History of the San Antonio Spurs

80s - Losing Dominance

The San Antonio Spurs franchise transitioned from the ABA to the NBA in 1976 keeping their star George Gervin or the “Ice Man” who was a high volume scorer who was known for finishing around the rim. In the early 80s they made noise in the West especially after acquiring another former ABA star in Artis Gilmore. After the two left the franchise, they struggled to make the playoffs consistently.

90s - The Twin Towers

In ‘87 they drafted “The Admiral” David Robinson who missed his first two seasons while out in the military. When he came back, he had one of the most impressive rookie seasons and that success carried into the 90s. He was surrounded by great role players such as forward, Sean Elliott, and point gaud, Avery Johnson. It wasn’t until they drafted another paint giant in Tim Duncan that they won their first championships. The two centers together were known as the Twin Towers.

00s - Popovich Takes Over

Gregg Popovich took over as head coach in the middle of the 1997 season were the team was struggling and he never looked back. He would win three more championships in the 2000s while creating a defensive juggernaut in the west. He got the team to buy into an unselfish, fundamental style of play that allowed all players to excel in their role. Together they beat great teams such as the Kobe-Shaq Lakers, Dirk’s Mavericks, and the hard-nosed Pistons.

10s - End of the Dynasty

The franchise would win their 5th title in 2014 as its star core of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili began to age. They developed a young superstar in Kawhi Leonard who would eventually demand a trade in 2018. The 2019 season was their first missed playoffs under a full season with Gregg Popovich.