SAN ANTONIO – Meeting Tim Duncan for the first time is a day I will never forget, because what started out as a long shot in New Jersey turned into a franchise-changing moment for the San Antonio Spurs. This was almost 20 years ago, so forgive me if a few of the details are a bit blurred.
I had been dispatched to the NBA studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, for the NBA draft lottery for two reasons. One for KSAT and the other for the Spurs, since we were broadcasting 26 games a year at that time. Sometimes I was the play-by-play announcer. At others, I was the terrible analyst and often just the sideline reporter. Now you may remember the Spurs had a dismal season that year that was highlighted by two injuries to David Robinson and the firing of head coach Bob Hill. Gregg Popovich, then the general manager, took over as head coach in December and now found himself in New Jersey along with Spurs chairman Peter Holt to attend the lottery ceremony in May. Remember, the Boston Celtics had the best shot at winning the first pick, at 36 percent. The Spurs had only a 21.4 percent chance, but as luck would have it the Spurs card would be the last one pulled, with Philadelphia coming in second.
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I can still remember watching the lips of the commissioner as if to form an F for the first syllable of Philadelphia and it was at that moment I thought “Holy (you know what) the Spurs just won. The first pick in the draft. You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I heard Peter yell out and boom! Tim Duncan is going to be a Spur. What happened next was amazing.
Pop had come running into the studio and it was as if he could hardly contain himself. Everyone in the room except the Spurs reps looked like they had been kicked in the gut because, after Duncan, the talent level dropped off considerably. There I was, watching San Antonio celebrate when it should have been the storied Celtics. At that moment, Pop was told he had a phone call and I remember following him down a narrow hallway where he went into an office and took the call. I didn’t know who he was talking to but I overheard him say “no” and “thank you” a few times. It was after he hung up the phone, I had to ask, “What was all that about?” He would say it was Rick Pitino, who at the time was the head coach of Boston, offering Pop anyone and everyone on the team for Tim. He said “No, but thank you.” He will keep Tim and that led me to the next stage that day.
I remember saying to myself, “If the Spurs are going to pick Duncan, then I should go find Tim.” I made a quick phone call to my news director, Jim Boyle, and asked if he would allow me to hop on a plane and see if I could track down the future of the franchise. I was hitting all the selling points hard: No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, a game changer for the Spurs. He bought it, only I left this part out. I wasn’t that sure where Wake Forest was located. Sad to say at my age and stage of my career I had never been to the university and didn’t really know what city it was located in or even near. I was pretty sure North Carolina. At least I had the state down but no Google like we have today.
So it’s off to the airport in New Jersey, racing by cab to see if there was some way I could find a flight that would get me within driving distance of the school. Running into the airport I start looking on the board for anything to Carolina. Bingo Greensboro! That’s in North Carolina right? Heck, even if it’s in South Carolina at least it’s a Carolina. Off to the ticket counter I go, only to be told the flight is sold out, but if I wanted to try standby I should head to the gate since the flight is close to taking off. As luck would have it, after putting my name in at the desk, all of a sudden I see a man being wheeled out of the gatehouse on a stretcher. Apparently, he was in some medical crisis and the gate agent turns to me and said “You just got your seat.” I must admit, the first thought that crossed my mind is “Wait. Isn’t this how it always happens? The guy who has the heart attack is the only survivor when the flight crashes later?” But even that would not deter me from my mission.
After arriving in Greensboro, I went to the rental car desk and sheepishly admitted I needed directions to Wake Forest. The clerk was patient and practically drew me a map. Then it was off to Wake Forest and another stroke of luck. As I am headed down the highway what do I see off to the left? ABC 15. What are the odds? A television station, and an ABC affiliate at that right there next to the road. I’ve got to stop, because in my haste I suddenly realized I don’t have a photographer. The NBA had shot everything that day for us. This was a critical problem I had to solve.
I tried everything, I knocked on the door, ran around back, called their number. Remember, it’s Sunday night by now. Only a skeleton crew on duty. So I decided to wait. Maybe a live truck will turn in the driveway or someone would hear my constant banging on the lobby window. Sure enough, a live truck pulled in and led me to the back door where a reporter led me to the sports department. Once inside, I begged, pleaded, offered cash, (offered to) share the interview. I remember thinking, “Folks, this is Tim Duncan in your backyard, ready to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft! Help a broadcast brother out.” But they had a Sunday night 30-minute sports show, and crunching on deadline and they needed their photographer to finish editing their show. I understood.
“What about tomorrow, if I can track him down? Sure. Done,” they told me.
I believe it’s about 8:30 p.m. or 9 p.m. by now and it’s back on the highway to Wake Forest with a little coaching from the fine folks at ABC 15. When I arrive on campus, the first thing that struck me is, “Wow! It’s a bit smaller than I thought.” I was advised the quadrangle would be the place to start my search. I jumped out of the rental car and just started walking and as I ran into students, the more I learned. I knew graduation day was tomorrow. That’s good news and I had been told where Tim would more than likely hang out. I headed in that direction. When I arrived, I found the doors locked, so I decided to wait. Let’s just see what happens. So I took a seat on the outside steps. Seems like I sat there awhile with no activity until I saw a car pull up and out gets this 7-foot giant along what appears to be his father and sisters. Jackpot! This has got to be Tim Duncan. As they approached, I walked up to Tim and introduced myself as a reporter from San Antonio and said, “Congratulations! You are going to be a Spur.” I asked if he had any free time to do an interview and his reply was “What kind of a reporter are you?” I said “Television,” and his quick comeback was so “Duncan-esque” now, “Don’t you need a camera?” he asked. “Yes I do, and I’m working on that problem.” He said he couldn’t do anything tonight because he was with his family, but if I would check with his coach, Dave Odom, he would do the interview tomorrow. Great!
Now I have to get ahold of coach Odom. I don’t have his number, but I remember at work we have a book of all sports information directors in the country. I call the station to obtain the SIDs number for Wake Forest and he hooks me up with Odom. Could not have been a nicer man and said, “If you come to his office after graduation, he will have Tim available for a short interview.” Done. Now to solve the biggest problem.
I race back to the television station and they are nice enough to give me the number of one of their morning photographers who will meet me in the morning at the university. I wish I could remember his name, but he was very honest when we met. He tells me he doesn’t know anything about shooting sports and doesn’t even know what Tim Duncan looks like. I said, “No problem. The graduation ceremony is being held outside and when everyone stands up he will be the tallest. Just follow him.” After the ceremony is over, Odom was true to his word and had Tim in his office ready to answer questions. Now all we have to do is race back to the station and figure out a way to get this back to San Antonio. There were not that many options in 1997, but somehow the folks at KSAT figured it out. I think we had to bounce it off a microwave site that wound up going to a satellite and then found its way to San Antonio. The first interview with Tim Duncan, soon-to-be Spurs star, franchise player and five-time NBA champion. All thanks to a chance drawing in New Jersey.
That was my first meeting with Tim Duncan and my first interview. I just hope it’s not my last before I retire. Congratulations, Tim, and thanks for the privilege of being able to cover the best power forward in the history of the NBA.