National Basketball Association

Spurs GM reveals why Tim Duncan couldn't come back for one more year

Published Jul. 14, 2016 5:30 p.m. ET

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Andrew Lynch

Spurs general manager R.C. Buford wholeheartedly agrees. He recently joined The Vertical podcast to talk about Duncan's decision to call it quits. And according to Buford, Duncan likely would have come back next season if it had been physically possible.

Via Yahoo.com:

Duncan's December injury lingered into January, with his health becoming an open question as the Spurs geared up for the All-Star break and the final stretch of the regular season. He posted the lowest per-minute averages of his career in minutes (25.2), points (8.6) and rebounds (7.3), as well as his second-worst field-goal percentage (48.4).

By the time San Antonio faced Oklahoma City in this year's postseason, Duncan was basically done. But things almost never got that far. Buford explained just how close the Spurs came to losing Duncan to the Orlando Magic in free agency back in 2000.

The whole podcast is well worth your time, given how close to the vest Buford keeps most things. In the end, the typically stoic Buford even broke down emotionally. Duncan meant the world to the Spurs, the NBA, and sports fans everywhere. It is a much different landscape going forward.

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