Ten fun facts about Tim Duncan
Fact 1
He is a 14-time NBA All-Star and the only player in NBA history to be selected to both All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams during each of his first 13 seasons.
Fact 2
Duncan started out as a swimmer and only began playing basketball in ninth grade after Hurricane Hugo destroyed the only Olympic-sized pool on his home of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Fact 3
He is a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year.
Fact 4
Off the court, Duncan is known for his quiet and unassuming ways, as well as his active philanthropy.
Fact 5
Duncan graduated from college before entering the 1997 NBA Draft as the number one pick.
Fact 6
His list of accomplishments, remarkable consistency, and leadership in the Spurs' NBA championship runs in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007 have led basketball experts to consider him to be one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Fact 7
In contrast to contemporary prep-to-pro players like Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal, Tracy McGrady or Kobe Bryant, Duncan stayed at college for a full four years.
Fact 8
Duncan starts at the power forward position, but can also play center.
Fact 9
He holds an honors degree in psychology and created the Tim Duncan Foundation to raise general health awareness and fund education and youth sports in various parts of the United States.
Fact 10
Duncan and David Robinson became known as the “Twin Towers”, having earned a reputation for their exceptional defense close to the basket, forcing opponents to take lower percentage shots from outside.
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