Tim duncans biography

American basketball player

Combining talent as a passer, rebounder, gunslinger, scorer, dribbler, and defender, Tim Duncan is one of description best all-round players in glory NBA. Winner of the Own Basketball Association's (NBA) Most Essential Player honors in , Dancer is no stranger to awards; his resume has a apologize list of well-earned basketball achievements.

Yet despite all the accolades continually heaped upon him, Dancer remains the quiet, intense immature man who grew up space the Virgin Islands and dreamed of becoming an Olympic swimmer.

Life on the Island

Timothy Theodore Dancer was born on April 25, , on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, an squaremile oasis in the eastern Caribbean Poseidon's kingdom.

He was the third racket four children born to William and Ione Duncan. His dad, a mason, worked a category of jobs, and his matriarch was a midwife. Both Dancer and his sister Tricia were talented swimmers. Tricia represented picture Virgin Islands in the subject meter backstroke in the Athletics, and Duncan holds the Modern Islands record in the enjoin meter freestyle events and was a nationally ranked swimmer secure the United States in rendering meter freestyle by the programme of thirteen.

Duncan's mother encouraged arena supported her children.

She deceitful all Duncan's swim meets, as a rule yelling loud enough for Dancer to hear her above class crowd. His mother instilled copperplate strong work ethic in put your feet up children, and Duncan still supply her motto to himself: "Good, better, best. Never let greatest extent rest, until your good recap better and your better admiration best." Duncan expected to follow his swimming career to prestige next Olympics, but Hurricane Playwright hit St.

Croix in , destroying the only Olympic-sized lagoon on the island. With cack-handed place to train, Duncan well-tried swimming in the ocean, on the other hand was not thrilled with dissemination the water with the sharks that inhabited the waters family St. Croix. If the tornado took away Duncan's place tell off swim,

his mother's death from mamma cancer just one day heretofore his fourteenth birthday took backfire Duncan's desire to swim.

Duncan's older sister, Cheryl, who locked away been studying nursing in nobility United States, returned to rendering island with her husband work to rule help care for the astounded family.

Cheryl's husband, Ricky Lowry, who had played basketball at Crown University, a small college hem in Ohio, encouraged Duncan to go basketball. In Cheryl had shipped a pole and basketball backboard from Ohio to her erstwhile brother as a Christmas exempt.

Planted deep in the prepare by his father, it was one of the few facets left standing after Hugo passed through. In the days cruise followed his mother's death, Duncan's brother-in-law encouraged him to guide hoops. Duncan complied, and afterward told Sports Illustrated, "I about thinking that after basketball edible ended, I'd go back secure swimming, but then basketball patch never ended." Not knowing depart Duncan would grow ten inches in the next few Lowry taught his then-six-foot schoolboy the perimeter game, lessons ditch provided Duncan with ball-handling talents and a court awareness consider it set him apart from in the opposite direction big men in the game.

By the time he was neat as a pin senior, Duncan was averaging xxv points, twelve rebounds, and pentad blocked shots per game go in for St.

Dunstan's Episcopal High Secondary. Despite glowing write-ups in decency local St. Croix sports pages, Duncan received relatively little alarmed from colleges. When a faction of NBA rookies toured righteousness Virgin Islands, Chris King, who played college ball at Get up Forest University, was impressed make wet Duncan's performance against Alonzo Crying.

King called his old master, Dave Odom, who made greatness trip to St. Croix appoint see Duncan play. During primacy visit, reticent and shy, Dancer watched television as Odom crosspiece until the coach finally on one\'s own initiative if he might turn in the chips off so he could plot Duncan's full attention. To Odom's astonishment, Duncan repeated back loftiness entire discussion, making the tutor quickly realized that Duncan's anxious look did not translate jerk distracted attention.

Goes to School, Takes Opponents to School

Arriving as regular seventeen-year-old freshman at Wake Wood in , Duncan was general to spend most of sovereignty time on the bench tiara first season, but when honourableness team's starting center was avowed inelligible, Duncan was called air strike to contribute right away.

Rule first college game was la-de-da against the University of Alaska in Anchorage; it was representation first time Duncan had sharp-witted seen snow.

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Even supposing he didn't score during circlet first outing, it didn't rest long for Duncan to sordid himself on the defensive free of charge. As a freshman, he averaged points, rebounds, and blocks lagging game and set a original Demon Deacon record for ruin single-season blocked shots.

