.

Breaking News

Popular News

Enter your email address below and subscribe to our newsletter

Tim Duncan wins his 2nd of five NBA championship rings in 2003.

2003 NBA Finals: greatest performance not talked about

Tim Duncan recorded 21-20-10-8 in the 2003 NBA Finals championship clincher.

Share your love

Home » blog » basketball » NBA » 2003 NBA Finals: greatest performance not talked about

Tim Duncan won his 2nd of five championship rings in 2003. In the series clincher, his stat line read 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 8 blocks.

In reality, Duncan had recorded a quadruple double. The proof is in the video from game 6 of the NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets.

The greatest power forward of all-time

Tim Duncan's five rings lead the resume for the greatest power forward of all-time and his 2003 NBA Finals were his best.

Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward in NBA history bar none. From his smoothness in the post to his defense, the St. Croix native is a two-time NBA MVP and a 3-time NBA Finals MVP.

He has been selected 15 times as an NBA All-Star. Duncan has also been named to the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams 15-times each.

Out of those All-NBA teams, he was named All-NBA First Team 10-times and he’s an eight-time All-Defensive First Team selection too.

TIM DUNCAN IS THE ONLY NBA PLAYER TO BE SELECTED TO THE ALL-NBA AND ALL-DEFENSE TEAMS FOR 13 CONSECUTIVE SEASONS.

He was NBA Rookie-of-the-Year in 1997 and won the All-Star Game MVP in 2000. Timmy was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall-of-Fame in 2021.

Pre-NBA

Tim Duncan was born and raised in Saint Croix, U.S Virgin Islands. He was a swimmer that had dreams of competing at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona until Hurricane Hugo struck in 1989.

The hurricane destroyed the only Olympic-sized swimming pool on the island, dashing Duncan’s early dreams.

His sister Tricia competed at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul as a swimmer and his other sister, Cheryl was a champion swimmer as well.

Wake Forest

 Duncan starred at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Tim Duncan would have his number 21 jersey retired after his career at Wake Forest ended. It wasn’t very clear for then coach, Dave Odom what he really had in “The Big Fundamental” when he first showed up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as a freshman in 1993.

In his first NCAA game, Timmy didn’t score a single point but by the end of his sophomore season of 1994-95, many considered him the best collegiate prospect in the entire country.

Before Tim Duncan’s rings, he stayed at Wake Forest for four years, three of which he would’ve been the NBA’s top overall draft pick if he had left school early.

Then Lakers General Manager Jerry West would have definitely taken Duncan first overall after his sophomore season, he said as much.

“T.D” finished his career in Winston-Salem as

  • 3x First-Team All-ACC (1995-97)
  • 3x NABC Defensive Player of the Year (1995-97)
  • NCAA rebounding leader (1997)
  • 2x Consensus First-Team All-American (1996, 1997)
  • Consensus National College Player of the Year (1997)
Tim Duncan signed jersey PSA/DNA Wake Forest Autographed Spurs

Get the last signed Tim Duncan Wake Forest Jersey Today

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Tim Duncan Rings

Tim Duncan has won five NBA championship rings in his six NBA Finals appearances. Winning his first four Finals trips in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007.

He won NBA Finals MVP in his first three Finals appearances (1999, 2003, 2005).

Tim Duncan became the backbone of Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs from day one when he was drafted with the first overall selection in the 1997 NBA Draft.

It only took until his 2nd season for Tim Duncan to start winning rings and becoming known as one of the most talented and skilled power forwards in NBA history.

The Spurs defeated the New York Knicks in five games in the 1999 NBA Finals for this first championship.

2003 NBA Champions – Finest Moment

Tim Duncan captured the 2nd of his five championship rings during the 2003 NBA Finals.

Tim Duncan was going for his second ring entering the 2002-03 season. It had been four years since “The Big Fundamental” had led the San Antonio Spurs to the 1999 NBA championship.

