Duncan named to 14th All-NBA team; Parker to his third

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It’s not often a 16-year veteran receives All-NBA First Team honors after failing to make the club at any level just one year before, but that’s what Tim Duncan did this season. With the recognition, the 37-year-old Big Fundamental has become the second-oldest player to ever be named to the league’s top five-man roster (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the oldest).

Duncan, who in 2011 failed to make an All-NBA team for the first time in his career, was once again left off the list in 2012. But the big man has rebounded to an elite level this season, justifying his position among the greats once again.

As if we needed a reminder.

Duncan now joins Kobe Bryant (11), Karl Malone (11), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10), Elgin Baylor (10), Bob Cousy (10), Michael Jordan (10), Bob Pettit (10) and Jerry West (10) as the ninth player in history to make the All-NBA First Team 10 times or more.

The ever-consistent Timmy D had one of the best seasons of his career based on his numbers per 36 minutes. His 21.3 points per 36 minutes are the most he’s put up in eight years, his 11.9 rebounds are more than he’s averaged since 2007-08, and the 3.2 blocks per 36 minutes of action is the best average he’s ever recorded in a single season.

It bears repeating: at 37 years old, Duncan just recorded the best per-minute shot-blocking season of his career.

Duncan’s value to this franchise continues to be unmatched, but his long-time teammate kept the machine running this season as the tires wore down. Tony Parker had a career year himself and he was recognized for it today. The Spurs’ All-Star point guard was named to his second consecutive All-NBA Second Team. It was the third time he’s ever been named to an All-NBA team (he was named to the third team in 2009).

Parker also notched career numbers as the head of San Antonio’s snake in 2012-13. He led the team in scoring and assists, contributing 20.3 points per game and 7.6 assists per game. Both numbers are the second-best averages of his 12-year career. What’s more, Parker was the only player in the entire league to average at least 20 points and seven assists per game while shooting at least 50 percent from the floor and 80 percent or better from the free-throw line. His 52.2 percent from the floor led all guards.

The Spurs are in the midst of their most crucial portion of the season, and just as it’s been for years now, success in San Antonio is only measured by Larry O’Brien trophies. But that certainly does not take away from everything they achieved this season. Whether it’s the 50+ wins they totalled for an NBA record 14th consecutive year, another dominant season from the greatest power forward of all-time or the ever-growing portfolio of a Hall-of-Fame-bound point guard, the accolades continue to pile up for one of the greatest franchises this sport has ever seen.

And here they are, on the doorstep of a fourth NBA Finals appearance with Parker, Duncan and Manu Ginobili as the core, and what would be the fifth visit of the Duncan era. In a decade that has seen ‘dynasties’ come and go and game-breaking superstars change teams, the Spurs have remained a constant. And not one that just coasts through the motions, they’ve been consistently excellent through the entirety of it all.

No team in the four major sports has a higher winning percentage than the Spurs since Duncan entered the league, and no player-coach combination has more total wins together in NBA history than Duncan and Gregg Popovich. If those two can somehow win a ring for the thumb, then the legacy will only continue to grow.

 

2012-13 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points

Forward LeBron James, Miami (119) 595

Forward Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City (102) 555

Center Tim Duncan, San Antonio (45) 392

Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (91) 521

Guard Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers (97) 537

2012-13 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points

Forward Carmelo Anthony, New York (24) 397

Forward Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers 132

Center Marc Gasol, Memphis (38) 295

Guard Tony Parker, San Antonio (16) 273

Guard Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City (20) 306

2012-13 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

Position Player, Team (1st Team Votes) Points

Forward David Lee, Golden State 79

Forward Paul George, Indiana 73

Center Dwight Howard, L.A. Lakers (17) 203

Guard Dwyane Wade, Miami (3) 145

Guard James Harden, Houston (5) 253


  • TheFG21

    What a successful and brilliant career. He may have 37, but he’s a youngster at heart.

  • Jacques

    Paul < Parker

    ENOUGH SAID~!

  • STIJL

    Wish there could be 16 more years of Mr. Duncan. What a blessing to Spur fans, professional basketball, and just great all around persona of how a professional athlete should be.

  • Matt

    This year, definitely. That was a mistake on the voters’ part.

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  • http://profiles.google.com/lordxar Ray Briggs II

    Congrats to Parker and Duncan. Well deserved. I was pulling for Parker to make first team but his injury and bias for LA teams was always working against him.

    Dwight Howard got 17 first team votes? Are you kidding me?

  • http://48minutesofhell.com Andrew A. McNeill

    Had Parker not sprained his ankle and battled that the rest of the season, I think it’s likely he would’ve made the first team over Chris Paul.

  • Rowr

    I wondered when was the last time a guy on a team as bad as the Lakers made the first team. As best I can tell it was…Kobe Bryant back in 06-07. Go figure. I’ll take Parker and Paul on my first team. They were both more deserving.

  • idahospur

    I was wondering how Howard got any team votes. Must be a shortage of centers in the league?

  • Name

    Glad Timmy’s game is finally maturing…

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