When Was the Last Time Spurs had Two Rookies Wih Such Potential?

[BillMc]

Murray and Bertans. I am trying to think of the last time we had two rookies on the squad with so much potential? Tiago and Neal,are the last pair of rookies that both went on to have some impact. Sean and Drob were rookies at the same time. Hard to beat that. . I can't remember any other impactful rookies during Tony and Manu's maiden voyages. I guess Simmons and Boban both have potential too, but I think M and B have higher ceilings.

Yeah, it's early, but we're talking about potential not final results. What other major pairings were there?

[SAGirl]

I don't go that way back. I agree both Simmons and Boban coming in were exciting, but both much older thus the period or room for continued improvement was smaller in comparison. I have a soft spot for Boban, he truly made all garbage time enjoyable... I think Spurs wanted to reup him, they were just unable to. (and I think the same will happen with some guys next offseason, it's just tough to say who will be the one that will be signing elsewhere).

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Kawhi and CoJo?
CoJo wasn't that exciting or looked like much, but anyone paired with Kawhi for anything gets a huge boost.

[TXstbobcat]

David Robinson and Sean Elliott were both rookies in the same season. Their potential worked out pretty good for the Spurs.

Really hoping that Murray and Bertrans leads the Spurs to a successful future.

[TXstbobcat]

This was way before my time but what about Johnny Dawkins and Kevin Duckworth (even though Duckworth was traded to Portland during his rookie year). Had to have been a lot of potential with those two guys. Some of the older Spurs fans would know more about their expected potential at that time.

[ceperez]

David Robinson and Sean Elliott were both rookies in the same season. Their potential worked out pretty good for the Spurs.

Really hoping that Murray and Bertrans leads the Spurs to a successful future.

It's been a very long time where two different rookies have scored at least 20 points in a game.

[FromWayDowntown]

In the realm of the Spurs, it would be difficult for any rookie group to surpass 1989-90 -- David Robinson and Sean Elliott (and Zarko Paspalj!)

[FromWayDowntown]

Kawhi and CoJo?
CoJo wasn't that exciting or looked like much, but anyone paired with Kawhi for anything gets a huge boost.

Kawhi and CoJo will end up looking pretty good, just because Cory's played fairly well for good teams in Toronto. Seemed like many fans thought Cory was a bust during that season, while Pop was moving Jefferson to make minutes available for Kawhi on a team that had real le aspirations.

[TheDoctor]

Murray and Bertans. I am trying to think of the last time we had two rookies on the squad with so much potential? Tiago and Neal,are the last pair of rookies that both went on to have some impact. Sean and Drob were rookies at the same time. Hard to beat that. . I can't remember any other impactful rookies during Tony and Manu's maiden voyages. I guess Simmons and Boban both have potential too, but I think M and B have higher ceilings.

Yeah, it's early, but we're talking about potential not final results. What other major pairings were there?

Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joseph were the last pair of rookies who went on to have "some" impact on and outside the team. Both are NBA Champions and one of them Finals MVP.

[Bender]

what is Bertans' contract? Will he be gone afterwards?

seems like he rots on the bench if the rest of the team is healthy.

I'm a fan, just doesn't seem like pop plays him much if the whole team is healthy.

[TXstbobcat]

what is Bertans' contract? Will he be gone afterwards?

seems like he rots on the bench if the rest of the team is healthy.

I'm a fan, just doesn't seem like pop plays him much if the whole team is healthy.

Bertrans is signed through next season and will be a restricted free agent when his contract expires.

[BillMc]

Kawhi and CoJo will end up looking pretty good, just because Cory's played fairly well for good teams in Toronto. Seemed like many fans thought Cory was a bust during that season, while Pop was moving Jefferson to make minutes available for Kawhi on a team that had real le aspirations.

Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joseph were the last pair of rookies who went on to have "some" impact on and outside the team. Both are NBA Champions and one of them Finals MVP.

Yeah, frankly I forgot completely about Cojo being the same year as Kawhi

[Maddog]

When was the last time the Spurs had an all star starter less than 30 years old?!!!

[Drom John]

In order of WS of the lesser player:

1967-68 John Beasley, Cincinnatus Powell
1968-69 Ron Boone, Glen Combs
1989-90 David Robinson, Sean Elliott
1973-74 Swen Nater, George Karl
1980-81 Johnny Moore, Reggie Johnson
2010-11 Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter
1971-72 Goo Kennedy, Collis Jones
1986-87 Walter Berry, Johnny Dawkins
2015-16 Boban Marjanovic, Jonathon Simmons
1984-85 Alvin Robertson, Ozell Jones
1975-76 Mark Olberding, Henry Ward
1983-84 Fred Roberts, John Paxson
1981-82 Gene Banks, Ed Rains
1988-89 Willie Anderson, Anthony Bowie
1992-93 Lloyd Daniels, Sam Mack
2009-10 DeJuan Blair, Garrett Temple
1969-70 Tom Hagan, Rich Jones
2016-17 Davis Bertans, Dejounte Murray

Another 4 games like the last four and Murray moves into a tie with Bowie. (Murray had a negative WS before the Nuggets game.)

