Tim Duncan Retires: Twitter Reacts to Spurs Legend's Decision

Nineteen seasons. Five NBA championships. Three Finals MVPs. Fifteen All-Star Games. One franchise. One coach. One city.

After all was said and done, Tim Duncan announced his NBA retirement in the most Duncan way possible—a simple Twitter post from the San Antonio Spurs and a formal press release:

A number of people took to Twitter to comment on the simplicity of Duncan's retirement:

"

All hail Tim Duncan, who can’t even be bothered to show up to his own retirement press conference. https://t.co/xrxmVQwKwG

— Lindsey Adler (@Lahlahlindsey) July 11, 2016"

Duncan, less than three months removed from his 40th birthday, spent his entire career in San Antonio after being selected No. 1 overall in 1997. He was a star from the second he stepped on the floor and finished with career averages of 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.

The Spurs never won fewer than 50 games over a full regular season and were 1,072-438 (.710 winning percentage) during Duncan's tenure. Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated provided another stat that illuminates his greatness:

Perhaps more than anything, Duncan's greatness is defined by the way he carried himself. The Spurs came to embody his personality—quiet, reserved and never straying in focus from the task at hand. He came to the league as a back-to-the-basket brute with a silky mid-range jumper, and San Antonio's strategy followed that pattern. When the league banned hand checks to open up the game's pace, Duncan never complained as the Spurs embraced a fluid pace-and-space system.

Courtney Fallon of Fox 25 wondered if Gregg Popovich, the only coach of Duncan's pro career, might soon follow him out the door:

Popovich used to say he would retire alongside Duncan. However, that plan was thwarted long ago. His appointment as the next Team USA coach likely means Popovich will be on an NBA sideline through at least the 2020 Olympic Games.

While it was expected Duncan would retire soon, The Ringer's Shea Serrano (a noted Spurs fan) is struggling to process his grief:

While he wasn't known for being publicly demonstrative, Duncan occasionally allowed his joker side to shine. Taylor Rooks of the Big Ten Network provided a shot of one of his lighter moments:

Here is a look at some of the other notable reactions:

The Spurs, as a team, will in all likelihood be fine. They already signed Pau Gasol this summer as a Duncan insurance package and are returning most of the core from last season's 67-win team. Kawhi Leonard has already taken over as the franchise face, and LaMarcus Aldridge played the nominal Duncan role last season.

But the Spurs as a franchise—and the NBA as a whole—won't ever see another player like Duncan.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.