/kloc-at the age of 0/3, Duncan was the best swimmer in the 400 meters in the United States. Even now, he is still the record holder of the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle in the Virgin Islands. His sister Tricia once represented the Virgin Islands in the swimming competition of 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. She said, "In my heart, I never doubted that Duncan would become a swimmer in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. He definitely has the strength to compete with the world's top players. "
But in 1989, two misfortunes changed Duncan's fate that he should have made a name for himself in the swimming pool. At first, it was the bad news that my mother had breast cancer that brought a heavy blow to this family. Then, the hurricane that caused great disaster hit the Virgin Islands mercilessly. The only standard swimming pool and the hospital where my mother lived were destroyed in the wind disaster. At that time, my mother had to continue her treatment in a temporary tent. The following spring, on the eve of Duncan 14' s birthday, her mother finally passed away. Tricia said: "The hurricane prevented Duncan from practicing every day, and his mother's death made him lose motivation."
The Virgin Islands ravaged by hurricane is a desolate place, but the blue photo frame in Duncan's front yard is one of the few things that hasn't been dumped. This is a Christmas gift from his sister Luo Ting, who lives in Ohio, USA.
My father, who is a mason, said that this thing can withstand any wind and waves. So, having no choice, Duncan began to play basketball. "At that time, I thought, once the stormy weather passed, I would immediately return to the swimming pool. Unexpectedly, my basketball season has continued to this day. " Duncan said.
After her mother died, her sister and brother-in-law Laurie moved back to the Virgin Islands. Laurie used to be the defender of the basketball team in a primary school in Ohio. Under his influence, Duncan likes basketball more and more.
"Let's do more shooting practice." Laurie said to her brother-in-law, "How many swimmers have you seen who can afford a Porsche sports car?"
Because he was only six feet tall at that time, Laurie had to teach him guard skills. Day and night, he practiced basic movements such as outside jump shot, assists and ball control.
After entering high school, Duncan suddenly grew eight inches. He is already one of the tallest people on the island. He has completely controlled the rhythm and every link of the game in every game, and has played all over the island without an opponent. Even so, the level of basketball in the Virgin Islands is still far behind the NCAA, and Duncan and Laurie are well aware of this. So Laurie began to lobby American universities to treat Duncan as a talent and recruit him in.
Under Laurie's lobbying, four schools are interested in Duncan, but only Providence and Wake Forest can be regarded as the outstanding schools of NCAA. In fact, Wake Forest almost gave up Duncan at first, only because coach Odom went to his home for an interview, and Duncan actually stared at the TV to answer the coach's questions. This seemingly uninterested attitude disappointed coach Odom. Even so, Duncan can answer the coach's questions in an orderly way. Coach Odom said, "I'm surprised. He was born with the ability to do two things at the same time. "
In this regard, Duncan's explanation is: "I pay great attention to everything the coach said, but the 49ers' game is being televised, and the time is the key moment in the fourth quarter." "
By the third year of high school, Laurie was no longer Duncan's opponent in the one-on-one singles. But is this lanky child, who is only 17 years old, really capable of meeting the challenge of the most intense Atlantic Coast Alliance (ACC) in NCAA?
"When Duncan reported to the team, the coach told us that he had found a useful material." A teammate said, "One day, I stepped into the gym and saw a tall man. He grabbed the blue board and dribbled the ball under his leg. "
Then I took it all by myself, and finally I got a beautiful blue irrigation. I ran to the coach and said to him,' Hey, there's a kid in the gym doing a lot of incredible moves on the court. If he is not Duncan, you'd better find a way to integrate him into the team as soon as possible. "
At first, Duncan's performance did not fail. In his first college competition with the University of Alaska in Anchorage, he didn't score a point, but it was his first time to see snow. In the late autumn against Claremont University, center Wright [as if in the Raptors] pressed him all the way, and Duncan looked very helpless.
Coach Odom said, "The next day, I called him to my office. In order not to frighten him, I spoke to him in a gentle tone. Suddenly, he interrupted me and said,' coach, you don't have to worry. I had a good time playing that game yesterday. "
Soon, Duncan began to give full play. After the rookie season, Duncan, a sophomore, only played 5 1 game, setting a new record in the history of the school. In the second season, Duncan successfully integrated his physical strength, strength, height and excellent outside kung fu skills developed as a child with Laurie in bullfighting. He has become a first-class player in the ACC League.
At this time, many people predicted that Duncan would drop out of school and enter the NBA as soon as possible. One month before the 1995 draft, the general manager of Golden State Warriors, who holds the No.1 draft, is full of confidence in Duncan's potential. He said, "Duncan will be the top pick in this year's draft. Obviously, the Warriors want to use the first draft pick to choose Duncan, who is 6' 10 "but still in high school. But in the end, joe smith became the choice of the Warriors, just because Duncan said publicly, "I'm not ready, I'm still too young. " 』
Therefore, the learning journey continues. In this process, Duncan has developed a strong muscle, low-post singles skills and the ability to open the bow left and right. In his senior year, Duncan has become the blue king of the NCAA first-class league (14.7), with gross coverage (3.3) and shooting percentage (60.8) ranked at 10 and scoring (20.8) ranked 28th.
