5 NBA veterans who should hang up their boots at the end of the season

The previous article mentioned that NBA veterans were of two breeds – ones that continue to perform on a consistently elite level and want to go out on a high and the ones who belong to a bygone age, relics of the immediate past. This feature takes a look at those who belong to the first category, those vets who’ve still got game in them, but might want to call it quits when April dawns.

Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan – One of the greatest power forward to embrace the game

Known as the “Big Fundamental”, Tim Duncan is one of the best power forwards of all time. Having won 4 championships (and also the Finals MVP in all 4 championship wins) with the San Antonio Spurs, Duncan also made a whopping 14 All-Star appearances and made both the All-NBA and the All-Defensive teams in each of his first 13 seasons in the league. His initial days as a Spur witnessed the birth of the term “Twin Towers”, the duo of Duncan and David Robinson. They formed a formidable frontcourt with their defensive and shot-blocking skills. Duncan went on to become Rookie of the Year and won two championships with Robinson.

Then came his association with a young French point guard by the name of Tony Parker, with whom Duncan would form a deadly partnership winning two more championships.

He is the all-time leader in scoring for the Spurs and almost led them to another championship in 2013 against the Miami Heat but lost in heartbreaking fashion in Game 7 of the Finals. Duncan had the chance to kill the series in Game 6, with the Spurs leading 3-2, but missed a point-blank tip-in. Despite that miss, the legacy of Duncan will be etched forever and the game of basketball will always be grateful to a man who personified hard work and effort and was humble throughout his career.