The financial difficulties were largely caused by the ownership group's refusal to invest much money on the team. On the final day of the season, Thompson took the lead by scoring 73 points in an afternoon game against the Detroit Pistons. The San Antonio Spurs became the first defending champions since the 2011–12 Dallas Mavericks to be eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Drossos, Schaefer and McCombs knew a runaway hit when they saw it. The team was just as dominant in the playoffs, rolling through the Western Conference with a record of 11–1. Without Robinson and Elliott, the Spurs were a rudderless team. His coaching propelled the team to a 39–22 finish over the rest of the regular season, and the team reached the Western Conference semi-finals. [70] After defeating the Grizzlies and the Rockets in the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Spurs—who suffered injuries to Leonard, Parker, and David Lee—were swept by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. The Spurs reached the Western Conference Finals, but lost to the eventual NBA Champion Houston Rockets. On March 11, 2020, the NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.
After Rex Hughes filled the coaching shoes for one game, NBA veteran John Lucas was named head coach. [citation needed], Even though playoff success would elude the team before the merger, the Spurs had suddenly found themselves among the best teams in the ABA. The Spurs clinched the playoffs for a 16th consecutive season, as well as extended the NBA record with 50+ games for 14 consecutive seasons. Since 2003, the team has been forced into an extended road trip for much of February since the AT&T Center hosts the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo during that month. In the week following the trade deadline, the Spurs also signed forward Boris Diaw after his contract was bought out by the Charlotte Bobcats, and former Portland Trail Blazers guard Patrick Mills who played for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the CBA during the lockout. This saw him lead the league in scoring four times, including putting up 33.1 points per game in the 1979-80 season. After their disappointing second round collapse, the Spurs looked to regain the NBA crown. [14] In the 2018–19 season, the Spurs matched an NBA record for most consecutive playoff appearances with 22. Meanwhile, backup point guard Speedy Claxton left for the Golden State Warriors, and Stephen Jackson left for the Atlanta Hawks. [67] During the playoffs they swept the shorthanded Memphis Grizzles in the first round before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 6 games in the second round.
Those who said the second-round series against the Suns was the true NBA Finals would be proven right, as the Spurs easily dispatched the Utah Jazz in five games to reach the NBA Finals.
[85] On July 6, 2018, Tony Parker signed with the Charlotte Hornets after having played his entire 17-year career with the Spurs. In the playoffs, the team was defeated by the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the first round. Kawhi Leonard had a breakout performance and was named NBA Finals MVP for his big game performance and is the third youngest to win it, behind Magic Johnson and teammate Duncan. He started at point guard for most of these seasons, averaging 9.4 points and 7.4 assists. This is informally known as the "Rodeo Road Trip". The Spurs won the series 4–2, giving them their second NBA Championship in franchise history. The early Spurs were led by ABA veteran James Silas, and the team grew stronger by acquiring Swen Nater (who would go on to win the Rookie of the Year award) and George Gervin from the Virginia Squires in January. Coming off their second NBA Championship, the retirement of David Robinson left a void in San Antonio's daunting defense, while playoff hero Steve Kerr and veteran forward Danny Ferry also retired. It was Lucas' first NBA coaching assignment, although he had gained recognition in league circles for his success in helping NBA players rehab from drug abuse. Duncan quickly emerged as a dominant force in the NBA during the 1997–98 season, averaging 21.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game as a power forward. [76], The Spurs' 2017–18 season was overshadowed by an injury to star Kawhi Leonard and reports of ensuing disputes between Leonard and the Spurs regarding the handling of that injury. The uniforms are worn for select home games. We'll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, or the like.