Sunday night, we watched one of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen officially make his exit from the league. Number 21 soared to the rafters as a whole city watched on with sadness, admiration and an unexplainable sense of appreciation towards one man.
Timothy Theodore Duncan is a player that will forever remain unmatched in professional basketball. However, while his skill is undeniable and his stats are beyond impressive, the reason that Tim will always hold such a place in history has little to do with basketball at all.
Tim Duncan offered us all a hero in our lives. His cape was his kindness, his powers were his leadership ability and his mission was to lead a team to success on and off the court.
He didn't engage in flashy displays of wealth or become media obsessed, but instead kept his mind and heart right by staying out of the spotlight and just playing great basketball. His focus was never the advancement of his social status but only the advancement of his team as players and as people.
Tim made such a statement throughout his career without even trying to. He showed us all that to be great, you need not to be loud. To be heard, you must not drown out all the others. And to be listened to, you do not have to demand attention.
His pure talent and love for the game spoke volumes on their own.
Growing up watching Spurs basketball being lead by such a dominating yet reserved figurehead was powerful indeed. The success of the team was so much more meaningful to us all because it did was not selfishly earned through dirty play or overbearing superstars. It was a true team effort, attained by a group of individuals who played their absolute hearts out for themselves and for this city, all led by Timmy D's contagious drive and dedication.
That is why there will never be another Tim Duncan. While there are players who have and will outmatch his titles, statistics and rings, none will ever match up to the level of pure heart that he played with. No player will ever be as respected and admired by his teammates as this man was. No player will ever gain the love of his city the way that this man has.
So from a little girl who has had the extreme privilege of being able to grow up watching Spurs basketball, I would like to thank you, Timmy. You gave me a team to root for that I know I will support for the rest of my life. You taught me so much more than you realize and have shown me that one man can bring a city together in the most genuine way imaginable simply through staying true to himself and playing exceptional basketball.
You will be so missed. But you will live on forever in the hearts of every Spurs fan, and we will never forget what you have done for this city and for us all.
We love you, Tim Duncan #21.
