Top 70 Quotes & Sayings by Tim Duncan

When you have to stop and think about things is when they go wrong.

I'm not better when I force shots. I'm going to take them as they come. They are really sagging in there, trying to take me out of the game. It's my job to find guys. I want to be aggressive and take my shots, but I can't force them.

I'm a loyal guy. I'm a man of my word, and I assumed other people would be that way. That's just not the case in life.

In all seriousness, it really should be difficult for me to be too strange. After all, a great family raised me.

At this point, if I were to psychoanalyze myself, I'd have to say I am a clown, cleverly disguised as a regular person.

The only nickname I've ever had is Merlin, like the magician. I don't know why.

I don't dunk anymore.

We took pride in representing where we came from, took pride in being from small places, and places all around the world and being able to come together and make ourselves into a team, into a group of guys with one goal and get that done.

Honest truth is I didn't really know from year to year what people were making. I think that was the best perspective to have.

I don't know how their ranking goes or anything else, and I tell people I don't really care how the rankings go.

When our assists lead to baskets, that's us playing our best, and we begin knocking down shots.

I don't do style. I just show up for the games.

You have to adjust to what your team needs and what you're able to do.

The time when there is no one there to feel sorry for you or to cheer for you is when a player is made.

I have the loving support of my girlfriend who still attends Wake Forest and is nearing graduation. She helps me cope with the everyday rigors of being an NBA player.

If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don't have any problem with him, but we can do it if he wants to.

I believed in what I was. I didn't believe that would translate into any of the five championships. But I knew that I could affect the game.

Like every other car guy, I've watched 'The Fast and the Furious,' and I want to go out and race and drift and all the crazy stuff. Another one of my favorites is 'Cobra.' That's where I got my love for the Merc, where he had the one that had the license plate that said 'AWSOM 50.'

I enjoy jokes, smiling, and making people smile. I may be a little different, but that's OK, who wants to be normal anyway?

I'm just going to play whatever game is in front of me.

Karl Malone used a lot of veteran stuff that I thought was cool. Charles Barkley taught me a lot when I played against him. How he would use his body or use his dribble to get people in there and all that stuff. Veteran moves.

I'm not going anywhere. You can print that wherever you want to. I'm here and I'm a Spur for life.

If I have my kids, I drive something with four doors. If I don't have my kids, I can drive whatever I want.

I'm not serious most of the time.

I had great friends, support and teaching at Wake Forest.

I just wanted to win on the road, honestly. I don't remember the road ever being this tough.

I am going to walk away when I'm ready to walk away. Not because of a win or a loss.

The first time I played against Seattle was the only time I felt destroyed. Vin Baker just manhandled me. The whole thing, their double teams, their movement, everything. I must've had eight turnovers. Which isn't a big deal for me because I turn the ball over a lot.

I have always liked knives. Then somebody gave me one. Then somebody gave me another one. Then I liked having them and started buying them. I started finding ones I liked, ones with funky blades.

Charles Barkley taught me a lot when I played against him. How he would use his body or use his dribble to get people in there and all that stuff.

I didn't have my first car until after the end of my senior year. I got a Yukon Sport.

I like R&B. I listen to music, not singers.

Luckily, I had a long career and made good money.

I'm not really a flashy guy anywhere else - I don't dress flashy or anything else - but I like to keep my cars nice, and I like to customize them. I can do things a little flashier and a little faster, and with a little bit more thought. This is kind of the release part of basketball.

I'm surrounded by nothing but great people. I've been blessed with that, so really, I've got no choice but to be an all-around good person.

I've been competitive from day one. It's in my nature. Whether people recognize that or not, I don't know how they can't. I'm not gonna go out there and try to hurt somebody or win by all means. But if it's up in the air, I'm gonna try harder than you to get it done.

I started not enjoying myself. It wasn't fun at times. And I always said when that point comes when it's not fun anymore, then I'm done.

We really have some of the best fans in the NBA, in sports in general. Here, you get a consistent base, people support. People love the Spurs, and that's special. That's not everywhere.

I think competitiveness is taken in a different way by different people. I'm not a yeller and a screamer, a jumper and a pusher.

I am who I am because of the people who I grew up with and where I'm from.

The first time I played against Seattle was the only time I felt destroyed. Vin Baker just manhandled me. The whole thing, their double teams, their movement, everything.

I'm attacking the basket more. Because I'm more comfortable on the line, that's an area I want to get to.

You've got to stay ready, especially around here. That's what we preach, you'll get your opportunity whether it comes at the beginning or in the middle or in the end whenever it may be. When your time comes, you need to be ready to go because you're going to earn your minutes

Competition is great for everyone. Sports can teach you so much at an early age, including camaraderie and sportsmanship. Competition aspect is something I've always been big on - I always wanted to compete in something. It was swimming for many years, then I moved on to basketball. I had to find a way to channel my competitive energy, so I'm lucky that basketball worked out for me.

I just hope to make a difference.

I'm still learning. Hopefully I can keep getting better, and not stop where I am now.

I don't usually set personal goals.

Standing on the court and holding up that trophy - it's so great you want to keep doing it over and over again.

When I'm away from basketball, I'm the biggest kid. I do a good job of keeping myself sane. But on the other hand, I'm more of a solitary guy, glad to be left alone.

I don't try to change myself to impress anybody. I'm just who I am.

Basketball's so much like life: if something's going great, you wait a minute, it will change. If something's going bad, you wait a minute, it will change. So I try to play things on such an even keel, knowing that things are going to change. You take the good with the bad; you don't get too excited, you don't get too down and sometimes that's the hardest thing in the world to do when you're in the midst of it, but that's the best way to handle it.

I've never gotten too high or too low. It only messes you up.

I've always respected [Michael Jordan] but I've never been a fan of his [Jordan's].Because everybody else is.

Our motto is just to play the whole 48 minutes. We are here to play it from start to finish. Things will go up and down. We will make runs and they will make runs. But we just keep playing.

They say I have no emotions, but I'm excited even if you can't see it.

If we win, I'm happy. The rest of it is just stuff.

We are unselfish and we trust each other

Get your education. The number of guys who are blessed to be in the league is so small compared to the number of high school players [who want to play in the league]. But one thing you can do is get your college education. If you are blessed enough to get a scholarship to play college basketball, make sure you get your college degree, too, then move on from there.

I'm just somebody that isn't that impressed by [Michael Jordan]. There really isn't anybody in the world I'm impressed with.

It always feels good to win, it's always tough to lose.