Tim Duncan retires after 19 seasons

San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan has announced his retirement from the NBA.

The 40 year old spent all 19 seasons of his impressive career in San Antonio.

Originally selected by the Spurs as the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft he was named Rookie of the Year that season.

Duncan helped San Antonio reach the playoffs in each of his 19 seasons and became the only player in league history to start and win a title in three different decades.

Duncan was a 15-time all-star, 2-time NBA MVP, 3-time finals MVP, and won 5 NBA championships.

Since drafting Duncan, the Spurs posted a 1,072-438 regular-season record. That is the best 19 year stretch in NBA history and tops in the four major U.S. sports over the past 19 years.

Duncan finishes his career in San Antonio as one of just three players in NBA history, along with John Stockton and Kobe Bryant, to spend 19 seasons with one franchise.

With the retirements of Duncan and Bryant, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett is the final player in the NBA who played in 1997-98.