Since wrapping up his 19-year NBA career in 2016, Tim Duncan has remained largely out of the public eye. Apart from a brief coaching stint for the San Antonio Spurs in the 2019-2020 season, "The Big Fundamental" has shied away from public appearances and interviews, a stark contrast to the current era of player podcasts and live streaming.
However, in a rare and highly anticipated event, Duncan recently made a surprise appearance on the inaugural episode of "The Richard Jefferson & Larry Show." Hosted by his former teammate and good friend, Richard Jefferson , TD was asked to participate in the "start, bench, and cut" game with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.
As one might expect, it was a challenging question, given the illustrious careers of all three basketball legends. Yet, staying true to his character, Duncan managed to navigate the question with a touch of respect and admiration, delivering a clever response.
Stepped aside
When RJ brought up the subject, the 15-time All-Star initially hesitated to participate, knowing that any answer could spark a heated debate among fans and analysts. But after some prodding from Jefferson, Duncan reluctantly agreed to play along.
Despite the challenging choices presented to him, the two-time league MVP responded with a smile, "I will start all three of them and bench myself."
Hearing TD's answer, RJ burst into laughter, saying, "That is a correct answer!"
Tim's response was a testament to his character. The Spurs legend never let his superstar status overshadow his respect for his peers. Despite his numerous accolades, including five NBA titles, three Finals MVP trophies, and 15 All-NBA selections, Duncan always played with humility and a deep respect for everyone he shared the court with.
Didn't think twice about cutting Tony Parker
When RJ played the same game, this time with his former teammates and fellow Spurs icons Manu Ginobili, David Robinson, and Tony Parker, the former Wake Forest ace didn't bat an eye before answering.
"I'll start David. Bench Manu, and I'll cut the French boy," he said.
When Timmy joined San Antonio in 1997 after the team selected him first overall, "The Admiral" was already the franchise guy. Together, the two formed a formidable "Twin Tower" combination that helped the Spurs win titles in 1999 and 2003.
When Robinson retired, TD continued the team's winning tradition along with the two foreign standouts, Parker and Ginobili, winning champions in 2005, 2007, and 2014. With the deep bonds the trio developed over their long playing careers together, Tim cutting TP was likely nothing more than a joke.
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