Thanks for the Lack of Memories, Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft. He was a 15-time All-Star and won the MVP twice. He was a crucial part of five championships with the Spurs and took home Finals MVP honors three times. He is an all-time great and perhaps the best power forward ever.

His Hall of Fame career happened. Of that, I’m sure. I just don’t really remember it. And perhaps that’s the best thing to say about Duncan.

He showed up, did his job and excelled. He altered his game with age and found ways to win as his physical skills diminished.

To say he was understated would be an understatement. He was vanilla, an adjective so often used as a pejorative when in reality it’s a compliment. Vanilla is delicious, the base flavor of all delicious ice cream with brighter colors and more exotic names.

Duncan made a concerted effort to be a quiet superstar and perfected it the same way he perfected his bank shot. He is not an uninteresting person. It’s just that his off-the-court personality remained cloaked while his on-court prowess said so much.

Duncan remained true to himself for two decades. He walked off into retirement without a press conference. A brief team statement contained the news and little else. It’s a stark contrast to the way Kobe Bryant and Derek Jeter have ridden off into the sunset. There was no pomp, no circumstance.

Duncan was great for the game and for San Antonio. He was bad for blogs who need spice to flavor the red meat of actual substance. There is something so pure about his career. His candle burned bright but stayed contained. He made others shine.

He should be remembered for what he was and not what he wasn’t. Even if that memory is a bit fuzzy.