Tim Duncan's playing days with the San Antonio Spurs may be over, but that doesn't mean he won't continue to be a valuable part of the organization for years to come, just as he's done over the past two decades.
He'll just have a much different role this time around.
On Thursday, Spurs general manager R.C. Buford — who has been with the team since 1994 — told Sirius XM Bleacher Report Radio that he wouldn't be surprised if Duncan embraced some sort of leadership role next season.
"Tim loves the gym," Buford said. "Since the end of this season, he's been in the gym several times. Playin', shootin' — that's where he's home. I think right now the most important thing for him is to spend time with his family and really, really enjoy his kids, but I think that, as the season comes, he'll know when and where he wants to engage."
"I know he and [Spurs coach Gregg Popovich] will speak a lot, and it won't surprise me if Tim doesn't find appropriate engagement that will continue to provide us with leadership, and continue to provide him with a smile."
Do you really expect anything else?
As the franchise's most successful player who spent all 19 of his NBA seasons in San Antonio, it's only fitting that the next chapter of his life begins where the final chapter of his career ended.
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