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Even if some don’t want to like it, there was a lot of joy in watching Tim Duncan coach his first NBA game in Monday’s 104-103 Spurs win over the Hornets. He started the game quietly but stood up and instructed as the game progressed, and seeing his tall figure standing on the sidelines in a blazer is a sight we probably never thought we’d see.
He then surprised everyone by showing up for the post-game presser after most assumed it would be Will Hardy (since he did the pregame presser). It was even a surprise to his longtime girlfriend, Vanessa Macis, and their daughter Quill sure seems to be enjoying watching her daddy on TV!
Q, we are all shocked he did media... we ALL are. pic.twitter.com/2VVakU635W
— Vanessa Macias (@VanessaLMacias) March 4, 2020
His press conference itself was particularly enjoyable. It’s probably the longest he has spoken in front of cameras since he retired, and his answers were both insightful and funny. He made sure the other assistants (yes, including Becky Hammon) were properly credited for equal effort in coaching the game.
More from Tim: "We got Becky & Will & Mitch, Mitch prepped the game for us, Becky & Will were making all the calls & I was the only one just standing there screaming at people, nonsensical stuff. We did it coach by committee and it could have been any one of us out there."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) March 4, 2020
He gave insightful thoughts on the players, especially the two who played perhaps the biggest roles in sparking the Spurs comeback in Dejounte Murray and Keldon Johnson. (They’ll be good ones.)
Duncan on Dejounte Murray: "His confidence & aggression are going up. They are going in the right direction and he’s big for us. He’s going to have to be big for us. He needs experience, he needs time on the floor & he needs situational experience. He’s going to be a good one.”
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) March 4, 2020
Duncan on Keldon Johnson: "KJ was great. Came in, gave us great energy. Made some shots for us. Defensively he was really solid, too. Thought he had some really good possessions out there. He's young, but he is going to be a good one for us."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) March 4, 2020
Perhaps the best part was when he channeled his inner Gregg Popovich after being asked why he came out of retirement.
Asked why he came out of retirement, Tim said, "You want to talk about the game or do you want to do interviews here for other things?...I'm just here for the fun of it."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) March 4, 2020
If you haven’t seen it yet, here it is in its entirety.
Then of course, there’s what the players themselves had to say about about being led by Coach Timmy. Patty Mills threw a little shade at his old pal before delving deep into the experience.
Patty had some fun with his old pal Timmy while talking to reporters afterward: "He didn’t do (expletive)…It was us out on the floor."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) March 4, 2020
Patty on Tim: "He obviously has that presence. Everyone obviously listens to what he says, and he’s very calm in situations and very constructive and everyone listens. It was good to hear or see everyone dialed into what he was saying."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) March 4, 2020
More Patty on Tim: "I saw a lot of similarities as to how he was as a player and as a coach. Very thoughtful, very quick to be able to answer questions and obviously very knowledgeable. When guys asked questions, he gave them constructive feedback to go out and get the job done."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) March 4, 2020
More Patty on Tim: "I saw a lot of similarities as to how he was as a player and as a coach. Very thoughtful, very quick to be able to answer questions and obviously very knowledgeable. When guys asked questions, he gave them constructive feedback to go out and get the job done."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) March 4, 2020
Same with DeMar DeRozan.
DeMar on what it was like having Tim at the helm: A little bit more mellow. Nah, it was good, fun. It was fun just getting in the huddles, especially for a guy like me who had the privilege to play against Tim and now be in the huddle listening to him coach. It was great."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) March 4, 2020
Whether this is the last we’ve seen of “Head Coach” Tim Duncan is question for the future, but for now Pop has already rejoined the team in New York after dealing with some personal business and will coach the Spurs against the Nets on Friday. Regardless, it was fun while it lasted!
Now let’s see if he can beat his 6-minute presser when he has to speak at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony this summer.