Top 30 NBA Spurs (Updated every Sunday)

[Solid D]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...s.2c2db9d.html

The Top 30 NBA Spurs: Stephen Jackson, Willie Anderson

Web Posted: 11/04/2006 09:23 PM CST

San Antonio Express-News

Thirty years ago the Spurs played their first season in the NBA after being one of four teams from the American Basketball Association to join the older league. To commemorate this anniversary, on Sundays the Express-News will recognize our selections as the 30 greatest NBA Spurs. Here are Nos. 29 and 30:

30. Stephen Jackson, 2001-03: Though he played only two seasons with the Spurs, a total of 103 regular-season games, it was Jackson's outstanding play during the team's NBA championship run in 2003 that earned him a spot on this list. The ultra-compe ive Jackson, a 6-foot-8 shooting guard, averaged 12.8 points in 24 playoff games during that le run. It was his willingness to take — and make — big shots in big games that most endeared him to Spurs fans and coaches alike. During the 2002-03 season, he averaged 11.8 points and 3.6 rebounds.

29. Willie Anderson, 1988-95: Anderson played seven seasons with the Spurs and averaged 13.2 points and 4.0 rebounds in 451 games. He made an immediate impact after the Spurs made him their No. 1 draft pick in 1988, leading the team in scoring during his rookie season, 1988-89, with an average of 18.6 points per game. He also led the Spurs in scoring in 10 playoff games that season, averaging 20.5 points. The 6-foot-7 shooting guard from the University of Georgia ranks 10th on the Spurs' list of NBA games played.

- Mike Monroe

[Solid D]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/c...s.299aa24.html

The Top 30 NBA Spurs: 28 Dave Corzine, 27 Coby Dietrick

Web Posted: 11/12/2006 02:04 AM CST

San Antonio Express-News

Thirty years ago the Spurs played their first NBA season after being one of four teams from the American Basketball Association to join the older league. To commemorate this anniversary, on Sundays the Express-News will recognize our selections as the 30 greatest NBA Spurs. Here are Nos. 28 and 27:

28. Dave Corzine, 1980-82: A 6-foot-11 center from DePaul, Corzine led the Spurs in rebounding in the two seasons he played for the club before he was included in a trade that brought Artis Gilmore to San Antonio. On teams built around George Gervin's scoring, Corzine averaged 10.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in 1980-81 and 10.1 points and 7.7 rebounds in 1981-82, starting all 82 games both seasons. He elevated his performance in the postseason, too, especially in the 1982 playoffs, when he averaged 13.6 points and 9.4 rebounds as the Spurs advanced to the Western Conference semifinals.

27. Coby Dietrick, 1976-1983: Dietrick was one of the players who helped the Spurs make the transition from the ABA to the NBA. After playing the final three ABA seasons with the Spurs, he played all 82 games in the first NBA season. He also was a solid contributor on the 1977-78 team that came within one game of making it to the NBA Finals. A 6-foot-11 center, he averaged 4.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in the infamous "Fat Lady" series with Washington. Popular in the community, Dietrick was the color commentator on Spurs broadcasts for a number of years after his playing career ended.

[pichichi63]

My predictions

3. Beno Udrih
2. Nick "the quick"
1. Rasho. Nobody forgot him!!!!!

[Solid D]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...s.29515b6.html

The Top 30 NBA Spurs: 26. Chuck Person; 25. Mike Gale

Web Posted: 11/18/2006 08:33 PM CST


San Antonio Express-News

Thirty years ago the Spurs played their first NBA season after being one of four teams from the American Basketball Association to join the older league. To commemorate this anniversary, on Sundays the Express-News will recognize our selections as the 30 greatest NBA Spurs. Here are Nos. 26 and 25:

26. Chuck Person, 1995-98: "The Rifleman" was a key contributor off the bench on the Spurs' back-to-back division champions in 1995 and 1996, including the 1994-95 team that established a club record for victories (since eclipsed) with 62. One of the most feared 3-point shooters in league history, Person led the team in 3-pointers made in both those seasons, hitting 172 in 1994-95, 190 in 1995-96. He made the 1,000th 3-pointer of his career in a March 14, 1996 game against the Heat. He also was part of a trade in 1999 that brought Steve Kerr, higher on our list of Top 30 NBA Spurs.

