by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni
For a number of years now, people have continually predicted that the Tim Duncan-led San Antonio Spurs were on their last legs. Time and again, those people have been wrong.
As the Spurs continue to defy age and overcome major roster changes each season, racking up wins in dominant fashion, Tim Duncan feels as though he has plenty of gas left in his basketball tank.
The 36-year old Duncan isn’t ready to walk away from the game anytime soon.
From Yahoo! Sports:
Duncan is making $21.1 million in the final year of his contract and is expected to either re-sign with the only franchise he’s known or retire after this season. Family might be the ultimate tug that gets Duncan out of the NBA. The 35-year-old says at “some point” not wanting to be away from his two children for long periods will be a big factor in when he walks away. As for actual retirement plans … “I don’t really worry about that part of it,” Duncan said.
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said Duncan has aided his longevity with daily knee maintenance that includes wearing a brace off the floor. “I thought I prepared well and was in great shape coming in,” Duncan said. “I’ve felt good throughout.” The younger Spurs on the team are helping keep Duncan’s mind fresh. San Antonio has nine players with a maximum of two seasons of experience, including three rookies. “It’s fun having a bunch of new guys, seeing them interact,” Duncan said. “You feel like the old guy sometimes. But I got some old heads with me, too, so it’s good.”
Now in the 15th year of his Hall of Fame career, Duncan and the Spurs seem to have embraced their old age, often poking fun at themselves about it, and it clearly hasn’t slowed them down.
Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker and the rest of the Spurs may dread the day Tim Duncan eventually decides to call it quits, but that prospect seems a long way away. For now, the biggest worry is whether or not they can win another NBA title together.
