MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / June 30, 1999

Now that the NBA has officially completed its first season A.J. (AfterJordan), the league has finally found its new king.

All hail, Tim Duncan.

Now, Duncan might not have ever won an NCAA championship game with a jump shot in the final seconds like Jordan did. In fact, he did not win aNCAA title in his four years at Wake Forest. Nor does he have a nicknamelike “Air.” Youngsters on the playground have not been heard (yet) thatthey want to be like Tim.

But maybe they should. For all Duncan has done in the two years since hewas made the first overall pick in the draft is quietly become the best player in the league. Not bad for somebody who did not take basketballseriously until he was in high school.

Duncan’s best sport at that time was swimming until Hurricane Hugo destroyed the only pool around. And if his play in the NBA is anyindication, the St. Croix, Virgin Islands native probably would havesucceeded in that sport as well with the determination and work ethic he has shown.

When he entered Wake Forest, he was a gangly, unpolished player. Thatunpolished player proved to be a sparkling diamond in the rough. When heleft Wake four years later, he was by consensus the best player in the country.

When San Antonio drafted Duncan with that first pick in 1997, they knew they were getting a special player. Just how special remained to be seen. The Spurs, with David Robinson manning the middle, were a perennial contender but could not get over the hump. With Duncan complementingRobinson in the inside, the Spurs became the best team in the NBA. That isa tribute not only to the skills of those two big men, but their unselfishness in letting the other shine. With all due respect to KarlMalone, Duncan was the best player in the league this year and deserved the MVP.

Never was that more evident than in the NBA Finals. Like Jordan, he was athis best when it mattered the most. There was Duncan banking in a shortjumper. Blocking a shot or forcing his opponent to change his shot. Settingup the Spurs’ fast break or keeping a possession alive with a rebound. Forthe series, he averaged 24 points and 17 rebounds, including 31 points in the series clincher.

And he did it all without the trash talking or chest beating that is becoming all too prevalent in the sport. For Duncan has shown he is asgood as a person as he is a basketball player. He stayed in college for hissenior year when many of his contemporaries were leaving early because he liked the atmosphere. He comes to play everyday, quietly does his joband just as quietly leaves. Not flashy but efficient.Many wonder who would take Jordan’s place after he retired, both on the court and as the sport’s ambassador. Duncan appears he would be a worthysuccessor to Jordan in both regards.

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