Spot Number 10 - Top 50 Spurs

[DynastyBuilder]

Of course Bruce doesn't have a retired jersey. I wasn't implying he did because he is active. The point I'm making is you guys put so much weight on a retired jersey it should count over those who do not, active or inactive.

[DynastyBuilder]

No. Seven All-Defensive teams. Five consecutive first team appearances. Multiple times running up for DPOY. Most consistent three-point shooter in Spurs playoff history. Fourth best player in three championships. Went five years without missing a game.

He has both the awards and the intangibles to be ranked as the 10th best. Easily.

If he was a first team offensive player five straight years, he'd probably be considered the second best player on the team. But because it's defense, he is overlooked ... even though everything about the Spurs winning is predicated on their defense.

And thats fine. You have your opinion, I have mine. Thats what makes it so great

[timvp]

I officially put my vote in for Bowen.

#11 will be very interesting. Even considering Kenon's gaudy stats and other players who had very good seasons like Alvin Robertson and Artis Gilmore ... I'm leaning heavily towards Avery Johnson at 11. His intangibles are off the charts in helping ins ute what we know as Spurs Basketball. Not only that, he was the emotional leader for the group that won the '99 championship and while his stats aren't great, they stack up well enough historically.

Avery Johnson for #11.

[baseline bum]

My 11-15 would be

11. Special K
12. Alvin
13. Artis
14. Mitc
15. AJ

Maybe AJ @ 14, Mike @ 15... not sure on that one yet

[Spurtacus]

Bruce for the 3rd consecutive time...

[Dex]

Bruce Bowen, no doubt about it. I have no qualms with anybody on this list before him, but Bruce definitely deserves this last spot to round out the Top 10.

Larry Kenon might have been a stat-filler during his time here, but San Antonio was just a blip on his career, not a definition. Derek Anderson and Dominique Wilkins came here and put up decent stats for a while, too...but you'll be hard pressed to see them on this list. I'm not saying Kenon won't be Top 20...but I can't imagine him sitting ahead of Bruce, not to mention a few others.

Bruce Bowen is such an underrated and integral part of the San Antonio Spurs success that I don't believe he will be truly appreciated until he is gone and his jersey is being retired to the rafters. Much like his good friend Sean Elliott, Bowen could very well ending up as one of those faces that defines San Antonio.

As for his contributions on the court, it is more to his credit that he has been such a huge gear of this team without being able to contribute more offensively. We're talking about a guy who is willing to put all of his energy into the defensive end and dirty work. A guy who was a virtual Iron Man of the basketball court and has been out there to set the tone for the team, night in and night out, year after year. Not to mention a guy who has made an offensive living out of ONE SIGNATURE SHOT. I am still completely dumbfounded when I see a team give him the sideline three.

Without Bruce, the Spurs don't solve the riddle of Kobe and the Lakers.

Without Bruce, the Spurs don't witness Lebron James turn in one of the most lackluster Finals performances ever.

Without Bruce, the Spurs don't turn Ray Allen into a sandy vagina and don't see Billups saving shot get stuffed and don't perennially transform Shawn Marion into a playoff Houdini act.

Bruce is probably just as important to this team as the Big Three have been for three of the four Championships. The only reason it's not considered a Big Four is because of his offensive deficiencies but when it really comes down to it, there's only so many shots to go around. If you look at the Starting Lineup of our last three championship teams, the only rotational piece is the center, and that is a puzzle that the Spurs are still struggling to solve.

Bowen exemplifies the Stonecutter at ude by showing up every day and playing hard every minute, and he deserves the 10 spot more than any other Spur that is still remaining.

[ShoogarBear]

If you want to talk about best player, then 11 would be Kenon or Robertson.

If you want player with the biggest legacy, then it would be AJ.

[exstatic]

Of course Bruce doesn't have a retired jersey. I wasn't implying he did because he is active. The point I'm making is you guys put so much weight on a retired jersey it should count over those who do not, active or inactive.

Everyone active "does not", so just start your list with those retired jerseys on top of everyone, including Tim, who "does not".

[DynastyBuilder]

I'm fine with grandfathering the retired jersey guys automatically in the top 10. I wasn't throwing around the weight of having a retired jersey, I was pointing out that this has hurt other players. But since obviously the jerseys do carry weight then that should be recognized. Just my opinion.

[exstatic]

I'm fine with grandfathering the retired jersey guys automatically in the top 10. I wasn't throwing around the weight of having a retired jersey, I was pointing out that this has hurt other players. But since obviously the jerseys do carry weight then that should be recognized. Just my opinion.

I think it should be weighed for two players who are both no longer active, but thrown out the window for any active players, since they can't, by definition, have their jerseys retired.

[whottt]

What's with all these asshats voting for Vinny D?

[Brutalis]

What's with all these asshats voting for Vinny D?

It's a white thing!