The Spurs were coming off a poor 1996-97 NBA season; in which their best player, David Robinson-himself a number one draft pick in 1987-was sidelined for most of the year with an injury.
Later, when Duncan played against opposing Houston Rockets Hall-of-Fame power forward Charles Barkley, Barkley was so impressed he said: "I have seen the future and he wears number 21 [Duncan's jersey number]."[REF]