Tim Duncan is one of the NBA’s all-time great players, but not even his five championship rings could save him from the wrath of former Thunder Enes Kanter.
Kanter, who has always been unafraid of speaking his mind, wished the living legend a happy 44th birthday on Saturday, but not without pointing out the fact that the last game of Duncan’s career happened to be a playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Back in 2016, after getting pummeled by the Spurs by 32 points in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series out in the Western Conference, the Thunder responded by beating the Spurs in four of their next five contests. Oklahoma City would go on to win the series in six games before losing to the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the Western Conference Finals.
“Happy Birthday to my brother Tim Duncan. #Legend 💯 (He played his last career game against us and lost) 😅 #Respect,” Kanter tweeted.
Happy Birthday to my brother
Tim Duncan. #Legend 💯(He played his last career game against us and lost) 😅#Respect pic.twitter.com/lhR5H87rmS
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) April 25, 2020
The “us” to which Kanter refers, obviously, is the Thunder. Kanter spent three seasons as a member of the club before being included in the trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to Oklahoma City, so he got a taste of the rivalry that the Durant-led club enjoyed with Duncan and his team.
In the Oklahoma City era, the Spurs and Thunder squared off in the playoffs three times — twice in the Western Conference Finals in 2012 and 2014 and once in the second round in 2016.
Oklahoma City prevailed in 2012 before losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals while the Spurs defeated the Thunder in 2014 en route to defeating the Heat. The 2014 series victory would give Duncan his fifth and final championship.
In the final playoff matchup between the teams, as mentioned, the Thunder prevailed.
It is said that he who laughs last laughs best. Obviously, Kanter agrees.