"You immediately understand why he was so great" - Luka Samanic recalled how a retired Duncan inspired the whole gym as an assistant coach

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"You immediately understand why he was so great" - Luka Samanic recalled how a retired Duncan inspired the whole gym as an assistant coach originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Many wondered what would happen to the San Antonio Spurs after the golden trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker retired. Many great players have passed through the Spurs' legendary locker room — names like George Gervin, David Robinson and Kawhi Leonard — yet the franchise always found ways to stay competitive and transition between generations with minimal damage.
It didn't take long for Victor Wembanyama to land in the franchise's lap, expected to be the face of the organization for the next decade or so. Still, of all those names, Tim Duncan stood out as something special, something more. The Big Fundamental, as he was called, is arguably a top-10 player of all time, and when a player of that caliber walks away from the game, replacing him is never easy.
Duncan had an impact on all the young players on the team
One of the young power forwards who got a chance in the post-Duncan era was Croatian Luka Samanic. At that time, Tim was an assistant coach, and in an interview with Basketball Sphere, Samanic spoke about the impact TD had on all the young players on the team.
"Tim Duncan was our assistant coach the whole year. Just to see how he trains before our practice, how he stays in shape, and the habits he has — you immediately understand why he was so great. He worked with the big guys, helping with low-post play and defense. In an organization like the Spurs, a young player is assigned a coach who is the best for their development," he said.
Duncan lasted just one season on the Spurs' coaching staff
Samanic's words might be the best description of Duncan, a quiet leader. Timmy was never too vocal and always led by example on the court, and it's clear he stayed that way even after his playing days. Just how big of an impact he had is evident in how impressed Luka was after seeing Tim still working hard on himself, even post-retirement.
It's hard to think of many great players who went on to become great coaches. We often hear stories about how those elite players get frustrated as coaches when someone can't execute something on the court that came easily to them, and that's where the disconnect starts.
In the end, Duncan lasted just one season on the Spurs' coaching staff, remaining in more of a consultant role with the team. Tim later explained why he didn't push harder to become the Spurs' head coach.
"It didn't grab me," Duncan said of his coaching stint. "I got a chance to be a head coach for a game and a half, that was as close to the game as I felt, as close as to actually affecting the game as I felt throughout the whole situation. But all in all, it wasn't the same adrenaline rush as being a player."Robinson once said Duncan reminded him of Popovich
TD is just one of many greats who haven't fully transitioned into coaching, at least not yet. It's possible Timmy came into that role already fulfilled by his playing career and simply didn't have the same hunger as when he was directly impacting the game on the floor.
It's definitely a shame Tim didn't stay on the Spurs' bench longer, because the general opinion is that he had all the tools to succeed. Robinson once said Duncan reminded him of Gregg Popovich because of his focus and mentality and that he had everything needed to become an elite NBA coach. Samanic's words only reinforce that.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.