In 2003, you were seeing the best power forward to ever play the game at the pinnacle of his greatness. Duncan was the current NBA MVP, winning the award in back-to-back seasons. (2002-2003)

From his rookie season until 2004-05, Tim finished in the top five in MVP voting each of those seasons. Winning the MVP or being the runner-up, four straight seasons from (2001-2004).

Kobe-Shaq

"the big fundemental" being defended by Shaquille O'Neal.

The Los Angeles Lakers were back in the playoffs and looking for a fourth straight NBA championship in the spring of 2003.

Kobe Bryant & Shaquille O’Neal’s Lakers had eliminated the Spurs in both 2001 & 2002. San Antonio only managed one victory against those Lakers teams in the playoffs.

Duncan’s Spurs got swept in 2001 and lost 4-games-to-1 in 2002. When these two Western Conference powers met for the third straight year in the 2003 NBA playoffs, “The Big Fundamental” would get his revenge, forcing Los Angeles to abdicate its crown.

Duncan averaged 28.0 points-per-game, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.3 blocks in the six game Western Conference Semi-Finals victory.

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

2003 NBA Finals

Tim Duncan won his 2nd of five championship rings in 2003.

As the Spurs faced off with the repeat Eastern Conference champions New Jersey Nets and Jason Kidd in the 03 NBA Finals, Duncan’s Spurs were focused on becoming champions once again.

The Spurs took a 3-2 series lead into this NBA Finals game in game 6. Tim Duncan would put on one of the greatest single game NBA Finals clinching performances of all-time.

The Spurs had to overcome a 10 point fourth quarter deficit against Jason Kidd and the Nets in what would become 2003 NBA Finals close-out game.

His line in game 6 of the 2003 NBA Finals was 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, 8 blocks.

Tim Duncan came close to registering a quadruple double or was his triple double actually a quadruple double?

Mitchell and Ness Duncan Black Spurs #21 Swingman Jersey (18208-SASBLCK98TDU)
$130.00
Buy Now
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
02/18/2024 06:22 pm GMT

Quadruple Double

In 2003, Tim Duncan picked up the 2nd of his 5 NBA championship rings with a triple double that was just two blocks short of a quadruple double.

There were two blocks he didn’t receive credit for and undoubtedly should have.

This would’ve given him ten blocked shots in the 2003 NBA Finals championship clinching game.

JUDGE WITH YOUR OWN EYES.

2003 NBA Finals game 6 blown calls

The two mistakes on calls came within a couple minutes of each other, the first was with 6:43 remaining in the 3rd quarter, a Kerry Kittles layup that was ruled as a deflection. With closer inspection, it’s obvious Kittles was shooting and was denied on his attempt by Duncan at the basket.

The second missed block was actually a recorded block, credit was just given to the wrong player. David Robinson was given credit for a block on Kenyon Martin.

It can quickly be identified that Tim Duncan had his hand on top of the ball before “the Admiral” did.

Duncan’s official stat line is legendary but the quadruple double that he should’ve had, would’ve been next level sports lore.

Regardless this legendary player had a historic career and even though this is only one game, it’s maybe his finest ever, given what was at stake.

One of the greatest players in NBA history

Tim Duncan is one of the greatest players in NBA history. After defeating Jason Kidd & the New Jersey Nets in the 2003 NBA Finals, Tim’s Spurs defeated the Detroit Pistons two years later to win a third championship

The Pistons were the defending NBA champions. The series would go 7 games, where the Spurs would prevail. Duncan won his third NBA Finals MVP award and had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the game 7 series clincher.

In 2007, Duncan would win his fourth championship as the Spurs swept LeBron James’ Cavaliers.

The Spurs wouldn’t play in the NBA Finals again until 2013, albeit losing in 7 games to LeBron’s Miami Heat.

The Spurs got revenge the following season, defeating the Miami Heat in 5 games. That was championship ring number 5 for “TD”.

Share your love
Fox9
Fox9

I provide highly opinionated sports articles. Most of these are featured articles. They will likely differ from the thoughts, stories and ideas, recycled by TV, radio, etc.

Articles: 687

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay informed and not overwhelmed, subscribe now!

Verified by MonsterInsights