Throwback Thursday: 18th Anniversary of Tim Duncan Getting Drafted No. 1 Overall

Thomas Duffy @@TJDhoopsFeatured ColumnistJune 25, 2015

NEW YORK - 1997: Tim Duncan poses for a photo after being selected by the San Antonio Spurs at the 1997 NBA Draft in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images)

Andy Hayt/Getty Images

On this day 18 years ago, the San Antonio Spurs selected one of the NBA's all-time greats with the first pick of the 1997 draft.

Tim Duncan, a soft-spoken senior out of Wake Forest, would go on to rack up five championships, three NBA Finals MVP awards, two regular-season MVPs and 15 All-Star nods in San Antonio.

Few No. 1s in history have matched his level of winning:

Knowing what we do now, isn't it amazing to see Duncan and coach Gregg Popovich converse all those years ago? It's like watching a now-married couple on their first date.

But the craziest part of it all? Duncan is still going strong. The 39-year-old will probably have better numbers next year than whoever gets picked first Thursday night.

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