Tim Duncan’s finals record was an incredible 5-1. He also had a great record in NBA Finals games, going 23-11 in his career. Duncan won 3 Finals MVPs and helped his San Antonio Spurs teams win five titles with great two-way play.
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What Was Tim Duncan’s Finals Record?
Tim Duncan earned the nickname the Big Fundamental with his consistent, solid play. That play resulted in a whole lot of winning. Duncan’s San Antonio Spurs went 5-1 in NBA Finals series. They went 23-11 in NBA Finals games.
| Year | Tim Duncan’s Spurs Playoff Result | Games | Opponent |
| 97-98 | Lost West Semis | 1-4 | Utah Jazz |
| 98-99 | Won NBA Finals | 4-1 | New York Knicks |
| 99-00 | Lost 1st round | 1-3 | Phoenix Suns |
| 00-01 | Lost West Finals | 0-4 | LA Lakers |
| 01-02 | Lost West Semis | 1-4 | LA Lakers |
| 02-03 | Won NBA Finals | 4-2 | NJ Nets |
| 03-04 | Lost West Semis | 2-4 | LA Lakers |
| 04-05 | Won NBA Finals | 4-3 | Detroit Pistons |
| 05-06 | Lost West Semis | 3-4 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 06-07 | Won NBA Finals | 4-0 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 07-08 | Lost West Finals | 1-4 | LA Lakers |
| 08-09 | Lost 1st Round | 1-4 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 09-10 | Lost West Semis | 0-4 | Phoenix Suns |
| 10-11 | Lost 1st Round | 2-4 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 11-12 | Lost West Finals | 2-4 | OKC Thunder |
| 12-13 | Lost NBA Finals | 3-4 | Miami Heat |
| 13-14 | Won NBA Finals | 4-1 | Miami Heat |
| 14-15 | Lost 1st Round | 3-4 | LA Clippers |
| 15-16 | Lost West Semis | 2-4 | OKC Thunder |
Who Did Tim Duncan Beat in the NBA Finals?
- In 1999 Duncan and the Spurs beat a New York Knicks team featuring Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston and Marcus Camby. The Knicks were the 8th seed in the East after a shaky year during the lockout-shortened season. They lost Patrick Ewing in the Eastern Conference Finals and were probably lucky to win one game.
- In 2003 Duncan’s Spurs beat another relatively weak Finals team in the New Jersey Nets. The Nets featured Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson.
- In 2005 Duncan and the Spurs beat the defending champion Detroit Pistons featuring Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace.
- In 2007 the Spurs beat a young LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs roster was unbelievably weak outside the King: Drew Gooden, Daniel Gibson and Sasha Pavlović got the most minutes for the Cavs after LeBron.
- In 2014 Duncan’s Spurs beat a Lebron-led Miami Heat squad. That team had some real talent including Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Ray Allen.
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Who Did Tim Duncan Lose To In the NBA Finals?
- Tim Duncan’s only Finals loss came in 2013 to the same Heat team he would beat the next year. They had LeBron, the Boshasaurus, D-Wade and Sugar Ray.
How Many Finals MVPs Did Tim Duncan Win?
One reason Tim Duncan won three Finals MVPs was because his defense was so darn good. Duncan was one of the all-time great two way players. He did not focus on only one end of the floor. He beat you at both ends.
You can see his Finals MVP seasons below.
- Duncan won Finals MVP in 1999 when he averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds per game.
- Duncan won Finals MVP in 2003 with 24 points, 17 boards and 5 assists per game for the series.
- In 2005 Tim Duncan scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds per game to win his 3rd Finals MVP.
How Does Tim Duncan’s NBA Finals Record Compare to Other Great NBA Players?
Tim Duncan would probably only trade Finals records with very few other NBA players. Certainly Michael Jordan, who went undefeated, and Bill Russell, who won 11 titles would make that short list.
You can see the Finals records for most of the NBA’s best players below. Click the links to read articles detailing each player’s NBA Finals record.
| Player | NBA Finals Record |
| John Havlicek | 8-0 |
| Michael Jordan | 6-0 |
| Bill Russell | 11-1 |
| Tim Duncan | 5-1 |
| Kobe Bryant | 5-2 |
| Steph Curry | 4-2 |
| Shaquille O’Neal | 4-2 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 6-4 |
| Magic Johnson | 5-4 |
| Larry Bird | 3-2 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 2-1 |
| Kevin Durant | 2-2 |
| LeBron James | 4-6 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 2-4 |
| Jerry West | 1-8 |
| Elgin Baylor | 0-7 |
Summary: Tim Duncan’s Finals Record
Tim Duncan won five NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs. His teams went 5-1 in NBA Finals series. They had a 23-11 record in finals games. Duncan’s elite defense and consistent offense helped the Spurs win those five titles and helped him to capture three NBA Finals MVP awards as well.
Featured Image Photo Credit: “This planet needs more folks like Tim Duncan.” by Howdy, I’m H. Michael Karshis is marked with CC BY 2.0.
I have been a Boston sports fan for more than forty years. I write about games, players and seasons from the past.