Making the Case for Tim Duncan on the 2015 NBA All-Star Team

At 38 years young, Tim Duncan deserves a chance to represent the San Antonio Spurs and Western Conference for the 15th time at the 2015 NBA All-Star Game.

However, sending him to the 2015 edition is much more than some lifetime achievement award—unlike Kobe Bryant's unsurprising inclusion via fan vote.

The NBA allowed fans to cast their votes for All-Star starters until Jan. 19, and Duncan was the No. 4 frontcourt player in the most recent update with nearly 375,000 votes. Consequently, there's practically zero chance for him to be named a starter.

But that's not an issue in any sense, since Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin and Marc Gasol are each worthy candidates. So, Duncan can only be named to the All-Star game if the West's coach chooses him as one of what will probably be just three frontcourt reserves.

How Does He Compare?

Player	GP	PPG	RPG	APG	BPG
Anthony Davis	37	24.2	10.4	1.6	2.9
Blake Griffin	42	23.0	7.6	5.0	0.4
Marc Gasol	41	19.2	8.3	3.7	1.7
Tim Duncan	38	14.9	10.1	3.2	2.0
LaMarcus Aldridge	38	23.2	10.2	1.9	1.2
DeMarcus Cousins	29	23.9	12.6	3.2	1.7
Kevin Durant	18	25.0	6.9	3.9	0.9

As the table shows, Duncan's raw scoring number isn't particularly impressive when compared to his competition. With that being said, the Spurs aren't reliant on Timmy as a top-two scoring option every night like the teams of other players listed do.

Instead, the 14-time All-Star has showcased his talents on the other end of the floor. San Antonio has fought through extended absences to Kawhi Leonard and Tiago Splitter, its best overall defender and a stout interior presence, respectively.

Without Duncan, the team's anchor in the paint, the Spurs would've plummeted down the conference standings. However, he carried San Antonio and was named ESPN's Defensive Player of the First Trimester.

To date, the 6'11" power forward has swatted 2.0 shots per contest—sixth-best in the league—and posted a 98.4 defensive rating.

He's allowed opponents to convert just 46.2 percent of their attempts at the rim, per NBA.com, top-10 among Western Conference frontcourt starters and trailing just Kevin Durant for the best clip out of the seven contending for an All-Star bid.

What's more, Duncan has tallied 20 double-doubles and is one of seven players to record a triple-double, which he earned during a 107-101 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 5.

Advanced statistics can be overwhelming for some, but it's clear the veteran's value is best measured beyond his impact in the classic box score.

Duncan leads the league in defensive real plus-minus at 5.63, and his total RPM (6.38) is fourth-best in the NBA. Only Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins can even hold a flame to Duncan's contributions, since the DRPM of the other four competitors are under 2.00.

Additionally, he ranks ninth in the Western Conference for wins above replacement with a 5.84 mark. Cousins, Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge are each below the Spurs' longtime star.

Duncan has clearly amassed one of the biggest defensive impacts in the league, and rewarding him with All-Star selection No. 15 is a proper honor.

Will It Happen?

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It seems likely that whoever leads the Western Conference—presumably Steve Kerr—will grab at least four, perhaps five guards for the bench. Bryant isn't necessarily deserving considering his on-court play, but that's a different story.

Regardless—barring injury—Kobe, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard and Klay Thompson are virtual locks to join Davis, Blake Griffin and Gasol as West representatives.

As a result, Duncan, Durant, Russell Westbrook, Cousins and Aldridge would probably be the remaining candidates for the final three spots.

It wouldn't be a surprise for Kerr to recognize the five-time champion's season, but the selection would really depend on his philosophy. If the rookie head coach wants to give the most deserving player a spot, he'd tab his ex-teammate for one last chance at an All-Star-worthy running jump hook.

But if Kerr is looking to build a winning roster, however, adding Westbrook and Cousins makes perfect sense. Plus, utilizing Durant alongside the West's other forwards and centers is undeniably appealing.

None of the five players will earn a starting spot without an absurd, borderline incomprehensible 11th-hour rally, so their potential roster fit could overtake Duncan's spot.

Would that be a bad thing? Of course not. Duncan is essentially a historical figure, and those four would certainly be more exciting than The Big Fundamental. After all, high-flying dunks, unlimited range and explosive athleticism are what the All-Star game showcases, and those are definitely not Duncan's forte.

But that doesn't change how he should receive one last standing ovation during an All-Star weekend, and it wouldn't simply be for old time's sake. Rather, it's because Duncan truly deserves it.

Unless otherwise noted, stats are courtesy of Basketball-Reference and are accurate as of Jan. 21.

Follow Bleacher Report NBA writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.