5 reasons Tim Duncan should not retire

By John Buhler | May 13, 2016

May 12, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) fights for position with Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) during the first quarter in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 20, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) and center Tim Duncan (21) against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

4. LaMarcus Aldridge is a top 20 player in the NBA.

While Duncan has easily eclipsed both David Robinson and George Gervin as the greatest Spur of all-time, at this stage of Duncan’s NBA career he is no longer an All-Star caliber player, but a very strong rotational player to complement several great All-Stars. In the front court, nobody is better on the Spurs than power forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

Aldridge is coming off his first NBA season with the Spurs after several fantastic years with the Portland Trail Blazers. Few power forwards in the NBA have the mid-range game down to a science like the rangy seven-footer originally from Dallas.

Even in a down year, Aldridge is still very much a lock to make an All-NBA team as one of the best six power forwards/centers in the game. He’s still in the prime of his NBA career as a go-to scorer both in the mid-range and in the low post.

Aldridge plays his best basketball when he has a point guard that can give him the basketball and a starting center that loves to rebound and stay in the low post. Aldridge still has an all-timer feeding him the rock in Tony Parker. Duncan proved in 2015-16 that he could play that complementary big man role opposite of Aldridge.

In short, while Duncan’s skill set is rapidly declining, Aldridge is skilled enough at the power forward to hopefully offset Duncan’s deteriorating game for at least one more year while Duncan is able to get his well-deserved send off should he claim it.

Next: 3. Gregg Popovich is a top three head coach all-time.

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