Spurs legend Tim Duncan is supporting Mike Bloomberg for U.S. president

San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Tim Duncan in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb . 10, 2020, in Denver. San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Tim Duncan in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb . 10, 2020, in Denver. Photo: David Zalubowski, STF / Associated Press Photo: David Zalubowski, STF / Associated Press Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close Spurs legend Tim Duncan is supporting Mike Bloomberg for U.S. president 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

Retired Spurs legend Tim Duncan endorsed presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg in a new, 30-second ad focusing on the former New York City mayor's recovery aid in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In the video published on Bloomberg's YouTube channel Wednesday morning, the Spurs assistant coach speaks about the presidential candidate's "true compassion" in aiding his native islands after Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit the area.

"I'm Tim Duncan, born and raised in the Virgin Islands, and I'm supporting Mike Bloomberg for president because of his work in 2017 to help the U.S. Virgin Islands recover after we were hit by two Category 5 hurricanes," Duncan narrates photos and clips of the fatal weather event and the recovery effort that followed. "It was widespread destruction. Food and water were running low, the people of the islands needed help and Mike and his team, among many others, acted fast to aid in feeding, clothing and getting people to safety and in this Mike Bloomberg showed his true compassion for helping those in need."

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The ad was paid for by Bloomberg's campaign and approved by the candidate. According to Business Insider, Bloomberg has just passed $338.7 million on spending for TV, radio and digital media ads. He has spent more than $3 million on TV commercials in the San Antonio area. The only other Democratic candidate on San Antonio TV is Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has spent $421,000 on TV commercials in the city. The Texas primary is March 3.

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Duncan joined the Spurs as an assistant coach this season. No other member of the coaching staff or CEO R.C. Buford donated to presidential political fundraising from January to December 2019, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Duncan endorsed Nico LaHood in 2018 in his district attorney race. Duncan and former Spurs player Tony Parker also endorsed LaHood in 2014.

Bloomberg will make his debate debut Wednesday evening in Las Vegas. He announced 10 new Texas endorsements Tuesday, not including Duncan.

“We are excited about the support Mike Bloomberg is building in Texas. Our work to engage the people and places overlooked by Donald Trump is working, and the energy of our campaign in Texas reflects this,” said Ashlea Turner, Texas State Director for Mike Bloomberg 2020, in a news release Tuesday. “As our movement continues to grow and voters start going to the polls, it is becoming more clear that Mike is the only candidate who can defeat Trump in November.”

Staff writer Joshua Fechter contributed to this report.

Madalyn Mendoza is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @MaddySkye