Tim Duncan is stepping away from full-time role as Spurs assistant coach

Tim Duncan is stepping away from his role as a full-time assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, according to a report from Marc Stein of The New York Times.

Stein says the Spurs always knew this would be a one-year stint on the bench for Duncan, and they expect him to return to his previous voluntary post-retirement role of assisting with player development at their practice facility.

Though San Antonio qualified for the playoffs year season since Tim Duncan joined the organization, their league-record of 23 consecutive postseasons appearances came to an unceremonious end during his lone season as an assistant.

Despite a disappointing campaign from the Silver and Black, San Antonio has an opportunity to instantaneously improve their roster and franchise outlook with their first trip to the lottery since they drafted Duncan with the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft.

Potential top pick James Wiseman recently cited David Robinson and Tim Duncan as players he models his game after. And should the rumors of the Spurs looking to move up from the 11th pick in the 2020 Draft be true, Duncan could end up mentoring the talented center.