Tim Duncan was the NBA's top rookie the last time the Spurs met the Jazz in the playoffs. Now a two-time MVP, Duncan hopes for a better result this time around.

The Western Conference finals kick off Sunday when Duncan and the third-seeded Spurs host the Jazz in Game One at the AT&T Center.

A nine-time All-Star, Duncan began his career by winning the Rookie of the Year in 1998. But he could not lift the Spurs past Karl Malone and the Jazz, who rolled over San Antonio in five games in the conference semifinals.

But the teams have gone in opposite directions since then, as the Spurs have won three titles while the Jazz have failed to even reach the fsince 1998, when they lost to the Bulls in six games.

Now the Spurs and Jazz are back in the conference finals, providing a matchup which seemed unlikely at the beginning of the postseason.