[BillMc]

In order of WS of the lesser player:

1967-68 John Beasley, Cincinnatus Powell
1968-69 Ron Boone, Glen Combs
1989-90 David Robinson, Sean Elliott
1973-74 Swen Nater, George Karl
1980-81 Johnny Moore, Reggie Johnson
2010-11 Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter
1971-72 Goo Kennedy, Collis Jones
1986-87 Walter Berry, Johnny Dawkins
2015-16 Boban Marjanovic, Jonathon Simmons
1984-85 Alvin Robertson, Ozell Jones
1975-76 Mark Olberding, Henry Ward
1983-84 Fred Roberts, John Paxson
1981-82 Gene Banks, Ed Rains
1988-89 Willie Anderson, Anthony Bowie
1992-93 Lloyd Daniels, Sam Mack
2009-10 DeJuan Blair, Garrett Temple
1969-70 Tom Hagan, Rich Jones
2016-17 Davis Bertans, Dejounte Murray

Another 4 games like the last four and Murray moves into a tie with Bowie. (Murray had a negative WS before the Nuggets game.)

Man, that's some serious research you did. Many thanks.

But Kawhi and CoJo don't make the list?

[FromWayDowntown]

In order of WS of the lesser player:

1967-68 John Beasley, Cincinnatus Powell
1968-69 Ron Boone, Glen Combs
1989-90 David Robinson, Sean Elliott
1973-74 Swen Nater, George Karl
1980-81 Johnny Moore, Reggie Johnson
2010-11 Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter
1971-72 Goo Kennedy, Collis Jones
1986-87 Walter Berry, Johnny Dawkins
2015-16 Boban Marjanovic, Jonathon Simmons
1984-85 Alvin Robertson, Ozell Jones
1975-76 Mark Olberding, Henry Ward
1983-84 Fred Roberts, John Paxson
1981-82 Gene Banks, Ed Rains
1988-89 Willie Anderson, Anthony Bowie
1992-93 Lloyd Daniels, Sam Mack
2009-10 DeJuan Blair, Garrett Temple
1969-70 Tom Hagan, Rich Jones
2016-17 Davis Bertans, Dejounte Murray

Another 4 games like the last four and Murray moves into a tie with Bowie. (Murray had a negative WS before the Nuggets game.)

Technically, Manu's rookie year was also Devin Brown's rookie year, though Devin barely played in that season.

Also, for the old timers around here: 2006-07 - James White! (with no other rookie, just wanted to mention James White!).

[Maddog]

In order of WS of the lesser player:

1967-68 John Beasley, Cincinnatus Powell
1968-69 Ron Boone, Glen Combs
1989-90 David Robinson, Sean Elliott
1973-74 Swen Nater, George Karl
1980-81 Johnny Moore, Reggie Johnson
2010-11 Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter
1971-72 Goo Kennedy, Collis Jones
1986-87 Walter Berry, Johnny Dawkins
2015-16 Boban Marjanovic, Jonathon Simmons
1984-85 Alvin Robertson, Ozell Jones
1975-76 Mark Olberding, Henry Ward
1983-84 Fred Roberts, John Paxson
1981-82 Gene Banks, Ed Rains
1988-89 Willie Anderson, Anthony Bowie
1992-93 Lloyd Daniels, Sam Mack
2009-10 DeJuan Blair, Garrett Temple
1969-70 Tom Hagan, Rich Jones
2016-17 Davis Bertans, Dejounte Murray

Another 4 games like the last four and Murray moves into a tie with Bowie. (Murray had a negative WS before the Nuggets game.)

You can almost discount the first two. 67/68 was the first year of the ABA. You went from 10 to 22 pro teams (12 NBA teams to 10 ABA teams). Lot of playing time for rookies.

[james evans]

David Robinson and Sean Elliott were both rookies in the same season. Their potential worked out pretty good for the Spurs.

Really hoping that Murray and Bertrans leads the Spurs to a successful future.

Let's just hope these guys can get re-signed and are not allowed to walk because Buford is still giving a 42 year old Ginobli and 37 year old Parker severance packages 2 years from now along with giving a 35 year old Lebron Jaames $20 million a year.

[BillMc]

When was the last time the Spurs had an all star starter less than 30 years old?!!!

[GSH]

DRob and Sean are obviously going to be at the top of the list. People forget that Zarko Paspalj was also a rookie that season, and had a load of potential. If he hadn't had Sean in front of him at the same position, he might not have gone back to Europe so soon.

Manu and Devin Brown. That year they also drafted Scola and John Salmons. That year should probably get the award for what could have been.

Tiago and Gary Neal were a pretty good pair. I always wondered what James Anderson could have been if he hadn't gotten injured. If you're looking for "potential" at the time, I think those three should be in the race.

[Snaq O'Meal]

In order of WS of the lesser player:

1967-68 John Beasley, Cincinnatus Powell
1968-69 Ron Boone, Glen Combs
1989-90 David Robinson, Sean Elliott
1973-74 Swen Nater, George Karl
1980-81 Johnny Moore, Reggie Johnson
2010-11 Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter
1971-72 Goo Kennedy, Collis Jones
1986-87 Walter Berry, Johnny Dawkins
2015-16 Boban Marjanovic, Jonathon Simmons
1984-85 Alvin Robertson, Ozell Jones
1975-76 Mark Olberding, Henry Ward
1983-84 Fred Roberts, John Paxson
1981-82 Gene Banks, Ed Rains
1988-89 Willie Anderson, Anthony Bowie
1992-93 Lloyd Daniels, Sam Mack
2009-10 DeJuan Blair, Garrett Temple
1969-70 Tom Hagan, Rich Jones
2016-17 Davis Bertans, Dejounte Murray

Another 4 games like the last four and Murray moves into a tie with Bowie. (Murray had a negative WS before the Nuggets game.)

The best rookie duo were David and Sean, and it's not even close.

[Blake]

Manu and Devin Brown

[DarrinS]

TP and Manu were almost rookies the same year. I'll say them.

[FkLA]

When was the last time the Spurs had an all star starter less than 30 years old?!!!

Last year, tbh.

[TheDoctor]

Last year, tbh.

#Legit