Recognized as one of the best power forwards in NBA history, Timothy Theodore
Duncan was born on April 25, 1976, on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He is the youngest of
William and Ione Duncan's three children, and their only boy. Duncan is one of the most, quiet,
mild mannered people and one of the most passionate competitors you will see. He devoted his
early athletic years to swim, a sport in which he became the top U.S. competitor in his age
group in the 400-meter freestyle. During his late teenage years and into adulthood, Duncan
became a premier player on his way to become a champion.
In school, Duncan was a bright student and dreamt of becoming an Olympic-level
swimmer like his sister, Tricia. Duncan excelled at swimming,
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becoming a teenage standout in the 50, 100 and 400 meters freestyle while aiming to make the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona as a member of the United States Team.
He broke several records at the age of 12
and 13. His times were on par with the top swimmers his age in the U.S. However, following the
devastation of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, which destroyed his team's pool, and the death of his
mother a day before his 14th birthday, Duncan stopped swimming and turned to basketball
shortly thereafter. In her final days, she made Duncan and his sisters vow to finish college with
a degree, which would later explain Duncan's refusal to leave college early. By his senior year,
Duncan had grown nine inches and improved his game extensively, to the point where colleges
started scouting him. Duncan initially had difficulties adapting to the game he thought would
help relieve his pain and frustration. He overcame this to become a standout for the St.
Dunstan's Episcopal High School, averaging 25 points per game as a senior.
In the fall of 1993, Duncan enrolled at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North
Carolina. During that period, he was a two-time ACC Player of the Year, and a three-time NABC
Defensive Player of the Year. The center also made the All-ACC Tournament between 1995 and
1997, the All-ACC First Team between 1995 and 1997, and was named Most Valuable Player
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of the 1996 ACC. Additionally, 1996 was the year where he led the conference in scoring, field goal percentage and blocked shots, becoming the first player in conference history to lead all four of those categories.
Overall, Duncan led his team to a 97–31 win–loss record and finished his
college career as the all-time leading rebounder in NCAA history in the post-1973. He is still one
of only ten players with more than 2,000 career points and 1,500(1570) career rebounds. He
was the first player in NCAA history to reach 1,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, 400(481) blocked
shots and 200 assists. Duncan again was named an All-American as well as the NCAA Player of
the Year in his senior year of 1996-97. Duncan achieved all of this while fulfilling his mother
promise of finishing college. He graduated from with honors from Wake Forest University,
where he went on to attain a degree in psychology.
That spring, the San Antonio Spurs selected Duncan with the first overall pick in the
1997 National Basketball Association draft. Although David Robinson was injured and didn’t
play in Duncan’s inaugural season, the “Twin Towers’, as they were dubbed quickly became a
team to be reckoned with. During his rookie year, the power forward averaged 21.1 points and
11.9 rebounds, on his way to earning the NBA's Rookie of the Year award. The following year,
Duncan proved even more dominant and helped lead the Spurs to the 1999 title, San
Antonio's first as a franchise. During the championship series against the New York Knicks, Duncan averaged 27.4 points and 14 rebounds per game to earn the Finals MVP. The 2002–03 season saw Duncan enjoy another standout season in which he averaged 23.3 points, a career-high12.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.9 blocks per game, and yet another dual All-NBA and All-Defense First Team call-up, resulting in his second NBA Most Valuable Player Award. The Spurs made it to the finals, and defeated the New Jersey Nets 88–77 in Game Six to win their 2nd ever NBA championship. In 2005, the Spurs was able to earn a spot in the NBA Finals against the Detroit Pistons. In the finals, The Spurs beat the Pistons and Duncan won his third NBA Finals MVP award, joining Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to win it three times. The 2007 season was another championship year for Duncan and the Spurs. Duncan averaged 20.