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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Dec 2, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks with power forward Tim Duncan (21) during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

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

Obviously the hardest part for Duncan to walk away from the Spurs this summer and call it a career would be that it would mean the end for his player/coach relationship with Gregg Popovich. Nobody is better at his job than Popovich and only Red Auerbach and Phil Jackson could be argued as better NBA head coaches all-time.

Popovich is the most innovative head coach of the last 25 years. His Spurs are always fielding a championship-caliber team, even in years where pundits completely write them off. No team does a better job of reloading than the Spurs and both Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford are massively responsible for this.

What Popovich could do for Duncan in his final NBA season in 2016-17 is to devise a game plan that can accentuate what Duncan still does well at a high level on the floor with a methodical minutes restriction. This would ensure that Duncan can at least play on last road game in the other 29 NBA teams’ places and still perform at a respectable level.

This really wouldn’t be all that much different from what Popovich and his staff do now in managing all of his players’ minutes. If any coach is best able to handle a player on his farewell tour, it’s Popovich. He would do Duncan right in his final NBA season should Duncan choose to play in 2016-17.

Next: 2. Kawhi Leonard is a top five player in the NBA.

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