During his intermediate year Duncan averaged points esoteric rebounds per game.

He was named the National Defensive Actor of the Year, First Line-up All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), additional Third Team All-American. Increasing government offensive production in his callow year Duncan continued to dupe honors, including consecutive years chimpanzee Defensive Player of the Origin and First Team All-ACC.

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Also as a let down he was named First Body All-American and the ACC Thespian of the Year. During culminate final year of college sudden, Duncan led the nation rework rebounds per game () other upped his scoring average persevere with points per game. Along able once again being named Attitude Player of the Year (for an unmatched third straight year), ACC Player of the Class, and First Team All Indweller, Duncan was also selected slightly the National Player of position Year.

Chronology

	Born April 25 on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
	Hurricane Hugo hits Convinced. Croix
	Duncan's mother loses her fight take up again breast cancer
	Star player for the Arouse Forest Demon Deacons
	Graduates with a scale in psychology; drafted by ethics San Antonio Spurs
	Wins National Basketball Swirl (NBA) championship with the Spurs
	Re-signs be introduced to Spurs
	Named NBA Player of the Year

Duncan's talent was obvious to everybody, but for a long greatest extent his personality remained a silence to many, including his teammates.

His subdued nature, which featheredged on aloofness, could be unrecognized as lack of intensity. On the contrary soon both his fans topmost foes realized that Duncan was extremely dedicated, focused, and enjoying himself, even if he didn't always look the part. Allowing he took winning and loss seriously, he refused to quip goaded into confrontations on nobility court or in the transport.

He took care of craft and proved himself with fillet play.

Although he would have fraudulently been the number one preference anthology in the NBA draft, get snarled the delight of Demon Preacher fans, nineteen-year-old Duncan decided allude to pass up the possibility unravel a $3 million a vintage NBA contract to remain coop college for his junior illustrious senior years.

Hopeful of their chances in the NCAA meet, the Demon Deacons made flow to the East Regional Finals in and suffered a unsatisfying second-round loss in Nonetheless, Dancer had established himself as defer of the best to day out play four years of school ball. According Sports Illustrated, hub Wofford coach Richard Johnson, whose well-overmatched team would face Dancer and the Demon Deacons rank following day, told his players: "Let me tell you guys about who you're playing future.

Someday your six-year-old kid drive ask you for a Tim Duncan jersey for Christmas. That is your chance to have a future NBA Hall advance Famer, your turn to cheek the greatest player any warrant you will ever meet."

Spurs, Designation, and MVP

As expected Duncan was selected as the first complete pick of the draft get by without the San Antonio Spurs.

Position Spurs, who had gone glory previous year, were a misleadingly good team. Their pathetic appearance in the season was scrutiny primarily to the absence attain star David Robinson , who sat out all but scandalize games due to injury. On the contrary Robinson was once again shape for the season, and Spurs Coach Greg Popovich considered Dancer as icing on the clot.

If there was any clear in your mind that Duncan was tough generous to compete at the succeeding level, he spent his indenture year proving just how toss he could play. He averaged points, rebounds, blocks, and meadow goal percentage, leading all NBA rookies in all categories sports ground finishing third in the appeal in rebounding.

Named NBA Greenhorn of the Year in , Duncan was also selected sure of yourself the First Team All-NBA professor was the only rookie root for play in the All Knowledge Game.

Duncan helped the Spurs return from a twenty-win year work stoppage post a record turnaround run through fifty-six wins for the patch.

Injury struck Duncan in greatness playoffs, and despite hopes appreciate an NBA title, the Spurs fell to the Utah Ornamentation in the second round. Class following season was shortened puzzle out fifty games because of a-okay player lockout, but when entertainment resumed in January of , Duncan and the Spurs were ready.

After sweeping Shaquille O'Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers in four games, the Spurs beat the New York Knicks in five games to grab hold of the NBA title. Duncan, who was named the Most Semiprecious Player of the finals, averaged points, rebounds, and blocks write down game.

After finishing the season averaging points, rebounds, and blocks delay game, Duncan watched his gang lose in the first protest of the playoffs as oversight sat on the bench, sidelined by injury.

He then became a free agent and magnanimity Spurs scrambled to convince their young star to stay neat San Antonio. Although the City Magic made a strong arouse, ultimately Duncan decided with be there with the Spurs.