25. Mike Gale, 1976-81: With James Silas battling injuries when the Spurs entered the NBA in 1976, Gale assumed a key role as an outstanding point guard and led the club in assists in its first three NBA seasons and was eighth in the league, at 5.8 per game, in 1976-77. An outstanding defender and free-throw shooter, he also led the club in steals for three seasons. He was fourth in the league in 1977-78, with 2.27 per game. He ranks sixth on the all-time Spurs steals list (680) and 10th on the all-time assists list (1,634). He is fifth on the all-time free throw percentage list (82.7 percent).

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Thanks for posting these Solid D. They are interesting, especially for us "world fans". Cheers.

I remember Willie and Chuck, but guys like Gale and Dietrick and Corzine were before my time. Always good to learn a little history.

I hope The Big Dog makes the list!

[SenorSpur]

Goo stuff, Solid D.

Can't wait to see the remaining list. Thanks for posting. Keep'em coming.

[Zunni]

Let's cut to the chase. As of the date of this article:
5. Tony Parker
4. Sean Elliott
3. Manu Ginobili
2. David Robinson
1. Tim Duncan

By the time his career is done, Parker would probably rank #3. He's 24, durable, never playing less than 75 games, and is just now coming into his own. I think he has 10 years of good basketball left, and that his scoring will edge up for the next five, and then drift downward, probably averaging out at about 19 ppg. That would put him in the vicinity of 20,000 points.

Oh, and if you think I forgot him

6. George Gervin

Amazing scorer, but suffered from Barkely-Ewing-Malone syndrome...no ring. Only Sean in my top five doesn't have multiple rings.

[spurtime]

I think George Gervin is at least #3, pushing for #2.

[FromWayDowntown]

Let's cut to the chase. As of this article:
5. Tony Parker
4. Sean Elliott
3. Manu Ginobili
2. David Robinson
1. Tim Duncan

duplicate post -- spurtime posted while I was writing.

There's absolutely no way that George Gervin isn't in the top 3 in the history of this franchise.

[spurtime]

duplicate post -- spurtime posted while I was writing.

There's absolutely no way that George Gervin isn't in the top 3 in the history of this franchise.

I had the DRob vs. Gervin discussion on another board. Which one do you think is #2 and which is #3 and why?

[V Man]

Let's cut to the chase. As of the date of this article:
5. Tony Parker
4. Sean Elliott
3. Manu Ginobili
2. David Robinson
1. Tim Duncan

By the time his career is done, Parker would probably rank #3. He's 24, durable, never playing less than 75 games, and is just now coming into his own. I think he has 10 years of good basketball left, and that his scoring will edge up for the next five, and then drift downward, probably averaging out at about 19 ppg. That would put him in the vicinity of 20,000 points.

Oh, and if you think I forgot him

6. George Gervin

Amazing scorer, but suffered from Barkely-Ewing-Malone syndrome...no ring. Only Sean in my top five doesn't have multiple rings.

Several have already said this, and I echo it. Gervin is top 3 period. And as for Parker he is not top five (not mentioning James Silas, Avery Johnson, Mike Mitc , and A-train, he may not be top ten (hasn't played enough)). He may have 2 rings, but that is in despite of his play in the finals. His first, Speedy played the critical minutes in the four quarter not him. And his second ring, he disappeared after game 1, and Manu and Tim (with help from Horry) carried the team to the championship.

[spurtime]

26,595 career points. I don't see how you can put Sean, TP, and Manu in his realm.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...gervige01.html

[FromWayDowntown]

Oh, and if you think I forgot him

6. George Gervin

Nice late edit after being called out for omitting Gervin from your list altogether.

Amazing scorer, but suffered from Barkely-Ewing-Malone syndrome...no ring. Only Sean in my top five doesn't have multiple rings.

George Gervin is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Sean Elliott will not be; and in the moment, neither will Tony Parker. Manu Ginobili might reach the Hall of Fame, but not based solely on his accomplishments with the Spurs. That alone says to me that your opinion is largely indefensible.

But you rely on rings and mulitiple rings. Well, let's examine some facts: I am as big a Sean Elliott fan as you'll ever meet, but even I know that Sean had the exceedingly good fortune to be a contemporary of David Robinson and Tim Duncan, a fact that put him in a position to make a difference in the Spurs first le run. The same is true of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Had the Spurs not had David Robinson and/or Tim Duncan, I'm not sure that Sean Elliott, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili would have any rings as Spurs.

