Oh me, oh my Tim Duncan is generous.
We knew Duncan helped out Roy Hibbert this summer. It was everywhere. Mostly because it was awesome. It wasn’t some coincidence either. Hibbert had always planned to work alongside The Big Fundamental. Back in July, he had said he would work out with the San Antonio Spurs big man “for a week or two,” according Pacers.com’s Scott Agness.
Then there was the picture. The one that saw the Indiana Pacers center make Duncan look like a leprechaun, except smaller.
See for yourself:
Via projectspurs.com.
Just so you know, Hibbert stands at 7’2″ while Duncan walks in at 6’11”, so it’s not like Hibs literally dwarfs Timmy. But still, that looks insane.
Point being, they worked out together. It was a thing. A planned thing. Kind of like LeBron James and Kevin Durant refining their games alongside each other, minus the stupid-ass backlash they received.
Anyway, what gets me isn’t that they played together. Or that Hibbert made Duncan look tiny. It’s that Duncan gave him some tips for free, according to the New York Daily News‘ Frank Isola.
Roy Hibbert went to Texas this summer to train with a legend….But unlike Hakeem, Tim Duncan didn't charge $100,000. He did it for free.
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) October 7, 2013
Tim Duncan's generosity could damage Hakeem's business model. And besides not ripping off players, Duncan also doesn't seek publicity.
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) October 7, 2013
I’m not entirely sure if Hakeem Olajuwon’s rate is a hard $100,000 for two weeks, but that is indeed what Amar’e Stoudemire paid him in 2012. Who really knows how he determines the price? Is it by a player’s salary? Is inflation taken into account? Is it actually more than advertised?
Either way, spending a “week or two” with Duncan is far cheaper than working alongside Hakeem. Then again, I doubt his “business model,” will destroy that of Olajuwon’s. For starters, Timmy is still playing. He likely can’t handle the workload Olajuwon can. He might have a one or two big men per summer rule we don’t know about.
Also, The Dream isn’t playing any more, meaning he’s isn’t being paid like a superstar. That could factor into his lofty price as well, though he did rake in more than $107 million in salary over his career. The more I think about it actually, the more I’m convinced that’s not it.
Mostly, though, I don’t care. If the Association’s ballers can afford it and/or are willing to pay it, then it is what it is. Plus, can you really put a price on The Dream Shake? Just look at it:
Low-post basketball at its finest. Hell, I’d pay that kind of money for Olajuwon to teach me that move if I was an NBA player. With tons of disposable income. And I liked wasting money.
On second thought, perhaps I wouldn’t. Maybe I’d ask for my team to foot the bill.
Or maybe, just maybe, I’d work out with Duncan instead. Bank shots galore, and easier on the wallet. Sign me up.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
