Press Releases

For Immediate Release                                    Contact: Michael J. McQuerry
April 6, 2020                                                         202-215-8524

PRESS STATEMENT

 CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY PLASKETT’S STATEMENT ON TIM DUNCAN’S SELECTION FOR THE NBA HALL OF FAME

Washington, DC - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced that former San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan will be one of nine honorees in the Class of 2020. Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement:

“St. Croix native Tim Duncan has become the first Virgin Islander and the third player in San Antonio franchise history with his jersey retired to be elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame, joining George Gervin and David Robinson. Tim Duncan is among eight finalists – led by the late Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett- selected on Saturday for induction in August, 2020.

Tim Duncan spent his entire 19-year career with the Spurs. During his tenure, the team  won five championships and posted a 1,072-438 regular season record, giving the team a .710 winning percentage, which is the best 19-year stretch in NBA history and was the best in all of the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB during that span.

“Tim Duncan is a graduate of  St. Dunstan’s Episcopal High School on St. Croix and a graduate of Wake Forest and is the Spurs all-time NBA leader in total points (26,496), rebounds (15,091), blocked shots (3,020), minutes (47,368) and games played (1,392), as well as third in assists (4,225). In NBA history, Duncan is fifth all-time in double-doubles (841) and blocks, sixth in rebounding and 14th in scoring.

“Not only is Tim Duncan a leader on the basketball court, he is a leader in his community. When Tim Duncan was 13 years old he witnessed Hurricane Hugo ripped through his home in the Virgin Islands, and  his life and community changed forever.  When Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the Virgin Islands in 2017, he knew exactly what kind of devastation a hurricane of this magnitude could cause and wanted to do all he could to aid in the relief efforts for the islanders. Tim Duncan, with the help of former teammates and others, matched financial donations for the relief efforts in the Virgin Islands. In addition, Tim Duncan helped raise an additional $1,000,000  relief supplies for this area.

“The news of the hurricanes have faded from the headlines, but Tim Duncan has once again put the spotlight on the Virgin Islands.. The spotlight shines on one of the  2020 NBA Hall of Famer inductees, Tim Duncan, and today the Virgin Islands, the United States of America and the world salute you.”

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