To the surprise of no one, Tim Duncan says that he will return to the NBA next season.
It’ll be Duncan’s 19th year in the NBA in which he will assuredly consistently put up double doubles on a per-minute basis while rocking the same stoic face that he has since he entered the league back when Bill Clinton was president.
Straight from Tim Duncan: "I'll be on the court next year" … story coming soon on http://t.co/LMDPrVQ6z4
— Mike Monroe (@Monroe_SA) July 2, 2015
According to SB Nation, Duncan’s decision could help the Spurs make a play for coveted free agent LaMarcus Aldridge.
Instead, Duncan will probably take a pay cut from the $10.3 million he made last season, which was already below his market value. Acting quickly also helps the Spurs because it removes Duncan’s $15.5 million cap hold from San Antonio’s sheet and replaces it with his new salary. That gives San Antonio more cap space to chase top free agents like LaMarcus Aldridge.
The 39 year-old 15-time NBA All-Star should still be able to significantly contribute next season if his play during the 2014-15 year is any indication. During the regular season, Duncan averaged 13.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game (a better indication of Duncan’s effectiveness may be measured on a per-36-minute basis, where he averaged 17.3 points and 11.4 rebounds). During the playoffs, his averages rose to 17.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.
