Report: Duncan 'leaning strongly toward retirement'

NBA fans may have seen the last of San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan on the hardwood.

Duncan, 40, is "leaning strongly toward retirement," league sources told The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.

He's reportedly told team officials, along with his friends and close associates, that he's working on making an official announcement concerning his future in the very near future.

Duncan recently exercised his $5.6-million player option for the 2016-17 campaign, which was by no means an indication as to whether he'd be in a Spurs uniform for one last run. The five-time champion had a deadline he had to meet, and once he opted in, the organization was reportedly willing to give him as much time as he needed to reach a decision.

A troubled left knee bothered Duncan for the better part of last season, with his minutes per game averages hitting career lows during both the regular season (25.2) and postseason (21.8).

Father Time is undefeated, with even a once-in-a-lifetime talent like Duncan unable to overcome age, injuries, and decreased mobility at his stage of his career. While still putting up commendable numbers of 8.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 48.8 percent shooting, paired with his still elite defensive intangibles, it was clear that he would be unable to keep up with opposing players who were young and quicker than him, which was never more apparent than in the Western Conference semifinals in a 4-2 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Should Duncan decide to walk off into the sunset, he'll finish with two NBA Most Valuable Player awards, 15 All-Star appearances, three Finals MVPs, an All-Star Game MVP, 10 appearances on the All-NBA First Team, and eight on the All-NBA Defensive First Team. He also currently ranks 14th in career points, sixth in rebounds, and fifth in rejections.