Beauty » Gregg Popovich said. This individual made it possible

SAN ANTONIO -- Tim Duncan brought more than gaudy numbers night after night for 19 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. Cheap Penguins Jerseys .Fittingly, while the Spurs retired Duncans No. 21 on Sunday night, those stats rarely came up.I dont even want to talk about rebounds or points and all that sort of things, coach Gregg Popovich said. This individual made it possible for everybody that we brought in to be a part of this culture and be a part of the program.Duncans jersey was raised to the AT&T Center rafters in a ceremony following a 113-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. His number now hangs not far from banners celebrating the five NBA championships he and the Spurs won during his career.Ive gotten just an amazing response and just an overwhelming amount of love from these guys of what I meant to them, Duncan said during a five-minute speech. It doesnt even explain how much they meant to me. I got so much more from you guys, from my teammates, than they can explain that they got from me. I know that.With his son, daughter and girlfriend by his side, Duncan listened and laughed as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili ribbed and praised their longtime teammate.Ginobili and Parker teased Duncan about his attire after he chose to wear black slacks and a sports coat instead of his normal jeans and a T-shirt. Duncan was clearly out of his comfort level, and it had nothing to do with the suit. The Virgin Islands native spent his career avoiding the spotlight, and the retirement ceremony put him squarely in it.Duncan was left speechless at points by cheers and shouts of we love you! He pounded his heart with the microphone as the crowd roared.The ceremony even left him and Popovich -- two guarded fixtures during San Antonios two-decade run of dominance -- fighting back tears.Thank you coach Pop for being more than a coach, Duncan said, pausing to choke back emotions, for being like a father to me. Thank you.Duncan became the eighth player to have his jersey number retired by the Spurs, joining James Silas, George Gervin, Johnny Moore and former teammates David Robinson, Sean Elliott, Avery Johnson and Bruce Bowen.This stretch for the Spurs of 25 years of excellence, Tim is at the center of the whole thing, Robinson said. I dont know that theres another athlete thats as appreciated by a city as Tim.Duncan helped lead San Antonio to its only NBA championships and was twice named league MVP. As dominant as he was in the regular season, Duncan was at his best in the postseason. He averaged 20.6 points, 11.4 points, 2.3 blocks and 3.0 assists in the playoffs and has the most career double-doubles in the postseason with 164.It was his work off the court that made him so beloved by Popovich and teammates.Ginobili recalled being devastated after he turned the ball over on a game-winning attempt in a loss in Game 3 of the 2006 playoffs against the Sacramento Kings.Ginobili locked himself in his hotel room and refused to answer the phone even though it was continually ringing. After hanging up twice and pulling the cord out of the wall, Ginobili was stunned to hear a second phone go off in the bathroom.By the fifth time, I go pick it up, I said `What? Ginobili said. And it was `Nanuuuuu. Thats what he called me. `Nanu, he said, `Whats up buddy? `What TD? I dont want to talk to anybody. He said, `Come on, come with me. Come with me. He started insisting and insisting and insisting and you dont say no to Timmy. He invited me to dinner. We talked for hours, we talked about computers, cars, TV shows. My mental state shifted and I had a way better night.The Spurs won that series in six games thanks in part to the message Duncan delivered: were all in this together.Thats the way it was for Duncan and the Spurs from the day he was taken first overall in the 1997 draft, according to Popovich.I can honestly say to Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, who have passed, Popovich said, that that man right there is exactly the same person now as he was when he walked in the door. Penguins Jerseys 2020 . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Pittsburgh Penguins Gear . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/ . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. One of the NRLs most suspended players - Greg Bird - knows he must be on his best behaviour if he wants to feature in a rare Gold Coast Titans finals campaign.But it wont stop Bird from trying to settle some old scores in the Titans NRL clash with leaders Cronulla on the Gold Coast on Monday night.Bird returns from a one week ban for a high tackle - a penalty that placed him outright fourth on the NRLs most suspended list with a grand total of 31 weeks on the sidelines.Already banned twice this year alone, Bird admitted he could not afford to spend more time suspended with seventh-placed Gold Coast trying to book their first finals campaign since 2010.I have to walk on eggshells a little, he said.But I will go out to play hard and tough.I try not to think about suspensions.Live by the sword, die by the sword.I like to play on a bit of emotion. If I get a bit fired up so be it.Certainly Bird wont be curbing his natural aggression against former club Sharks who are on a club record 15-game winning run.Bird will have Wade Graham in his sights after the Cronulla backrower squeezed him out of the NSW State of Origin team this year.. Penguins Jerseys 2019. Youve got to give it to the young blokes when you can to show you have still go it, said Bird who was dropped for Origin III this year.Then theres NRL master niggler and Sharks No.9 Mick Ennis who announced this week he would retire at seasons end.I have played with Mick since we were 15 up at Newcastle - I know all his tricks, Bird laughed.But thats the thing with Mick, you know what is coming but it still drives you mad.Its a tactic he has used his whole career but hes not all talk - he has got some good skill.Bird was wary of Cronulla trying to send Ennis out a winner by snapping their premiership drought this year.But he is hopeful the Gold Coast make a statement of their own by bringing Cronullas record run to a shuddering halt on Monday night.Being his last season he will want to go out with a bang, Bird said of Ennis.But we have a chance to stop their run.We may not have the names or the experience but hopefully they bring their best to what will be our biggest game of the year. 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