“Still Fringe On Whether He’s A First-Ballot Hall Of Famer”: Is Tim Duncan One Of The Most Underrated Players?

Imagine making 15 All-NBA teams, 15 All-Defensive teams, winning five championships, two MVPs, and still being disrespected. San Antonio Spurs legend and one of the all-time greats, Tim Duncan, has been constantly underrated throughout the years.

His resume was questioned by Richard Jefferson during ESPN’s The Jump. While talking about Duncan, Kendrick Perkins said that he was the best power forward of all time. Jefferson agreed with that but still went on to say, “I’m still fringe on whether Tim Duncan’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”

How good was Tim Duncan?

Duncan is among the few players to be drafted number one despite spending four years in college. A lot of players tend to lose their stock as they stay for longer, but not Duncan. He not only won Rookie of the Year in 1998, but also featured in the All-Star game in just his first year in the league.

In his second season, he won the title with the Spurs and also ended up with the Finals MVP. He picked up two more when the Spurs won in 2003 and 2005. With 3, he is tied second in all-time Finals MVPs won.

He was also one of the most consistent players of all time. From age 21 to 38, he missed the All-Stars just thrice. He made the All-NBA first team for eight consecutive years from the 1997-98 season to the 2004-05 season. This run also included back-to-back MVPs in 2002 and 2003.

Ducking the spotlight

Greg Popovich’s system was made around him, but he just wanted the best for his team. Pop once said, “When I call your number on offense, it’s not for you to score, it’s for the Spurs to score.” Not only did Pop believe in that philosophy, but so did Duncan. He had the ability to let his teammates shine and get the best out of them.

His game was not flashy enough to be talked about, which is one reason why he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He was a defensive juggernaut and his post moves were second to none. The bank shot was trademarked as Duncan’s signature move. In 2016, GQ wrote a tribute to his bank shot, while terming it as the “least sexy of all shots.”

In April, Duncan was honored when he was named as one of the three Hall of Famers for 2020. Along with Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett, this is one of the greatest Hall of Fame classes in NBA history.