US Virgin Islands' (USVI) Mr Timothy T. Duncan akak 'Tim'— The Big Fundamental — easily cracked the top 10 for his power-forward days with the San Antonio Spurs, going back to 1997. Photo: ESPN

Timothy T. Duncan and coach Gregg C. Popovich won some 5 NBA titles in 6 trips to the finals. Photo: Forbes

The sports network assembled a ballot of the 150 greatest basketball players ever. And then an expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head matchups based on career value and peak performance.

US Virgin Islands' (USVI) Mr Duncan — The Big Fundamental —  easily cracked the top 10 for his power-forward days with the San Antonio Spurs, going back to 1997.

With five championships, rock solid stats and a boat-load of honours, “... Duncan is the only player over the past 35 years to be named First-Team All-NBA as a rookie... At the age of 38, he tied Kareem Abdul-Jabber as the oldest player to be named to an All-NBA team."

ESPN Senior Writer Marc Stein gave praise to Mr Duncan this way:

Greatest franchise player ever!

“Some see him as the greatest power forward who ever lived. Others scoff at the idea that he should ever be listed as anything other than a center.

“Allow us to clear this up for you. Tim Duncan? Let's just call him the greatest franchise player in the modern game.

“The most dependable dude to build ‎an NBA title contender around. Maybe the best teammate, too.

“For two decades in South Texas, coach Gregg C. Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford have loaded — and reloaded — rosters expressly designed to revolve around Planet Timmy. Duncan, in response, has been as loyal to a small-market franchise — and as empowering to a previously little-known coach — as an NBA superstar could possibly be.

“The result: Duncan and Popovich, after five championships and one agonizing seven-game ouster in six trips to the NBA Finals over the past 18 seasons, have established themselves as the present-day Russell and Red, combining with Tony A. Parker, Manu D. Ginobili and the ultimate hands-off owner in Peter M. Holt to erect a remarkably chaos-free empire.

"Soul mates" is how Buford describes Timmy and Pop — such is the connection between star and coach in their shared determination to tune out anyone who didn't appreciate The Big Fundamental's unerring bank shots kissed off the glass or, worse, felt the need to brand the Spurs as boring.

“On a purely personal level, I've always been very proud to share a spot in the April 25 Birthday Club with Duncan, since his name is synonymous with reliability and excellence. And after arriving in Texas just one month before he did in April 1997 and covering almost every meaningful postseason dribble of the Duncan-era Spurs from close range, I'm pretty sure I'll be just as sad ‎as everyone else in South Texas when he decides it's finally time to walk away and save all his smooches off the backboard for his children.”