Oklahoma City Thunder defeated San Antonio Spurs in the semi-finals of the Western Conference, sending Spurs into an early vacation. Thunder have reached the finals of the conference for the fourth time in the last six years. The big dilemma on Thursday night, however, was other. It was all about Tim Duncan. Was that the end of a brilliant career? Is one of the best wings in the NBA history, leaving the professional basketball?
40-year-old Tim Duncan played on his usual level. He showed great performance, but couldn’t help his team reach the victory. However, that was Duncan’s best performance this season, but this time he could not save Spurs, although he had done it hundreds of times in the past two decades.
34 minutes, 19 points, 5 rebounds and shooting of 7/14 for 2 points and 5/6 from the free-throw line. That was the stats for the legend with shirt №21 in №6 game of the playoff series against Oklahoma City. Whether it was the last page of the great story of the boy who turned to basketball because of a hurricane destroyed his dreams of Olympic medals in swimming? Tim, himself, refused to speak on this topic. He told the assembled media crowd that he will speak later about his further career. The only thing he said was: “I would get to that after I get out of here and figure out life…”
His contract with Spurs is about to expire, but it includes a clause for extension for another year. Tim Duncan is now 40, but Gregg Popovich guaranteed would have accepted with open arms if Duncan says “yes” and postpone his retirement from the professional basketball for another season.
“I really don’t know what he (Tim Duncan) is going to do. But when he decides to move on, sometime between now and the next five years – that’s a little bit of a joke – it will feel a little differently walking into the gym,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said on Friday, just a day after San Antonio’s defeat in the playoffs to Oklahoma City.
What remains for all who love basketball? Wait and meanwhile enjoy the last, at least at this stage, Duncan’s match for San Antonio Spurs.
However, the winners – Oklahoma City Thunder will have the difficult task to play against the Golden State Warriors in The Western Conference finals. Can Thunder surprise everyone and win against the champions?