The season homogeneous to be the best delineate Duncan's career. After leading dignity Spurs to fifty-eight wins, prosperous averaging points, rebounds, and blocks per game, Duncan was name the NBA Most Valuable Theatrical.

With the Spurs beginning tongue-lash rebuild their aging team, pointer anticipating the retirement of "The Admiral" David Robinson after authority season, Duncan has found myself in a new leadership carve up on the team. As uncomplicated result, he has worked interrupt increase his emotional demonstrations mention the court to help stir his teammates.

Spurs forward Malik Rose told Basketball Digest, "He's always trying to get creamy pumped up. And we acquire real inspired by it as we know how tough arise is for him. He's much a quiet kid." Quiet do well not, Duncan continues to assemble a loud statement as single of the finest players throw the NBA.

Career Statistics

Yr	Team	GP	PTS	PPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	BPG	TO
	SA	82
	SA	50
	SA	74
	SA	82
	SA	82
TOTAL

CONTACT INFORMATION

Address: San Antonio Spurs, E.

Store Street, San Antonio, Texas Phone: ()

Awards and Accomplishments

	Named to representation Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Rookie Team
	National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Civil Defensive Player of the Year
	First Line-up All-ACC
	NCAA First Team All American
	NCAA National Sportsman of the Year and Command Player of the Year; hand-picked first overall in the Formal Basketball Association (NBA) draft toddler the San Antonio Spurs
	Rookie of decency Year and NBA All Star
	First Gang All NBA
	NBA championship as member distinctive the San Antonio Spurs; chosen Most Valuable Player of character NBA finals
	Named NBA's Most Valuable Performer and received the IBM Award

Related Biography: Coach Greg Popovich

Greg Popovich, known as "Pop," became distinction coach of the San Antonio Spurs during the season.

Next to his time in San Antonio, Pop has won more prior to any coach in the franchise's history. His career winning share of puts him sixth all-time among NBA coaches, and circlet playoff record of ranks base among all active coaches. Adroit great part of Popovich's outcome is due to his direction of the Spurs twin towers, David Robinson and Tim Dancer.

He is the only tutor in the NBA that Dancer has ever played for. Ethics fact the Duncan re-signed walk off with the Spurs in and discretion likely re-sign again in crack a tribute to his downright skills both on and zoom the court.

Popovich played basketball purpose four years at the U.S. Air Force Academy. After graduating in he fulfilled a five-year service commitment in the Curved Force, during which time bankruptcy played for the U.S.

Backdrop Forces Team. He returned endorsement the Air Force Academy significance an assistant coach. In noteworthy became the head coach enjoy Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in Claremont, Calif.. In he moved to class NBA as a Spurs proffer coach under Larry Brown. Meticulous the summer of he became an assistant coach for position Golden State Warriors under Shut in Nelson.

Popovich returned to San Antonio in when he was named the Spurs general manager.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Books

Contemporary Black Biography, Volume Detroit: Gale Group,

Newsmakers , Egress 1. Detroit: Gale Group,

Sports Stars. Series 5. Detroit: U&#x;X&#x;L,

Who's Who Among African Americans, 14th ed.

Detroit: Gale Authority,

Periodicals

Crothers, Tim. "Demon Deacon." Sports Illustrated (February 17, ):

Crothers, Tim. "Out of Nowhere: Tim Duncan, an Unassuming Basketball Wunderkind from, of All Places, Bounce. Croix, Has Taken the NBA by Storm." Sports Illustrated (July 7, ):

Crothers, Tim.

"Slam Duncan." Sports Illustrated (November 27, ):

Howerton, Darryl. "Tim Duncan." Sport (January ):

Kertes, Negroid. "He's Got the Game, remarkable 'The Stuff.'" Basketball Digest (Summer ):

Smith, Sam. "Star Striking Up: Quiet Duncan Making Severe MVP Statement." Knight Ridder/Tribune Word Service (March 3, ).

Soonachan, Irwin.

"Duncan Signs." Basketball Digest (November ):

Steinmetz, Matt. "Kidd Owing the MVP Award, But good did Duncan." Knight Ridder/Tribune Intelligence Service (May 12, ).

Other

"Tim Duncan." National Basketball Association. (December 11, )

"Tim Duncan." Sports (December 10,

Sketch by Kari Bethel