San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan announced his retirement early Monday after 19 seasons with the team that picked him first overall in the 1997 NBA draft. He's considered one of the greatest players in league history, and many took to Twitter to pay respect to Duncan's career, legacy and impact on the league.
#ThankYouTD, for everything.https://t.co/tsjN4go8Rk
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 11, 2016
Timmy D you know how I feel about you, what you did for me and for the entire NBA. Thank you for an amazing career! #BestPFEver #Legend
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 11, 2016
Even tho I knew it was coming, I'm still moved by the news. What a HUGE honor to have played with him for 14 seasons! #ThankYouTD
— Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) July 11, 2016
Congrats TD #19yrs #GoSpursGo
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 11, 2016
Timmy D. Say it ain't so!!! Greatest power forward ever!
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) July 11, 2016
The best PF ever! Thanks for the memories old man. A great player and teammate. pic.twitter.com/Isl9jZzEm3
— Lamarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) July 11, 2016
My biggest respect and admiration for #TimDuncan. I've had the privilege to play against him in... https://t.co/KCaFIFz3rf
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) July 11, 2016
The BIG FUNDAMENTAL. Best Power Forward to ever lace them up. Like he has done with many before,... https://t.co/63p4oYwPOh
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) July 11, 2016
Greatest PF to ever to step on the floor! #legend #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/3F1vmAOzl6
— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) July 11, 2016
CONGRATULATIONS to TIM DUNCAN on a GREAT and SUCCESSFUL career... One of my role models. I wear #21 because of him #TheBigFundamental
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) July 11, 2016
Shaquille O'Neal (@SHAQ) to ESPN on the retirement of longtime rival Tim Duncan: "Greatest power forward ever. Unbreakable power forward."
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 11, 2016
Ex-Spur Bruce Bowen on Tim Duncan: "Best example of a leader. Didn't give lip service. Wanted guys to put time in to get the best results."
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 11, 2016
Upset at Tim Duncan we didn't get to honor him at a Mavs Spurs game. Happy I've had the opportunity to witness his greatness so often
- Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 11, 2016Kobe Bryant tells me of frequent foe Tim Duncan: "More cutthroat than people give him credit for. I loved everything about him on the court"
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 11, 2016
😢😢😢 RT @spurs: After 19 seasons, Tim Duncan announces retirement » https://t.co/argFVAaxLJ#ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/g7GuSj6oPg
— SLOWMO (@KyleAnderson5) July 11, 2016
Salute to the greatest power forward ever! Illustrious career!! Much respect Timmy D.
— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) July 11, 2016
Congratulations #TimDuncan on your hall-of-fame career. Weren't a lot of ways to stop you, usually ended w/ a foul.😄 pic.twitter.com/7W0wNsLpfP
— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins98) July 11, 2016
Tim Duncan #Legend
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) July 11, 2016
Thank you Timmy D for the great memories. #Legend
— Emmanuel Mudiay (@emmanuelmudiay) July 11, 2016
Respect. #ThankYouTD pic.twitter.com/lOaRBlxo8x
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) July 11, 2016
Loved calling games of @TimSlamDuncan @WakeForest & no doubt to me GOAT big forward to play in @NBA https://t.co/BpJttsMLga
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) July 11, 2016
This is a true statement: There are grown adults in SA who have never known a Spurs team without Tim Duncan. He might as well be the Alamo.
— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) July 11, 2016
Dirk Nowitzki to ESPN on Timmy: "He was always about winning, never about making a brand out of himself. That's what I appreciated the most"
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 11, 2016
Can't believe one of the greats is retiring. A lot of battles wit Tim Duncan in the finals. Always been a fan ... https://t.co/mNhABRnEyI
— Mario Chalmers (@mchalmers15) July 11, 2016
Congrats Tim Duncan on an amazing career!! Quiet and humble, but a killer and a champion on the court! #TheBigFundamental
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 11, 2016
Duncan finishes his career with five NBA championships, two NBA MVP awards and three Finals MVP awards, making him one of the most decorated players in recent NBA history. But for all of his accolades, Duncan will be most remembered for being a winner. Duncan's teams won over 50 games in all but one season of his career, the strike-shortened 1998-99 season. These tweets show just how big of an impression he made among his fellow players and the NBA.