Tim Duncan quietly retired from the NBA on Monday.
The forward made the simple announcement in a press release issued by the Spurs. The notice did not include a statement from Duncan himself. It noted that the 40-year-old Duncan would step away after 19 seasons with a long list of his accomplishments, including five NBA Championships.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement: “Tim Duncan is one of the most dominant players in NBA history. His devotion to excellence and mastery of the game led to five NBA championships, two regular-season MVP awards and a place among the all-time greats, while his understated selflessness made him the ultimate teammate. For two decades Tim represented the Spurs, the city of San Antonio and the league with passion and class. All of us in the NBA family thank him for his profound impact on the game.”
Several Hawks players acknowledged Duncan on social media. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was an assistant with the Spurs for all of Duncan's career until he left for Atlanta.
"Very happy for him," Budenholzer said. "Amazing career. Amazing teammate. I hope he enjoys retirement. We've all enjoyed working with him and wathing him play for a long time at a high level."
