #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/Dk0nFhyk8f
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) July 11, 2016

#ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/Lw1Dw14dQ2
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) July 11, 2016

Salute to a great. #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/dKNeMhfKur
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 11, 2016

19 seasons. 2x #NBA MVP, 15x All-Star & 5x #NBA Champion. Congrats, Tim Duncan, on an incredible career! #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/hkrlyAtIsX
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) July 11, 2016

Congratulations Tim! #Respect #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/mvikdUlPXc
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) July 11, 2016

Congratulations on amazing 19-year career, Tim Duncan! pic.twitter.com/RRsV4cm3kL
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) July 11, 2016

Congrats on your incredible career, Tim Duncan.

We thank you for all that you've done for the game. #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/aQDxAPWvgt
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) July 11, 2016

Congrats on a great career, Tim Duncan. #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/APwdvm05EM
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) July 11, 2016

Salute to one of the @NBA’s all-time greats #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/uYzVyCpYDO
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 11, 2016

Much respect! ?#ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/09As0Cd0HA
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 11, 2016

Respect. #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/lOaRBlxo8x
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) July 11, 2016

#Respect21 #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/QbbbFsHrV1
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) July 11, 2016

Congratulations Tim Duncan on an incredible career! #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/Id1Wgctc6a
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 11, 2016

For all the battles. #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/7KwWFOWVhG
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 11, 2016

It has been fun to watch you (but not defend you ?) through the years.

Congrats on a brilliant career! #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/TDgIq7ZrkV
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) July 11, 2016

#ThankYouTD, for everything.https://t.co/tsjN4go8Rk
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 11, 2016

The Chirp: Tim Duncan Retirement

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