Draymond Green knows it’ll be pretty weird facing the San Antonio Spurs in the 2016-17 NBA season opener. Because hoops legend Tim Duncan won’t be on the floor for the Spurs. The last time that was the case — 20 years ago — the 26-year old Green was in kindergarten. It’s a bit as if the Yankees changed in their pinstripes for paisley. Green won’t think about Duncan much once the Tuesday night tip goes up: San Antonio is poised to be just as tough an opponent as last season when their 67 wins finished second (just barely) to the Warriors record-smashing 73.
But Green took some time to think about Duncan’s absence beforehand, telling the San Jose Mercury News that “we all know when we start this, one day it must come to an end. You just give what you can give while you have the opportunity to, and if you can leave half the legacy behind that Tim Duncan did, you did a pretty good job.” Half Tim Duncan’s legacy will get you 2.5 NBA titles, an NBA MVP Award, 1.5 NBA Finals MVPs, about 8 All-Star appearances, five First Team All-NBA selections, 4 First Team All-Defensive selections, about 13,000 points, 7500 rebounds and 2100 assists. Those numbers represent HALF of what Duncan actually got.
