"Tim Duncan spent much of the NBA's five-month lockout in much the same manner one might expect Tim Duncan to spend a five-month lockout.

When he wasn't in the gym playing basketball, or on the track working on his conditioning, or in the weight room lifting, he was at home in his living room, playing with his two young children.

If the greatest power forward of his generation was supposed to spend the excess downtime soul-searching, reflecting on a career that, at age 35, is steadily steaming toward its end, well, nobody thought to inform Duncan.

Retirement? So soon?

"I haven't gotten to that bridge," Duncan said, at the dawn of his 15th Spurs training camp. "I don't even see that bridge yet. When I get there, then I'll cross it.""