After 16 seasons and a surefire Hall of Fame career, the San Antonio Spurs paid Tim Duncan the absolute grandest complement they could during the 2016 off season. In signing veteran free-agent big man Pau Gasol, San Antonio immediately sunk their teeth into the one player that comes closest to emulating Duncan's unassuming style while putting up his loud and bodacious career numbers.

Gasol's Determination

Throughout his 16-year, two-time championship, six-time All-Star career, Gasol has always seemed to play as if he's had something to prove. Things don't figure to be any different this season, with him not only being asked to step in for Duncan but also help lift the Spurs back to the land of NBA champs.

With Gasol rounding out a first unit that still includes All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge and veterans Tony Parker and Danny Green, Coach Gregg Popovich has to like the chances of his veteran laden team, which will also benefits from the return of Manu Ginobili and the free agent signing of veteran forward David Lee.

As it is, Gasol's all-business approach seems tailor-made for San Antonio. In Chicago last season, the veteran Spainard blocked out all the noise born of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler's inner-squabbles to average 19 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.

Overall, the Spurs appear to be well-positioned to continue in their machine like fashion as they enter into the start of the post Duncan era. So much so, when all is said and done they could pose the Western Conference's biggest challenge to the Golden State Warriors Big 4 of Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

San Antonio Spurs Roster

  • LaMarcus Aldridge
  • Kyle Anderson
  • Ryan Arcidiacono
  • David Bertans
  • Matt Bonner
  • Dewayne Dedmon
  • Bryn Forbes
  • Manu Ginobili
  • Danny Green
  • David Lee
  • Kawhi Leonard
  • Kevin Martin
  • Patty Mills
  • Andre Miller
  • Dejounte Murray
  • Tony Parker
  • Jonathan Simmons
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