Tim Duncan will always be synonymous with the San Antonio Spurs - five-time NBA champion, two-time MVP, and the quiet cornerstone of a dynasty built on discipline and defense. But even with his deep roots in the Alamo City, Duncan’s basketball eye has always extended beyond the Spurs’ practice facility. And lately, one team in particular seems to have caught his attention: the New Orleans Pelicans.
Duncan, who remains a fixture in San Antonio’s orbit despite not holding an official coaching title, is often seen around the Spurs' training facility, working with players and offering guidance. He’s still very much part of the franchise’s fabric. But that hasn’t stopped him from appreciating what’s brewing a few states away in New Orleans.
A Familiar Leadership Style in Herb Jones
In the Spurs’ recent loss to the Pelicans, it wasn’t just the final score that stood out - it was the Pelicans’ physicality and defensive tone, led by none other than Herb Jones. The third-year forward may not light up the box score every night, but he’s become the kind of player coaches love: steady, selfless, and quietly impactful. Against San Antonio, Jones finished with nine points and two blocks, but his presence went beyond the numbers.
Pelicans head coach James Borrego - a man who knows Duncan well from his time on Gregg Popovich’s staff - didn’t hesitate to draw a parallel between Jones and the Spurs legend.
“He’s an example guy,” Borrego said of Jones. “And I think the greatest to do it here, Tim Duncan, was the same way.
He led by example. Over time, though, he found a voice to lead.
There’s a leadership quality in his words as well. When Tim Duncan spoke up, everyone listened.
When Herb Jones speaks up, everyone listens.”
That’s high praise coming from someone who spent years watching Duncan lead from the front. And it’s not just a coach seeing similarities - it’s a sign of how Jones is carving out a leadership identity in a young locker room that’s still finding its way.
Duncan’s Eye on the Future
The admiration isn’t one-sided. Duncan, known for his reserved nature, doesn’t often go out of his way to publicly praise players. But when he does, it speaks volumes.
During a November broadcast of a Spurs-Pelicans matchup, former NBA guard and current analyst Antonio Daniels shared a moment that offered a rare glimpse into Duncan’s current basketball interests.
“Right now, I’m sitting here with my phone in my hand, and Tim Duncan just sent me a text about Derik Queen,” Daniels said. “He said, ‘Man, I really like that Queen guy.’
Me too, bro! Me too!”
Queen, one of the Pelicans’ promising rookies, has shown flashes that have clearly caught Duncan’s attention. Alongside fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears and a supporting cast of high-level role players, Queen represents a piece of what New Orleans hopes is a foundation for something bigger.
A Sleeping Giant - or Just a Team Waiting to Wake Up?
Let’s be clear: the Pelicans haven’t exactly lit up the Western Conference standings in recent years. They’ve struggled to find consistency and have yet to break through as a serious playoff threat. But with the emergence of young talent and a few veteran stabilizers, they’re closer than they’ve been in a while to putting the pieces together.
What they lack is a true, dependable star to anchor the team - the kind of player who can elevate the promising parts into something greater. But the fact that someone like Duncan is watching, appreciating, and even texting about this group says something. He’s not just seeing potential - he’s seeing a team that, with the right catalyst, could finally make some noise.
For now, the Spurs and Pelicans remain on different trajectories. San Antonio is rebuilding around its own young core, while New Orleans continues to search for that missing spark.
But in a league where respect is earned and rarely given, having a legend like Tim Duncan take notice? That’s a sign the Pelicans might be on the verge of something worth watching.