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 blocks per game in the regular season, and was named a Western Conference starter for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, his ninth appearance in the event. The Spurs concluded the 2013–14 regular season with a league-best 62 wins. On December 2, 2013, Duncan became the oldest player to record a 20– 20 game in NBA history, ending up with 23 points and 21 rebounds and the game-winning jump shot against the Atlanta Hawks. In 2014, after a 7 year championship hiatus and a heartbreaking game 7 loss to the Miami Heat 2013, they got the revenge and won it all in 2014. They entirely dismantled the defending champion Miami Heat in 5 games. Along the way, the Duncan-Ginóbili-Parker trio broke the record for most wins in NBA Playoff history. Duncan also broke the record for most career playoff double-doubles. After winning the finals, Duncan joined John Saley as the only players to win the finals in three different decades. Similarly, like the way he plays, cool, calm, collected and, under the radar, Tim Duncan has been continuously giving back to his communities, namely, The Virgin Islands, Winston Salem, NC and, San Antonio, TX for years thru The Tim Duncan Foundation. Over the years, he has solely and in joint efforts with other organizations promoted and supported a myriad events and equipment such as: Soup du Cure, Hood Hoops, Women Wise Young Women’s Conference, and Sun Stroke/CEI Hoop Classic. Youth initiatives sponsored includes: Allen Burke Foundation, Educational Complex Steel Pan & Marching Band. Central High School Marching Band, Future Stars baseball camp, Blash Baseball camp, VI Tennis Play Days, St. John Basketball Court, Central High Basketball Court Renovation, AEDs for Complex and Central High Schools that helped them earn accreditation. Amazing Youth Drum Corp, the Sun Stroke All VI Hoop Classic that provides scholarship opportunities for talented basketball players, I believe I can fly Boxing Gym to mention a few. Even though his place secured in the Hall of Fame and the Spurs legacy continues to grow, Duncan recently opted in to his existing contract to return for at least another year with the team to create more history, or perhaps a dynasty. Duncan is arguably the greatest power forward ever to play basketball. He is among the most generous, intelligent and humble athletes you can find. A dominating figure on the court, he is one of the best passing, rebounding big men, and consistent scorers in the league today and of all time. Tim Duncan is a proven leader that leads by example and is the epitome of making the people around him better.
In continuing her career, she made the Varsity team her Freshmen year and continued to play all four years. As a freshman she averaged 15 points per game and was named Freshmen of the year. As a sophomore, she averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds. As a Junior, Latoya averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. She also led the team and the nation in scoring.
Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway is a gifted guard whose shooting, passing and athletic abilities earned him a spot on the All-NBA First Team and who helped the Magic reach the NBA Finals in 1995, only his second season in the league. The 6-7 Hardaway combines height, ballhandling and an accurate outside stroke into an exciting all-around game, although his scoring tailed off in his final two seasons with Orlando and he was traded to Phoenix prior to the 1999-2000 season. A native of Memphis, Tennessee Hardaway always seemed destined for roundball success. He was Parade magazine's National High School Player of the Year in 1990, when as a prep senior he averaged 36.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.3 steals, and 2.8 blocks. He chose to attend nearby Memphis State (now the University of Memphis) but had to sit out 1990-91 in order to become academically eligible. Hardaway, who achieved a 3.4 cumulative grade point average in college, ripped up the Great Midwestern Conference for two seasons. As a junior in 1992-93 he averaged 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists; shot .477 from the field; recorded 2 triple-doubles; and set a school single-season record for points with 729. He was named conference Player of the Year, a First-Team All-American, and a finalist for the Naismith and Wooden Awards. The Orlando Magic, who had secured Shaquille O'Neal with the No. 1 pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, won the NBA Draft Lottery again in 1993. The team took Michigan's Chris Webber with the No.