For two consecutive years, regardless of scoring, rebounding, shooting percentage and blocking, Duncan was the only one in ACC, and he also won the honor of ACC player of the year twice. "For Duncan, we can't do anything about him! University of Mississippi coach Williams said helplessly.
However, individual great achievements are not equal to team achievements. Wake Forest is Duncan's one-man team after all. Odom said: "He could have entered the NBA and become a multi-millionaire, but he chose to stay at school and fight with us, which deeply moved us." 』
Even though Duncan was the winner of both the Wood Award and the naismith Award, he was unanimously elected as the best college player of the year in senior three, and was unanimously recognized as the best player by UPI, the National Basketball Journalists Association and the National Basketball Coaches' Union, but he never led Wake Forest to the NCAA semi-finals.
Although he lost the game, Duncan was unanimously elected as the first basketball team in the United States, which is the second unanimous record since O 'Neill. When he graduated, Duncan blocked 48 1 and became the king of hot pot in ACC history. In NCAA records, it is second only to foyle of Cogate University. But foyle's opponent at that time was much weaker than now.
How big is Duncan's influence and function on NCAA? Let's listen to what Johnson, coach of Worcester University, said to the players on the eve of the game against Wake Forest: "Let me tell you who will play tomorrow. One day, your six-year-old will ask you to buy him a Duncan jersey. This is your chance to compete with future Hall of Fame stars. Tomorrow, you will meet the strongest player in your life: tim duncan. 』
Attachment: 1 Chris, a Sichuan male blue foreign aid, was also born in Wake. In an interview, he said that he had found Duncan.
Chengdu Business Daily reporter: You and Duncan are alumni. I heard that you found him and recommended him to the coach?
Chris: It turns out that he is not as famous as he is now. I was 25 years old and had just been selected by the Sonics. I was attracted by a child when I participated in an activity in the NBA. He's Duncan. At that time, he was only 15 years old, but he was already 2.0 1 meter. I think this young man has a talent for basketball, so I recommended him to Odom, the coach of my college team.
Chengdu Business Daily reporter: Can you tell me about your relationship with him now?
Chris (laughs): When Duncan 18 years old, he will be promoted to Wake Forest University and join the basketball team. We didn't become classmates or play together. But our relationship has always been iron. I'll tell you a secret: he has never paid me back the money he owed me before, so I don't pay much attention to him now.
Annex 2. In 1998, Duncan got 97.4% of the votes, which was slightly lower than O 'Neill's 98% in 1992-93. Duncan's vote rate ranks second among the winners of the Best Rookie Award, second only to O 'Neill. Among 1 16 sports reporters and broadcasters from the United States and Canada, 1 13 voted Duncan as the best rookie. The other three support tickets were won by New Jersey Nets forward Van Horne. Duncan is the only rookie to participate in the All-Star Game. Ranked fifth in the mvp selection that year, behind O 'Neill ranked fourth, ahead of tim hardaway ranked sixth and Robinson ranked seventh. And from the previous year, Hill was squeezed out and selected for the first team.
American professional basketball player. Organize the advance.
1976 was born in the United States Virgin Islands on April 25th.
1997, graduated from Wake Forest University.
1997, won the title of best college player, selected 1996? 1997 is the best team in NCAA and has become the rebounding king of NCAA.
1On June 25th, 997, the first round of NBA draft was selected by San Antonio Spurs.
1997-98 season was selected as the NBA's best team, became the 10 rookie who won this honor in NBA history, and was selected as the season's best defensive team.
1997-98 season ranked 1 with 57 double-doubles (the number of rebounds exceeded 2 digits), ranked third with 1 1.9 rebounds, and ranked 1 among all newcomers.
1998 was selected into the NBA All-Star Team and participated in this year's All-Star Game in new york.
1999 was named NBA star of the month in March. Average 23.5 points per game.
1999 was selected for the national team and will represent the United States in the basketball game of the 2000 Olympic Games.
1999 cooperated with his teammates and won the NBA championship in 1998-99 season. He himself became the most valuable player in the finals.
1999 was selected 1998- 1999 season's best NBA team and best defensive team.
In February, 2000, he was selected for the Western All-Star Team and participated in the NBA All-Star Game. He played well against the Eastern All-Star Team in June, 5438+03, and became the most valuable player in the All-Star Game with O 'Neal of the Lakers.
Received a degree in psychology from Wake Forest University.
Have acrophobia. He has a hobby of collecting knives, including a 3-foot-high Japanese mountain knife in his collection.
Specialty: Good at rebounding.
1997, the first round of the NBA draft was selected by the San Antonio Spurs.
Selected as the first team of the best NBA team in 1999-2000 season.
Selected as the first team of NBA's best defensive team in 1999-2000 season.
He was named MVP (Most Valuable Player) in the 2000 NBA All-Star Game.
Selected as the first team of the best NBA team in 1998- 1999 season.
Selected as the first team of NBA's best defensive team in 1998- 1999 season.
He was selected for the dream team of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Selected as the first team of the best NBA team in 1997- 1998 season. Only nine NBA players were selected in the rookie year.
Selected as the second team of NBA's best defensive team in 1997- 1998 season.
He was named the best rookie of the 1997-98 season and was selected as the first lineup of the best rookie team.