SAN ANTONIO - I'm getting a lot of e-mails and feedback on Twitter over a photo of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker from a Halloween party obviously just having fun, but with toy guns pointed at someone dressed up as NBA referee Joey Crawford. There is also a noose hanging in the background.
It’s a story I’m sure the Spurs wish would go away.
After practice Thursday Tim Duncan addressed the issue.
“It’s this day in age,” Duncan told News 4 WOAI. “It was a Halloween party and a private atmosphere. It was just us having fun. There was nothing to it. But this day in age people want to blow things into something more than it is. So hopefully it’s gone.”
Crawford is the league's more controversial referee, and once ejected Duncan from a game while he was on the bench. The league suspended Crawford for the incident.
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili was at the party dressed as Zorro. He confirmed that Tim, Tony and the “Joey Crawford” costumed person were at the party.
“It was Halloween. If someone dressed as Pop was there, I could have done the same with my little sword,” said Ginobili. “Someone saw a great opportunity to see Tim and Tony in this situation, but it was very innocent. They were just probably kidding.”
Ginobili does not think the league will take any action.
“I’m not concerned. I don’t think it’s something to take serious,” said Ginobili. “It’s just an innocent joke.”
The photo is out of character for the usually buttoned-up Spurs and it's going to be interesting if the league takes it more seriously than that. The photo was first discussed on
Reddit, but there’s no word on how the photo leaked online.
Tim also had some advice for everyone, “Try to take as little pictures as possible, people. Just for that exact reason.”
"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich when asked about the photo. "I hadn't seen it."
