Tag: Tim Duncan

Is the ‘Big Three’ Springfield-bound one of these days?

The annual Naismith Hall of Fame induction this weekend will highlight some of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

It also reminds us that the cast is always growing with new players added every year.

The current generation of players is a strong one. Without doubt, we’ll see some of the active NBA players ending up in the Hall after they retire.

Some players are more obvious than others. But there’s a good chance that the Spurs will have multiple additions from the current roster.

Tim Duncan is a certifiable lock as the greatest power forward in NBA history. He’s a certifiable first-ballot addition.

Manu Ginobili’s raw career statistics aren’t as good as most Hall of Famers. But he’s been a member of three NBA champions and is the only player in history to win an NBA title, a Euroleague title and an Olympic gold medal. If Drazen Petrovic and Arvydas Sabonis can make the Hall for their limited NBA contributions, Ginobili is more than willing.

Parker’s case isn’t quite as strong as Duncan or Ginobili, but he’s only 29 and still has several years ahead in his career if he can remain healthy. He also made history as the first foreign-born NBA Finals MVP. If he has a couple of more strong seasons, he’ll have a legitimate shot.

Here is my unofficial list of players who were active last season who should be locks to join the Hall of Fame one day.

  • Kobe Bryant
  • Tim Duncan
  • Kevin Durant
  • Kevin Garnett
  • Manu Ginobili
  • Dwight Howard
  • LeBron James
  • Jason Kidd
  • Yao Ming (since retired)
  • Steve Nash
  • Dirk Nowitzki
  • Shaquille O’Neal (since retired)
  • Derrick Rose
  • Dwyane Wade

These players have good shots at the Hall of Fame if they can finish their careers with a flourish.

  • Ray Allen
  • Carmelo Anthony
  • Chauncey Billups
  • Pau Gasol
  • Blake Griffin
  • Grant Hill
  • Kevin Love
  • Tracy McGrady
  • Tony Parker
  • Chris Paul
  • Paul Pierce 
  • Rajon Rondo
  • Amar’e Stoudemire
  • Ben Wallace
  • Russell Westbrook

How about it Spurs Nation? What are the chances that Parker, Ginobili and Duncan will be reunited after their careers in Springfield, Mass.

If they get there, they likely will run into at least one familar face. They will be greeted by their coach, Gregg Popovich, a certifiable lock for the Hall when he retires.

As always, I’m curious about your comments.

Duncan ranked as Bleacher Report’s No. 2 player of decade

The guys over at the Bleacher Report bring a fan’s perspective to all things in sports.

They occasionally have a strong list, as is the case in their top 50 NBA players of the last decade.

Considering Tim Duncan’s accomplishments during the decade, it’s not surprising that he is Adam Fromal’s choice as the. Duncan trails only Kobe Bryant on Fromal’s list.

andin rankings that appear pretty accurate. 

Here’s Fromal’s top 10 players:

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10.

It’s hard to argue with those top 10 players, who have been the most consistent producers  in the league over the last 10 seasons.

Manu talks retirement

As if the NBA lockout hasn’t been hard enough on basketball fans, Thursday afternoon brought another bummer to Spurs faithful.

Manu Ginobili talking about his basketball mortality.

, Ginobili says he isn’t necessarily committed to calling it quits once his current contract expires after the 2012-13 season, but he does recognize the reality that time is not on his side.

He will be 36 years old then, a ripe old age for an NBA shooting guard. It isn’t a stretch to assume that could be Ginobili’s final season in silver and black.

Loosed from the rigors of an NBA job, Ginobili would finally be free to pursue full-time his true passion:

Elsewhere in the Argentine interview, Ginobili seems to frown upon the idea that he might return overseas, to play out his final years as a conquering hero, once his NBA contract is up.

“I always thought about retiring at the highest level,” Ginobili said (hat tip to for the translation).

One year older than Ginobili, Tim Duncan has always addressed the retirement issue by vowing to play, vaguely, “until the wheels fall off.” Ginobili would seem to be built in the same mold. He will likely keep playing NBA basketball for as long as someone will pay him to do it.

Still, if the ongoing NBA lockout eventually ends up cancelling games, it will be difficult not to consider the twilight years of Ginobili’s and Duncan’s careers as unfortunate collateral damage.