National Basketball Association
San Antonio Spurs
Western Conference/Southwest Division
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History of the Spurs
The last game for the Dallas Chaparrals was played March 26, 1973 and only 134 tickets were sold. The team was bought out by a group of San Antonio businessmen led by B.J. “Red” McCombs. The organization held a public contest in search of a new name and it was decided that the team would be renamed the San Antonio Spurs. The next move the organization made would lay the cornerstone for a top notch organization
In January of 1974, the Spurs purchased the rights to a skinny, silky smooth swing guard by the name of George Gervin from the ABA Virginia Squires. Gervin, who joined the Spurs mid-season, made an immediate impact averaging 23.4 points per game for the rest of the season.
On June 17, 1976, the Spurs were one of only four teams to transition from the ABA (American Basketball Association) to the NBA joining the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and the New York Nets. The Spurs played their first NBA game on October 22, 1976 against the Philadelphia 76’ers. With 17,196 tickets sold it was the largest crowd the Spurs players had ever played in front of.
In 1986, the Spurs drafted the rights to Navel Academy All Star David Robinson and because of Navel commitments; the Spurs would have to wait for two years for the Admiral to come aboard.
On November 4, 1989, David Robinson took the court for the first time in two years and showed no rust as he amassed 23 points and 17 rebounds in a 106-98 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the 1996/97 season, injuries hampered the Spurs as David Robinson broke his leg and both Chuck Person (17 games) and Sean Elliott (32 games) played less than full seasons. The Spurs finished with a dismal 20-62 record but as luck would have it, would acquire one of the most fundamentally sound players of the game, Wake Forrest Star Tim Duncan.
With the “Twin Towers” the Spurs finally got past the Western Conference finals to win their first NBA Title in 1999.
Over the last three decades, the Spurs would have made the playoffs 28 times in 32 seasons winning 15 Division Championships. They have made the Conference Finals 10 times and the 4 times the Spurs made it into the NBA Finals (1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007), they emerged as NBA Champions.
The Spurs have had 3 Hall of Fame players on their rosters; George Gervin, 1973-1985, Moses Malone, 1994/95 and Dominique Wilkins, 1996/97. They have had one Hall of Fame Coach, Larry Brown, 1988-1992 and have retired 6 jerseys, (00 Johnny Moore, 6 Avery Johnson, 13 James Silas, 32 Sean Elliott, 44 George Gervin and 50 David Robinson.
The team has amassed one ABA Player of the Year award (Swen Nater - 1974), one NBA Coach of the Year Award (Gregg Popovich – 2003), one NBA Most Improved Player Award (Alvin Robertson – 1986), two NBA Rookie of the Year Awards (David Robinson – 1990, Tim Duncan – 1998), one Sixth Man of the Year Award (Manu Ginobili – 2008), two NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards (Alvin Robertson – 1986, David Robinson – 1992), three NBA MVP Awards ( David Robinson – 1995, Tim Duncan - 2002, 2003)
Coach Gregg Popovich has amassed a record of 649 wins against 312 losses giving him an overall winning percentage of .675 and is 2nd in NBA History (behind Phil Jackson) in playoff winning percentage (.643) and with 92 playoff wins is fifth in NBA History.
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NBA Basketball
Eastern Conference
| Atlantic Division | Central Division | Southeast Division |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | Chicago Bulls | Atlanta Hawks |
| New Jersey Nets | Cleveland Cavaliers | Charlotte Bobcats |
| New York Knicks | Detroit Pistons | Miami Heat |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Indiana Pacers | Orlando Magic |
| Toronto Raptors | Milwaukee Bucks | Washington Wizards |
