Fansided

The top 5 moments of Tim Duncan’s career

By Andre Pruitt

BROOKLYN, NJ - JANUARY 11: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Tim Duncan
BROOKLYN, NJ - JANUARY 11: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Tim Duncan /
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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
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 /

5. Duncan’s first championship in 1999

The NBA wen into a lockout in 1998-1999, and the regular season lasted only 50 games. The league was also looking for a new champion after Michael Jordan’s retirement.

Jordan inspired the Chicago Bulls to a three-peat from 1996-98, but it was time for a new champion, and after a difficult start to the season, Duncan and the Spurs finished an impressive 37-13, the best record in the NBA.

Even more impressively, Duncan led the Spurs to an 11-1 record in the Western Conference playoffs, sweeping both the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trailblazers along the way.

With the Twin Towers too much to handle for the New York Knicks, the Spurs won the NBA Finals in five games, the first championship in franchise history. Duncan dominated throughout the 1999 Finals, scoring 31 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the Game 5 series clincher at Madison Square Garden. The performance earned Duncan his first Finals MVP.

Next: 4. Duncan's first MVP in 2002

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