Duncan joins Kareem, Parish on 1,000 wins club
Tim Duncan‘s career milestones ticker flickered bright once again Tuesday night, when the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Utah Jazz 88-86 to register the forward’s 1,000th career victory.
Duncan contributed 3 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and a pair of blocks in the win to join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1.074) and Robert Parish (1,014) as the third player in NBA history to reach 1,000 regular-season wins, as the Spurs extended their franchise record to 65 victories.
“That’s a hell of a lot of wins,” reserve guard Patty Mills said. “I can’t wrap my mind around that at all. That’s pretty incredible. Sacrifice, longevity, loyal, and genuine I think. I think the word that covers all of that is professionalism: the way he handles and carries himself both on and off the court I think is what got him to this point at the moment. It’s a hell of an achievement and one that I’m very fortunate enough to be able to witness and rub shoulders with [him].”
Tim Duncan just became the third player in @NBA history to reach 1,000 wins! #GoTimmyGo pic.twitter.com/QkwjxRzvUm
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 6, 2016
Add that to what’s become a growing list.
Duncan became just the sixth player in NBA history back in March to reach 15,000-plus rebounds in the team’s 109-101 win over the Chicago Bulls, as he joined Abdul-Jabbar as just the second player in NBA history to notch 25,000 points, 15,000 rebounds and 3,000 blocks.
Back in November, Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili moved past Boston’s Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish (540 wins) for the most wins by a threesome in NBA history. Duncan has helped the Spurs to win 50 games or more in every season since he was drafted in 1997, excluding the lockout year in 1998-99, when the team finished the season at 37-13.
Duncan also moved past Utah’s John Stockton (953 wins) in November for the most wins with one team.
“He’s got a lot of miles on his body, and he still comes in day-in, day-out, first guy in the gym, last guy to leave,” guard Danny Green said. “Same routine every day, lots of energy, great focus. It’s tough to do, and I don’t know how he continues to stay motivated playing 20 years, winning so many championships, and making whatever he wanted to make. But he does it every day.”
