In the world of NBA greats, few partnerships have left a lasting mark as that of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs. Their combined brilliance on the hardwood transformed a small market team into a dynasty by capturing five championships over 16 years. If we look at both players individually, Duncan’s bank shot became as iconic as Jordan’s fadeaway, while Parker’s teardrop floater left defenders helpless. Now years after their partnership in courts has ended, a surprising voice has emerged to put a light on their greatness.

In the recent episode of the Gil’s Arena podcast, Gilbert Arenas brought up a comparison in front of the other hosts regarding the time when Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid used to play for the Philadelphia 76ers. Arenas said on his namesake podcast, “We knew when we were playing the San Antonio, there’s only one f**king play that’s going to be called red wedge roll. Tony Parker pick and roll with Tim Duncan on that, that one side.” But what is this strategy of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker?

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker’s pick-and-roll game was a thing of beauty. Duncan, with his size and strength, would set a solid screen, forcing defenders to either switch or hedge. Parker, with his lightning-quick speed and agility, would use the screen to penetrate the defense and either finish at the rim or find Duncan for an easy dunk or hook shot. Their ability to execute this play at a high level, combined with their understanding of each other’s games, made them a formidable duo that opposing teams struggled to contain. “If we f**k up turn, Parker’s going to turn a corner other than that, get a little space, Tim Duncan going down there, let’s go godda*m it,” added Arenas. However, the Spurs were not only about this duo.

The San Antonio Spurs’ trio known as the “Big Three” which consisted of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili formed one of the most dominant and successful trios in NBA history. They won 575 regular season games and 126 post-season games together. With the help of their skills and knowledge of the game, the trio helped the Spurs to clinch the championships in the years 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.

However, even though Tim Duncan and Tony Parker had such good chemistry on the court, did you know the power forward used to hate the latter?

When Tony Parker revealed that Tim Duncan used to hate him initially

The legendary duo of Tony Parker and Tim Duncan shared a bond that was envied by many NBA teams. However, their relationship wasn’t always as harmonious as it appeared. This revelation in 2023 was a shocker to most of the fans and analysts in the NBA.

On August 13, while giving his Hall of Fame speech, Parker revealed that Duncan didn’t talk to him until he had proven his skills. “So everybody knows that, but I’m going to say it again, my rookie year, Timmy didn’t talk to me, my rookie year. And people think I’m crazy when I say that, but it’s true Timmy don’t like French people. He doesn’t like my French accent,” said Parker during the speech.

However, Parker’s determination and hard work eventually won over Duncan. The two players developed a strong on-court chemistry and became inseparable teammates.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.