The Big Fundamental isn't going anywhere.

The five-time NBA champion and 15-time All-Star will return to the San Antonio Spurs for a 19th season in the fall.

Duncan, 39, was taken first overall by the Spurs in the 1997 NBA Draft out of Wake Forest and was named Rookie of the Year in his first season, averaging 21.1 points and 11.9 rebounds. In his labour stoppage-shortened sophomore season, Duncan and David Robinson led the Spurs to an NBA title in 1999.

In 2002, the U.S. Virgin Islands native set a career high in points per game and time on the floor, averaging 25.5 points in 40.6 minutes a night.

The team would capture another NBA Title in 2003, the final championship with Robinson. With the emergence of Emmanuel Ginobili and Tony Parker, the Spurs would reach four more NBA Finals and win three titles in the next decade with Duncan as the lead in their three-pronged attack.

Duncan could be returning to a somewhat new-look team in the fall. On Wednesday, the Spurs traded centre Tiago Splitter to the Atlanta Hawks and re-signed forward Kawhi Leonard and swingman Danny Green. The Spurs are also said to be a leading suitor for free agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge.