Tim Duncan retires after 19 NBA seasons

Tim Duncan, the iconic player of San Antonio Spurs, decided at 40 put an end his career after 19 seasons in the NBA, announced Monday the Spurs.
This decision was widely expected by the leaders of the Spurs and their fans : Duncan was under contract until 2017, but he had indicated at the end of the 2015-16 season he wanted to think about before deciding whether to continue his career.
Duncan with Gregg Popovich, the Spurs coach, the cornerstone of the Texas franchise with which he won five NBA titles (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014). He forms with the French Tony Parker and Argentine Manu Ginobili the "Big Three" most prolific in the history of the NBA. With this trio, nicknamed "The Big Fundamental", the Spurs have won 1,072 regular-season games with a win rate of 71%, the highest in the last 19 years in all US professional leagues. Shy and discreet outside flooring, Duncan was not player to highlight with angry dunks and statement-shock.
He won the trophy for best NBA player (MVP) twice (2002, 2003). Since his beginnings in San Antonio in 1997, the power forward shows averages of 19 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. This season, his statistics dropped with 8.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 25 minutes per game. He was particularly bothered by pain in his left knee.
Second in the Western Conference at the end of the regular season, San Antonio was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by Oklahoma City (4-2). The Spurs began the transition since several seasons and became the team of Kawhi Leonard, supported since last season by LaMarcus Aldridge. He will be replaced numerically by Spanish Pau Gasol, who arrived this summer from the Chicago Bulls.


Source : Le Monde