By contrast, George Gervin was the undisputed superstar of a Spurs team that reached 5 conference finals between 1979 and 1983. That those Spurs teams couldn't overcome the Magic-Kareem-Worthy Lakers in 1982 and 1983 and lost their first conference final in a tough 7-game series against Washington in 1979 doesn't diminish how great Gervin was.

And he was truly, truly exceptional -- better than all but perhaps 2 Spurs ever.

[spurtime]

Nice late edit after being called out for omitting Gervin from your list altogether.

I noticed the same thing...lol.

[polandprzem]

Who is George Gervin?

[Texas_Ranger]

Thanks for posting Solid D.

I think it will be like that:
1.Tim Duncan
2.David Robinson
3.George Gervin
4.Sean Elliott
5.Manu Ginobili
6.Tony Parker

[polandprzem]

Thanks for posting Solid D.

I think it will be like that:
1.Tim Duncan
2.David Robinson
3.George Gervin
4.Sean Elliott
5.Manu Ginobili
6.Tony Parker

No surprise

I wonder where Artis will be on that list.
His best days were in ABA ...

[spurtime]

1. Tim Duncan
2a. George Gervin
2b. DRob
4. Sean Elliott
5. Mike Mitc
6. Johnny Moore
7. James Silas
8. Manu
9. TP
10. Larry Kenon

[samikeyp]

I think George Gervin is at least #3, pushing for #2.

I would agree. I think it will be:

3. Ice
2. DRob
1. Tim

Honestly as long as they are in the top 3....I don't care about the order.

Who is George Gervin?

The face of the franchise prior to 1989 and, oh yeah, a hall of famer.

Google the name.

[boutons_]

"And his second ring, he disappeared after game 1, and Manu and Tim (with help from Horry) carried the team to the championship."

In 05 Finals, Tony was about the only Spur who showed up in blowout games 3 and 4.

Tony also played the stopper defense on Flip's last second shot to preserve Rob's heroics.

[polandprzem]

The face of the franchise prior to 1989 and, oh yeah, a hall of famer.

Google the name.

[v2freak]

Just goes to show how the Spurs have picked up a lot of fans semi-recently.

[Zunni]

Just goes to show how the Spurs have picked up a lot of fans semi-recently.

I've seen games in Hemisfair, although not Gervin games. Hey make your own lists, as I see some of you have. I admitted Gervin's prolific scoring, but that was also another era, a much higher scoring one. Gervin was also (self-admittedly) a one way player, much like Steve Nash is today, and I HATE the fact that Nash won one MVP, let alone B2B. I'm also not going to penalize players like Manu, Tony, and Sean for being second, or even third bananas on deep championship teams. If SJax can make the top 30 for 100 games and one playoff run, I can put Manu, Tony, and Sean in the top 5. Don't get your panties in a wad. I'm sure the E-N will have Gervin #3.

[baseline bum]

No way any of those guys is ahead of Stephen Jackson. Jack played like an all-star in that Phoenix series, and was the catalyst behind the two monster comebacks to win the WCF and then the NBA Finals. Jack was so good in pressure situations that I was shocked when he missed the gamewinner in game 2 of the 2003 Finals. Anyone remember the gamewinner he hit to protect the Spurs win streak over Boston? Or how about the three at the buzzer to send it to OT vs Minnesota, the night after the Spurs had just gone into Dallas and beaten them in OT? After the years of Steve Smith, Danny Ferry, Vinny Del Negro, and so on botching this team's postseason three-point shooting, it was awesome to have a guy who lived for hitting the big shot.

[Zunni]

1. Tim Duncan
2a. George Gervin
2b. DRob
4. Sean Elliott
5. Mike Mitc
6. Johnny Moore
7. James Silas
8. Manu
9. TP
10. Larry Kenon

People are going to pick at you for not having AJ on the list, but I respect the inclusion of Kenon, who is probably the best Spur most people don't know about. Si was pretty broken by injuries by the time the NBA became a San Antonio fact, which is why many people will flip him out and AJ in to the top 10.

Good list. Not what I would do, but then it's your list.