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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Jan 28, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs players (from left to right) Kawhi Leonard, and Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker watch on the bench during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

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

Not only would it be incredible to play one more year with guys like Aldridge, Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Danny Green, but a 2016-17 NBA season would guarantee that Duncan would get the opportunity to play alongside a top five NBA talent in small forward Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard has solidified himself as the best defensive player in the game the last two seasons by winning back-to-back NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards. He has already won NBA Finals MVP in 2014 and just played in his first NBA All-Star Game in Toronto this past February.

For as soft spoken of a player Leonard is, he has asserted himself very much into the conversation of being a top five player in the league with the likes of the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul, as well as the Thunder’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Could there be a few things that Duncan hasn’t told the next face of the Spurs franchise in Leonard yet? Absolutely, and there isn’t a better player for Duncan to have passed the San Antonio torch to than Leonard. One more year of an Aldridge/Duncan/Leonard front court in San Antonio would be spectacular.

Next: 1. San Antonio is guaranteed to win at least 50 games in 2016-17.

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