Michael Jordan, in his prime, was thought of as one of the greatest basketball champions of all time. A shooting guard, standing at six-six, Jordan was able to out play anyone in his position. He started his career at the University of North Carolina, where he helped his team win a national championship. He then was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984-85 season. While playing for the Bulls, Jordan received many awards such as, MVP, five championships, Olympic gold medals, slam dunk contests, and many more defensive and offensive awards. Jordan simply dominated the nineties and left the game as a NBA Finals winner in 1998.
Earl Lloyd was probably the most courageous player of all time. Some people know him as “The Big Cat” others know him as the first African-American to play in an NBA basketball game with the whites; he changed the way people think and look at basketball and black players and coaches. Earl Lloyd loved basketball from a very young age. Earl had two brothers older than him which was Earnest and Theodore. Earl was very dedicated from a very young age. With his high school team he took them to a state championship and won. After high school Earl went off and took his talents to West Virginia State College. While Earl was there his sophomore year they went 33-0 which is a perfect season. Earl’s team won back to back CIAA conference championships and tournament championships.
MVP in 1966 and was chosen as the MVP in the 1971 World Series. He was also a 12
In 1976 Larry received a basketball scholarship to Indiana University where he would've played for coach Bobby Knight, but he left school after a week because he was homesick. A few months later Larry enrolled himself into Indiana State University. In his senior season at ISU Larry led the Sycamores to the NCAA Championship game where they played the Michigan State Spartans led by Larry's soon to be rival Earvin 'Magic' Johnson. Unfortunately for Larry and the Sycamores they lost to the Spartans, but Larry left ISU as the 5th highest scorer in NCAA history.
in games against other teams his age. The team he played on was called the
George Mikan who was one of the NBA’s first great center. The Minneoplis Lakers soon after
When Michael was a sophomore in high school he tried out for the varsity team and was cut. Michael was devastated when he got the news. Michael was determined to get on this team and he never gave up. Michael grew taller and expanded his game as his hard work paid off. Michael would perform so well in his final two years of school, he was
Michael Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls from 1984 to 1998 winning six NBA championships from 1991-1993 and 1996-1998. He was also awarded the Most Valuable
He then won another Championship beating the Sonics as his 4th. He also was the star in the movie Space Jam. The next year he scored an average of 30.4 points per game with 72-82 record that season and won his 5th championship against Utah Jazz. He again won the same as the following year 1997-1998 winning again to make his 6th and final championship. He then joined the Washington wizards. Then, he retired from basketball (Biography.com Editors.).
Everybody had high expectations about him, they were seeing in him a new leader, a new beginning for the Pistons. He didn’t prove anybody wrong. He started at the 1995 all-star game after becoming the first rookie ever to lead all players in fan voting. Along with Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, were co-voted as the Rookie Players of the Year. In the next four seasons, he started in all all-star games and averaged 23.2 Points Per Game, 7.6 Rebounds Per Game and 6.7 Assist Per Game.
Hakeem got a scholarship at University of Houston and played for the Houston Cougars. Fans called the Houston Cougars " The Slamma Jammas" because of the way its players slammed and jammed the ball through the hoop. No team in college basketball dunked the ball like the Cougars. Once Hakeem started to play, he realized that being tall is a big advantage.
David Robinson is often regarded as one of the greatest centers to ever play the game of basketball. He was born on August 6, 1965 to Ambrose and Freda Robinson. As a student he excelled in all of his classes, and sports except basketball. By his senior year in high school he stood an incredible 6 feet, 7 inches tall, but had never played organized basketball. However, the basketball coach at his high school noticed Robinson and added him to the team without ever testing him. Robinson soon earned all-area and all-district honors, but not the attention of any college basketball coaches. But this did not matter to him, as basketball was not his first priority. Getting an education and becoming a student in the United States Naval Academy were his main concerns. After scoring a 1320 on the SAT, his goal of joining the Naval Academy was soon accomplished (Lewis, 16).
Perhaps Michael’s most memorable collegiate moment occurred while he was a freshman. On March 29, 1982 the University of North Carolina basketball team was facing off against the University of Georgetown in the national championship game.