San Antonio Spurs retired Tim Duncan’s number 21 jersey in the rafters. Duncan kept his composure as he delivered his six minutes speech as the emotional moment which is unspoken revealed.
The Spurs raised the number 21 jersey in special a ceremony after a 113-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night Dec. 18, USA Today reported. Duncan’s jersey is hanged close to banners of five NBA championships which he and the Spurs won during his 19 years of career.
His number 21 is the eight numbers to be raised in the rafters at AT&T Center, San Antonio. Next to his jersey areDavid Robinson (50), George Gervin (44), James Silas (13), Johnny Moore (00), Sean Elliott (32), Avery Johnson (6) and Bruce Bowen (12).
In a hilarious speech, “the Fundamental” who never want to have himself under the spotlight delivered a four-minute speech, which he jokingly said that he won a bet for speaking more than 30 seconds.
“I won a lot of bets tonight,” Washington Post quoted Duncan as saying. “I didn’t wear jeans. I wore a sport coat. I didn’t wear a tie. And I spoke for more than 30 seconds.”
His teammate Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker delivered heartwarming speech to their friends. Ginobili recalled the moment when he made a mistake in the Game 3 loss of the 2006 playoffs against the Sacramento Kings. As he was devastated and locked himself in his hotel room, Duncan reached out and called him relentlessly.
As he picked up the phone, Duncan persuaded him to go out for a dinner. In a dinner, they talked about anything other than basketball, computers, cars, TV shows. His mental state was better and they won the series in six games.
Meanwhile coach Popovich reminisced the day in 1997 as he talked to Duncan and his parents. Pop said that the man he talked to in that day is the same as he is today. Watch the entire ceremony of Tim Duncan’s jersey retirement from NBA official channel below: