Avery Johnson shares one important reason why Tim Duncan is one of the greatest players ever: "He was never late, always early"

He came, he saw, he conquered—If any NBA player fits this phrase perfectly, it's undoubtedly San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan . Timmy is one of the most accomplished players in the NBA's history, but he is often overlooked when it comes to the GOAT debates.

The Basketball Hall of Famer won five NBA Championships, among other accolades, during his 19-year career with the Spurs. Duncan was sound in the basics of playing basketball and even earned the nickname "The Big Fundamental."

Despite having a terrific resume and a mastery of skills, it's surprising that Timmy's name is not mentioned in the GOAT debate. However, former NBA guard Avery Johnson recently gave Duncan his flowers.

Johnson labels Duncan as one of the greatest players ever

Avery recently appeared on the Come and Talk 2 Me podcast. He discussed a wide range of topics and explained why the Spurs legend is one of the greatest basketball players to ever grace the hardwood.

"We had our first five-on-five with Tim against David [Robinson]. I went, 'Oh my gosh.' I was so excited because his skill set, maturity, strength, the footwork, I had never seen it," Johnson said . "... This guy was unbelievable playing against David, who was Defensive Player of the Year, MVP, whatever he was. You know what else I love about Tim? Independent of how many years Tim played in the NBA… he was never late for practice, film session, airplane, bus. Never late. Always early, forget about being on time."

Duncan's level of discipline made him a legendary player. For his career, Duncan averaged 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. Thanks to Timmy, even a small market team like the Spurs gathered international recognition.

Duncan was an assassin

Sure, Timmy didn't have a flamboyant personality like many of his NBA peers, but it didn't mean he wasn't a lethal player. In fact, Duncan was a sarcastic trash-talker .

In addition, his legendary teammate, David Robinson, once explained how he was similar to Michael Jordan .

"Jordan was spectacular and exciting; Tim is everyday workman-like. Tim is every bit the assassin that Michael was," Robinson said. "I'd go, Tim. Big guys are so much harder to find. I think they anchor your team so much better."

Being a 6'11" phenom, Duncan's elegant footwork and skills surprised his opponents. Moreover, winning five rings during the Kobe Bryant-LeBron James era is no small feat. At the end of the day, Duncan may have been featured in the GOAT debate if he had been more outspoken.

Since retiring in 2016, the 15-time NBA All-Star has maintained a low profile. However, he has worked for the Spurs here and there. Many expect him to guide Victor Wembanyama during the early stages of his NBA career as well.

Related: "Tim was maybe the best thing that happened to me in my whole career" — David Robinson on the impact Tim Duncan had on him and the Spurs