Tim Duncan passes Magic Johnson for most double-doubles in playoffs history

The Tim Duncan record-blazing trail has found another victim. One game closer to winning his fifth NBA championship, Duncan’s 10 points, 11 rebound effort has allowed him to topple Magic Johnson for the most double-doubles in NBA playoff history.

Since joining the league in 1997, Duncan has been apart of the playoffs in every years of his NBA career as did Magic Johnson prior to HIV/AIDS affecting his career and that’s the kind of consistency it takes to break a record such as this. This stat also speaks numbers to how dominate Johnson was as Magic missed four years because of his illness.

It’s not often players are blessed with this type of consistency. Throughout his career, Duncan has dealt with few injuries and has been blessed with the type of teammates and coaching you want around a superstar. In that aspect he’s the modern day Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, achieving success over the entire course of his franchise. Is it likely that Duncan wins Finals MVP 15 years apart from his first as Abdul-Jabbar did? That’s doubtful with Kawhi Leonard and Boris Diaw playing the way they are, but him being in the position to do so says everything you need to know about how well Duncan has played through his career.

The biggest knock on Duncan’s career at this point? He has never repeated as a NBA champion. When that’s the downside, it’s safe to say that Duncan’s career will be remembered as one of the best we’ve seen in the league.