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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Jun 15, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) celebrates after being named the Finals MVP as he is awarded the trophy by NBA former player Bill Russell after defeating the Miami Heat in game five of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. The Spurs defeated the Heat 104-87 to win the NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

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

The strong basketball culture in place in San Antonio is the biggest reason Duncan should return for a 20th season in 2016-17. There is not a safer bet in the NBA than the Spurs eclipsing 50 wins annually in the Western Conference. They’ve done it every non-strike shortened season since Duncan’s arrival.

What this means is that the Spurs will probably again earn a top four seed in the 2017 Western Conference Playoffs and contend for a sixth NBA Championship as well. The Spurs are such a strong basketball franchise that it really does not matter where they are positioned in the Western Conference Playoff bracket; San Antonio could essentially run the table from the No. 8 seed and nobody would be all that shocked by it.

While the Spurs have only won one playoff series the last two NBA seasons, San Antonio should enter the 2016-17 NBA season again as one of the five teams in the league that has a legitimate shot to win another NBA Championship, along with Golden State, Cleveland, and probably two other clubs.

If Peyton Manning can win a Super Bowl quarterbacking a Denver Broncos team as a complete shell of himself physically, Duncan is good enough of an athlete to put together one last NBA Finals run. Should he announce that 2016-17 will be his last season, it could provide that extra spark that the Spurs may need to get over a team like the Warriors and win another NBA Championship on Duncan’s farewell tour next season.

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