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Tim Duncan says goodbye to Spurs fans with a short, sweet letter

When Gregg Popovich met with the media on Tuesday to discuss the retirement of Tim Duncan, his greatest player and the cornerstone on which the San Antonio Spurs’ ascent to the ranks of basketball royalty was built, the legendary coach searched for an explanation for “why I’m standing here and he’s not.” In an appropriate tribute to “The Big Fundamental,” Pop went with the simplest and most effective explanation.

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“We all know why,” Popovich said. “It’s not Tim Duncan. We’ve been saying it for 19 years and he really only cared about doing the best job he could basketball-wise and being who he was for his teammates and being somebody who loved his family. That’s really who he is.”

While Duncan didn’t turn up for one last press conference, he did say farewell in his own way on Wednesday, through an open letter to Spurs fans posted on the team’s website:

Tim Duncan's farewell letter to Spurs fans. (Image via Spurs.com)
Tim Duncan’s farewell letter to Spurs fans. (Image via Spurs.com)

The letter reads:

If asked to write a script for my career 19 years ago, there is no way I would’ve been able to dream up this journey.

I stand here at the end of this ride and look back in awe of what I’ve experienced.

The wins and losses will be remembered, but what I’ll remember most are the people:

The fans inside the arena and out, the staff and coaches who pushed me and held me together, the teammates (and even opponents) who will be lifelong friends, sharing my ups and downs with family and close friends, and, most importantly, the snapshots of my kids growing up and reveling in watching Dad work. That is what I will cherish the most.

Thank you to the city of San Antonio for the love and support over these years. Thank you to the fans all over the world.

Much Love Always,

Tim

Duncan also gave his first interview since Monday’s announcement, sitting down with longtime friend Rashidi Clenance for his online radio station, ViVid Streaming:

Some highlights from the interview, via Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News:

He said he knew he was approaching retirement late during his last season with the Spurs.

“I started not enjoying myself as much. It wasn’t fun as much,” Duncan said. “When it’s not fun anymore, I’m done.” […]

On where he ranks among the NBA’s greatest players: “I don’t really care about the ranking goes. I’m in the conversation.”

On why he took less money to remain with the Spurs: “The money was never a big deal to me … from year to year I never knew who was making what, and I think that’s the best perspective to have.”

There’s something very, very fitting about Duncan saying goodbye not with a season-long farewell tour, an all-access glamour magazine profile, or a painstakingly crafted documentary, but rather with a brief and direct thank-you letter followed by sitting at a table with an old buddy to have a few laughs and stream a video on a Macbook for an hour. It’s a damn-near perfect way for Duncan to close this illustrious and remarkable chapter in his life, and move on to the next one.

“Thank you for being involved in that part of life for me,” he said at the end of his interview. “There’s no better way to put it. Just thank you.”

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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

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