NBA Great Tim Duncan Announces Retirement

Tim Duncan, one of the greatest National Basketball Association players of our era, has announced his retirement after 19 years with one club, the San Antonio Spurs...amassing five league titles, fifteen all-star team selections, and a Most Valuable Player award.  His unassuming nature continued with this announcement in the off-season: contrast that to media addict Kobe Bryant's highly publicized "farewell tour" last year with the Lakers, probably their worst season ever.  But that's the kind of person Duncan was.  He was a very talented and accomplished power forward...some think that he was the greatest ever in that position...but he treated all of his teammates with the utmost respect and fostered many long-lasting friendships.  Chief among his friends is Gregg Popovich, the only head coach he ever had throughout his NBA career.  Duncan had an outstanding regular season this past year, but he faltered in the playoffs...but I could have said the same about the league's ongoing MVP for the second straight season: Golden State's Stephen Curry.  Along with future Hall of Fame guard Tony Parker and the "Sixth Man" Manu Ginobili, the Spurs relied on Tim's consistency over the years to be perennial contenders.  Sure, Michael Jordan got six championships with the Bulls...but Duncan's five were spread out over an amazingly long span of years, and in every intervening one his team was always deeply in the hunt for another title...

Will we ever again see anyone of the combined talent, character, and consistency of Tim Duncan in the NBA?  My gut instincts tell me no, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  He was one of my most admired athletes over the past two decades...