Traditional Roles

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In comparison to the 1996 NBA Draft, the 1997 Draft was a paragon of paucity. The '96 Draft featured five players who were all-stars this year, ten of the first seventeen picks still start in the League, two players have won MVPs, and eight were parts of NBA championship teams. In comparison, the '97 Draft produced three superstars (Duncan, McGrady, and Billups), and a multitude of role and complimentary players in addition to several European and CBA caliber players.

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Of the three stars in the that draft, Duncan's has always shone the brightest. Rookie of the Year, Two time MVP, three time Finals MVP, Duncan has exuded quality throughout his career, averaging 22-12. But Duncan lacks "something." In this year's all-star game ten players gained more votes than Duncan, in 2006, he had the lowest vote total among the other All-Star starters. In 2005, he had the lowest vote total of the Western starters. In 2004, he finished sixth overall, in 2003, fourth among Western starters. In 2001, he was again sixth among all starters in votes received and in 2000, he was seventh. The point being that Duncan, who has been an all-star every year he has been in the league, a playher who has garned numerous NBA and collegiate awards, has never has been the fans' top vote getter. Do people not relate?

Known as "The Big Fundamental," Duncan has evolved into a bigger, more agile version of Geroge Mikan, his serene visage belying the ferocity of his play. But it is his dedication to the basics that has impeded him from being accepted by the casual fan. Even in NBA Street vol. 2, while McGrady kicks a bounce pass off Yao's head before throwing it down, Duncan methodically accepts the entry pass from Tony Parker before kissing it off the glass. We see Tim Duncan's flawlesss fundamentals, and we refuse to be impressed. His style of play reminds us of poorly ventilatd Church gyms, and two handed jump shots which start at the chest. We beleive that with a little practice and five to six inches, we could master the exact same style of play. But we are positive we could not do what Carter can, or McGrady. We are in awe when Kobe explodes for 81, our jaws drop when Arenas "hibaychis" his way to 50. And so even though Duncan will occassionaly go for a double take 40-20, it is not novel enough for us. We expect him to get his points and dominate the low post, so that when he does, we are disappointed that he merely met our expectations and didn't exceed them.

Duncan also has the distinction of being one of the few players to play four years in college, making him one of the League's elder statesmen. So perhaps, Duncan does more than merely define the traditional role of the dominant low post player, perhaps instead Duncan is the bridge of the League. He is too young to be a part of the "First Coming" of Bird, Magic, Jordan, Isaiah, Ewing, and Barkley, and too old to be a part of the "Second Coming" of Lebron, Carmelo, Wade, Bosh, Howard and Amare, instead he is the bridge between the two. Duncan is the son of then and the father of now.

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