Is this the way Tim Duncan's career was meant to end?
This is arguably the most pivotal decision across the entire league this offseason. Will Tim Duncan retire? Or will he re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs on a team-friendly contract that allows them to go after more free agents?
The answer will reverberate throughout the entire NBA. In crafting a running diary of Saturday's epic Game 7 clash between the Spurs and Clippers, Grantland's Bill Simmons ponders these questions, and more:
"What if he’s leaving two years early? What if he has one more vintage beauty in him? Before he decides, I really hope he watches the last 12 minutes and 10 seconds of Game 7 again. Maybe it will get his juices flowing."
Nobody knows what's going through Duncan's mind right now. But we have a pretty good idea that he's still capable of dominating playoff games against really good competition.
If he retires, we should be grateful for watching one of the all-time greatest players lay everything on the line for us time and time again. If he continues to play, well, there's a good chance the rest of the league is holding their breath for the former.
(h/t: Grantland)
Photo Credit: Hannah Foslien/Associated Press
