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Over time, Tim Duncan earned our love and respect

by Gabe Kahn

Celtics fans have a complicated relationship with Tim Duncan. Fine, not all of you. If you’re under 15 or you jumped on the bandwagon during the championship ride in 2008 you probably don’t know what I’m talking about and you definitely don’t feel the same. But those of us who’ve been around for the ups and downs of the past 25 years, we get it.

Hours after the announcement of Duncan’s retirement—a development that, though expected was no less jarring—the talk around the league has been about longevity, success, the paragon of professionalism and the acronym "GOAT.