Top 10 San Antonio Spurs

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The Spurs have had a remarkable run for a small market team.  That’s been in part because of management and the coaching of Greg Popovich.  Another key component has been drafting a couple of hall of famers and picking really good years to be bad.  The list of their top 10 players reflects ability and stability.  And, here we go.

10. Bruce Bowen:  If you look at Bowen’s offensive stats you would see no reason to put him on this top 10 list. Bowen averaged only 6.4 ppg, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists during his 8 years in San Antonio.  He shot only .421 from the field and .561 from the line.  Bruce could, however hit an open tree pointer.  He led the NBA three point percentage with a mark of .441 during the 2002-03 season.  Bowen’s calling card was defense.  Bowen was named to the NBA all defensive team eight times.  He was also an important member of four Spurs championship teams.  It’s those last two numbers that get him on this list.

9. Artis Gilmore:  The A-Train was in his prime with the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA and Chicago Bulls of the NBA.  Artis did have some nice seasons with the Spurs after leaving Chicago.  Gilmore spent 9 seasons with the Spurs, averaging 16.1 ppg, 9.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks.  Artis was a force around the hoop both offensively and defensively.  His range was about 2 feet, but as Dirty Harry Callahan said, “A man has got to know his limitations.”  Artis knew his.  He was a two time all star while with the Spurs.

8. Johnny Moore:  I was originally going to put Alvin Robertson about here on the list but upon coming across his legal issues post playing days, I decided not to go there.  Johnny Moore gets the nod over Avery Johnson for this slot.  Moore put up huge assists totals during his heyday with the Spurs.  From 1981-82 thru the 1985-86 seasons, Johnny averaged between 9 and 10 assists.  His 9.6 assist per game led the NBA in 1981-82 season.  Moore could also score a little bit, averaging 9.4 ppg for his 9 seasons with the Spurs.  He averaged closer to 12 ppg during his prime.  Johnny also averaged 2 steals a game with the Spurs.

7.  Sean Elliott: Sean spent a good part of his career as a sidekick to David Robinson on some good, but not great Spurs teams.  All total, Sean spent 11 seasons with the Spurs, encompassing two tours of duty with the franchise.   He averaged 14.4 ppg with the team, but at his peak he was good for 18-20 ppg.  Elliott was a three point threat, hitting nearly 38% of his threes.  His overall shooting percentage was 46.6% and he hit nearly 80% of his free throws.  Sean was a two time all star with the Spurs.

6. Kawhi Leonard:  Kawhi might have been a little higher up on the list if his exit had been a little smoother.  In the years before the 2017-18 season Leonard was one of the best players in the NBA.  His ppg for his seven seasons in San Antonio was 16.3.  He maxed out during the 2016-17 season when he averaged 25.5 ppg.  He finished second in league MVP voting that campaign.  Kawhi finished in the top 10 of the NBA’s defensive rating four times, leading the league in the 2014-15 season.  Leonard was a two time all star with the Spurs whose story in San Antonio had a bizarre ending.

5. Manu Ginobili:  Manu looked like the old guy in a rec league who schools you when the game starts.  Ginobili spent 16 seasons with the Spurs and was on four championship teams.  Manu hit   44.7 % of his shots and was a three point threat.  His assists total was a healthy 3.8 and he also averaged 1.3 steals.  Manu also upped his game during the playoffs.  He was also one of the more interesting players to watch.

4. Tony Parker:  Parker’s resume for this list includes 17 years as a Spur and being a key member of four championship teams.  Parker scored at a 15.8 ppg clip while doling out 5.7 assists.  Tony bumped up his scoring to nearly 18 ppg during the playoffs.  Parker was a six time all star and the 2007 NBA Finals MVP.  Like the Spurs in general during his time with the team, Tony was dependable and a winner.

3. George Gervin: Unlike the top two guys on this list, George wasn’t on any championship teams and wasn’t a defender of note.  He was however, one of the best scorers the NBA has ever seen, and one of the most fun guys to watch ever.  George was a master of the finger roll and could score in a remarkable number of ways.  George led the NBA in scoring four times. His high water mark was the 1979-80 season when he scored 33.1ppg.  Gervin was a 9 times NBA all star and also a 3 time ABA all star.  The Iceman also had one of the coolest nicknames in NBA history, as well as some of the coolest moves.

2. David Robinson:  David played 14 seasons for the Spurs in his hall of fame career and played in 10 all star games.  In many ways Robinson was like a left-handed version of Tim Duncan.  Robinson was an excellent defensive player.  David was in the top 10 in defensive win shares 12 times.  David was the NBA’s MVP for the 1994/95 season.  For his career, The Admiral averaged 3.0 blocks per game.  He maxed out in that category with 4.5 BPG during the 1994-95 season, leading the NBA.  Robinson also averaged 1.4 steals in his career.  His primary stat line was 21.1 ppg, 10.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists.  Robinson was an athletic big man, who along with Tim Duncan formed the foundation of the first two Spurs NBA championships.

1. Tim Duncan:  Duncan played an amazing 19 seasons in the NBA.  Tim was one of the most fundamentally sound players in the league and was also remarkably low key for a superstar.  For his career, Duncan averaged 19 ppg, 10.8 rebounds and 3 assists.   He elevated those number a little bit in the playoffs.  He was also a great defender.  He led the NBA in defensive win shares 5 times. For his career he also averaged 2.2 blocks per game.  He finished in the top 10 in that category 15 times.  .  Duncan was a 15 time all star and a two time MVP.  He did it all without a remarkable amount of flair or fanfare.  He just produced.  I know I’m an old guy, but I really like that in a player.