Wheaties Honors Spurs’ Star Tim Duncan; Perennial All-Star Becomes Second Spurs Player to Be Featured on His Own Wheaties Box

SAN ANTONIO, TX --Jan. 28, 2005--It was 1989 when Hurricane Hugo decimated much of the U.S. Virgin Islands, including the pool that a young Tim Duncan had used to sharpen his skills in the 400-meter freestyle, helping him become one of the top swimmers in his age group. So, with no more pool, he decided to start playing basketball, with his first organized experience coming in ninth grade. Making that switch turned out to be a pretty good decision for Duncan, the San Antonio Spurs, and now, for The Breakfast of Champions.


Wheaties announced today that the San Antonio Spurs’ power forward will soon be honored with his own Wheaties box. The box will be unveiled at a halftime ceremony tonight when the Spurs host the Sacramento Kings in San Antonio.

One of the top players in the game today, Duncan is just the second player in league history to be named to both an All-NBA Team and All-Defensive Team in each of his first seven seasons in the league. Former Spurs teammate David Robinson, who also has appeared on the fabled orange Wheaties box, was the first. Duncan’s long list of honors also includes NBA MVP in 2002 and 2003, NBA Finals MVP in 1999 and 2003, and NBA Rookie of the Year in 1998. Duncan is a six-time NBA All-Star.

The Spurs made Duncan the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and he helped the team win its first NBA title in 1999. This season, the former Wake Forest All-American has led the Spurs to the best record in the NBA’s Western Conference.

“To appear on the box of Wheaties is exciting,” Duncan said. “I am pleased that Wheaties selected me to help them continue to build on their outstanding sports legacy.”

“Tim Duncan is one of the truly elite players in the NBA,” said Eric Treschuk, Wheaties Marketing Manager. “Wheaties is thrilled to welcome him to our team.”

“Tim has had tremendous impact on basketball,” said Duncan’s representative Lon Babby of Williams & Connolly of Washington, D.C. “His leadership and talent on and off the court will help Wheaties continue its strong tradition in sports.”

Duncan’s only previous Wheaties appearance was as part of the 2003 Spurs NBA championship package.

Wheaties began its association with sports in the mid-1930s with a sign on the left field wall at Nicollet Park near downtown Minneapolis. General Mills’ broadcast deal with the minor league Minneapolis Millers on WCCO Radio included the large signboard that Wheaties would use to introduce its new ad slogan: “Wheaties--The Breakfast of Champions.” From that rather humble beginning, Wheaties has built a heritage that includes many of the greatest athletes of all time. Learn more at www.wheaties.com.

With 30 teams in the United States and Canada, NBA games and related programming are broadcast to 214countries in 43 languages. The NBA is a recognized leader in sports marketing currently maintaining a long list of fully integrated domestic and global marketing partnerships with the most recognizable brands in the world. For more information on the NBA, visit NBA.com.

The Breakfast of Champions(R) and Wheaties(R) are registered trademarks of General Mills.

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General Mills, Minneapolis

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