San Antonio Spurs

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Lore & Background

The Spurs began as the Dallas Chaparrals in the inaugural 1967-68 ABA season. Financial struggles and poor attendance led to a name change to Texas Chaparrals, which also failed, forcing a return to Dallas before a move to San Antonio in 1973. A group of 35 businessmen led by Angelo Drossos, John Schaefer, and Red McCombs secured the team via a lend-lease deal. Before playing a single game as the Spurs, they were briefly named the Gunslingers. The team adopted black, silver, and white branding for the 1973-74 season. George Gervin joined in January 1974 after a judge ruled against the ABA's attempt to block his acquisition from the Virginia Squires; he debuted on February 7, 1974.

In Their Own Story

In the 1977-78 season, George Gervin engaged in a legendary scoring duel with David Thompson. On the final day, Thompson scored 73 points for the Nuggets in an afternoon game. That night, Gervin needed 58 points against the Jazz to win the title. He scored 20 in the first quarter and set a single-period record with 33 points in the second, eventually reaching 63 points to claim the scoring crown. The Spurs finished 52-30, winning the Central Division. The team's success continued through the decades, setting an NBA record of 18 consecutive 50-win seasons from 1999-2000 to 2016-17. They also matched a record with 22 consecutive playoff appearances by the 2018-19 season. Their championships arrived in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note that since 2003, the Spurs have faced an extended road trip every February because Frost Bank Center hosts the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. This is known as the "Rodeo Road Trip." During these periods, the team has historically performed well on the road, holding an NBA-record longest single road-trip winning streak of eight games out of nine in 2003. When the Spurs win a title, victory parades are held as boat trips on the San Antonio River Walk. The franchise also holds attendance records from their time at the Alamodome, including the largest crowd ever for an NBA Finals game in 1999. Former players like David Robinson and George Gervin remain active in the community through initiatives like Carver Academy and the George Gervin Youth Center.

Did You Know?

• The Spurs are the only former ABA team to have won multiple NBA championships.
• From 1999-2000 to 2016-17, the Spurs won 50 games each season for 18 consecutive years.
• The team was briefly renamed the San Antonio Gunslingers before playing a game under that name.
• In 2014, the owners of the Spirits of St. Louis received $500 million to end perpetual television profit payments from the NBA.