Damon Stoudamire had the opportunity to witness Tim Duncan 's greatness during his short stint with the San Antonio Spurs. According to "Mighty Mouse," Duncan didn't say a lot, but his mere presence demanded respect from everyone around him.
Stoudamire observed that despite Timmy's reserved nature off the court, his leadership qualities were undeniable. Even for a short period of time, Stoudamire appreciated how "The Big Fundamental" led by example and showed dedication, hard work, and humility in everything he did.
"Tim Duncan, he was an unassuming leader, but a great leader, through his work ethic and body language, when required he would say his piece. He was someone who commanded the room," Stoudamire told Adam Mendler in 2019.
Damon also admired Coach Pop
Apart from TD, "Mighty Mouse" also found inspiration in the leadership style of longtime Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich . Stoudamire greatly admired Pop for the unique combination of firmness and humility that he exhibited as a leader.
Damon only played half of his final season in the NBA, but Popovich's ability to balance high expectations with genuine humility left a lasting impression on him. For that, the 1996 NBA Rookie of the Year looks up to Gregg as a role model to this day.
"Gregg Popovich was a great leader because he was an honest guy, because he managed and maintained his ego and kept it intact, that's one of the things I took from him," Stoudamire added.
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Timmy and Pop were a perfect match
Indeed, Duncan's impact went beyond his statistics and accolades as a player. As a locker room leader, Tim's teammates, opponents, and coaches all spoke highly of his professionalism and integrity. As Stoudamire described it, though Timmy wasn't the loudest voice in the locker room, his actions and work ethic spoke volumes.
On the other hand, Popovich has the innate ability to hold players accountable while also fostering a sense of unity and teamwork among the group. Very much like TD, Pop also stood out for his humility. Everyone from the Spurs organization would agree that Gregg treated everybody with respect, from star players to team staff members.
In conclusion, Stoudamire was right about Duncan and Popovich's leadership. Simply by looking at how the Spurs morphed into one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history, it's easy to see that TD and Pop did a remarkable job as leaders.
Related: “I had been told that if Kevin Garnett wasn’t around at the seventh pick they were gonna take me” - When Damon Stoudamire almost wasn’t the Raptors’ first-ever draft pick
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