Spurs Retire Tim Duncan's Jersey Before Sold-Out AT&T Center Crowd

The Spurs last night retired Tim Duncan’s No. 21 jersey after their win over the Pelicans yesterday at AT&T Center, and “after surviving half an hour of other people saying nice things about him,” Duncan “shocked the world and spoke for more than four minutes.” Duncan said, “I won a lot of bets tonight. I didn’t wear jeans. I wore a sport coat. I spoke for more than 30 seconds.” A sellout crowd of 18,615 fans were on hand to “witness a celebration that was not quite a farewell.” Spurs Gs Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili gave speeches, and former NBAer Sean Elliott “served as emcee” (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 12/19).

Duncan was “left speechless at points by cheers and shouts of ‘we love you!’” He “pounded his heart with the microphone as the crowd roared.” The ceremony even left him and coach Gregg Popovich “fighting back tears” (AP, 12/19).