Tim Duncan is considered the greatest power forward of all time and for good reason. The man led the San Antonio Spurs to five titles throughout his career, made 15 All-Star Teams, 15 All-NBA Teams, 15 All-Defensive Teams, was a three-time Finals MVP and won the league MVP award twice. Duncan is a legend in San Antonio history. While most NBA fans acknowledge his contributions to the game as one of the best ever, many still do not grasp the magnitude of what he was able to accomplish. Duncan was not flashy, not very athletic, and not very marketable. He simply won and got the job done. At the end of the day, that is all you want from a player. Part of what Tim Duncan great though was a signature move that does not get talked about enough today. The bank shot.
Tim Duncan’s Famous Bank Shot
Tim Duncan: His Signature Move
When you think of famous moves in league history, what do you think of? You probably think of the fadeaway perfected by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. You probably think of the sky-hook patented by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The step-back three from James Harden may even come to mind. Have you ever realized that one of the most fundamental, yet simplest moves in basketball helped mold the career of the greatest power forward ever? Tim Duncan’s bank shot deserves more credit than it receives today.
Not to sound like an old man wanting the good old days back, but if kids studied the bank shot before they started trying the fadeaways and step-back three’s, the younger generation would have a better foundation of the basics in today’s games of basketball. After all, it worked for Tim Duncan. It made him both a deadly mid-range shooter in pick and pop situations and made him a threat down in the post. It resulted in eight straight seasons of 20.0 points or more scoring averages while he was in his prime. All in all, Tim Duncan’s signature move deserves to be in the same stratosphere as Kobe’s, Michael’s, and Kareem’s go-to moves.
A Renewed Appreciation for the Bank Shot
We probably will never see someone as adept at going glass as Duncan was ever again. A shame since any true basketball fan would love watching and studying this move, whether you are a Spurs fan or not. It comes as no surprise that Tim Duncan is the NBA leader in bank shots. He took 1,934 bank shots throughout his Hall of Fame career. The second man on the list is Dwyane Wade with 754. Whether it was the left block, a mid-range jumper set up from a screen, or even a drive going to the baseline, Tim Duncan was always a threat with his patented bank shot. It is time to start giving Tim Duncan the credit he truly deserves and start recognizing the bank shot as one of the best signature moves in NBA history.
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