I was a big Magic Johnson fan. And I guess people who knew that gave a name that... In that vein. I tried to play like him.
Tim DuncanCompetition is great for everyone. Sports can teach you so much at an early age, including camaraderie and sportsmanship. Competition aspect is something I've always been big on - I always wanted to compete in something. It was swimming for many years, then I moved on to basketball. I had to find a way to channel my competitive energy, so I'm lucky that basketball worked out for me.
Tim DuncanI have always liked knives. Then somebody gave me one. Then somebody gave me another one. Then I liked having them and started buying them. I started finding ones I liked, ones with funky blades.
Tim DuncanWhen our assists lead to baskets, that's us playing our best, and we begin knocking down shots.
Tim DuncanOur motto is just to play the whole 48 minutes. We are here to play it from start to finish. Things will go up and down. We will make runs and they will make runs. But we just keep playing.
Tim DuncanYou've got to stay ready, especially around here. That's what we preach, you'll get your opportunity whether it comes at the beginning or in the middle or in the end whenever it may be. When your time comes, you need to be ready to go because you're going to earn your minutes
Tim DuncanIn all seriousness, it really should be difficult for me to be too strange. After all, a great family raised me.
Tim DuncanCharles Barkley taught me a lot when I played against him. How he would use his body or use his dribble to get people in there and all that stuff. Veteran moves.
Tim DuncanGet your education. The number of guys who are blessed to be in the league is so small compared to the number of high school players [who want to play in the league]. But one thing you can do is get your college education. If you are blessed enough to get a scholarship to play college basketball, make sure you get your college degree, too, then move on from there.
Tim DuncanI think LeBron asked out of the game once or twice before that, so we knew he was getting tired but we were all getting tired out there. ... I don't think I've played in anything like this since I left the islands.
Tim DuncanBasketball's so much like life: if something's going great, you wait a minute, it will change. If something's going bad, you wait a minute, it will change. So I try to play things on such an even keel, knowing that things are going to change. You take the good with the bad; you don't get too excited, you don't get too down and sometimes that's the hardest thing in the world to do when you're in the midst of it, but that's the best way to handle it.
Tim DuncanThe time when there is no one there to feel sorry for you or to cheer for you is when a player is made.
Tim DuncanI'm just somebody that isn't that impressed by [Michael Jordan]. There really isn't anybody in the world I'm impressed with.
Tim DuncanI have the loving support of my girlfriend who still attends Wake Forest and is nearing graduation. She helps me cope with the everyday rigors of being an NBA player.
Tim DuncanStanding on the court and holding up that trophy - it's so great you want to keep doing it over and over again.
Tim DuncanI've always respected [Michael Jordan] but I've never been a fan of his [Jordan's].Because everybody else is.
Tim DuncanI'm attacking the basket more. Because I'm more comfortable on the line, that's an area I want to get to.
Tim DuncanThe first time I played against Seattle was the only time I felt destroyed. Vin Baker just manhandled me. The whole thing, their double teams, their movement, everything.
Tim DuncanWhen I'm away from basketball, I'm the biggest kid. I do a good job of keeping myself sane. But on the other hand, I'm more of a solitary guy, glad to be left alone.
Tim DuncanI'm not better when I force shots. I'm going to take them as they come. They are really sagging in there, trying to take me out of the game. It's my job to find guys. I want to be aggressive and take my shots, but I can't force them.
Tim DuncanI'm surrounded by nothing but great people. I've been blessed with that, so really, I've got no choice but to be an all-around good person.
Tim DuncanI enjoy jokes, smiling, and making people smile. I may be a little different, but that's OK, who wants to be normal anyway?
Tim DuncanWe're doing some very exciting, bold things, pioneering content on mobile and for broadband, ... My vision is to say, as we take the strategy forward, we are doing it to deliver public remit. We're thinking less and less about C4 and more about the brand family.
Tim DuncanI'm not going anywhere. You can print that wherever you want to. I'm here and I'm a Spur for life.
Tim Duncan