Although he didn’t play organized basketball until ninth grade, Virgin Island native Tim Duncan, is one of the world’s premiere basketball stars and is just the second player in NBA history to be named to both an All-NBA Team and an All-Defensive Team in each of his first four seasons according to Duncan’s official website. Since Duncan was the first draft choice by the San Antonio Spurs in 1997, the team has won at least 60 percent of its games every season, and on June 18, 2014 they captured their fifth NBA title in San Antonio against the Miami Heat, after losing to the Florida team last year.

Duncan was named NBA Rookie of the Year and 1999 NBA Finals MVP after winning his first NBA Championship with the San Antonio Spurs. Tim won back-to-back NBA MVP awards in 2002 and 2003 and was named NBA Finals MVP in 2003 and 2005.

Originally, Duncan dreamed of becoming an Olympic-level-swimmer like his sister and encouraged by his family.  Duncan excelled at swimming, becoming a teenage standout in the 50, 100 and 400 meters freestyle and aiming to make the 1992 Olympic Games as a member of the United States Team. After Hugo destroyed the only Olympic-sized swimming pool on the island Duncan began swimming in the ocean. However, his fear of sharks caused him to lose enthusiasm for swimming. He was inspired later to play basketball by his brother-in-law.

He and his wife Amy were married in the summer of 2001 and, together, they run the Tim Duncan Foundation. The Tim Duncan Foundation was started to fund education, youth sports, health awareness and research. Over the years, Duncan’s Caribbean Education Initiative has supported the V.I. Boxing Federation, the St. Croix Educational Complex Steel Orchestra, the V.I. Swimming Federation and the V.I. Weightlifting Federation. The Foundation has also donated $25,000 to purchase and install the first wooden basketball court on the island.