| 25 October 2010
Not really a franchise I hold any love for. I find their style of play uninspiring, current head coach Gregg Popovich definitely isn't a "friend of the Lakers", and they've had several players whose style of play is - at the very least - borderline illegal.That said, there's no denying the impact that they've had, nor the success they've enjoyed. And I do know several Spurs fans who are the paragon of class. So it's an even break in my book.
So now to their top 5 players of all time:
5. Avery Johnson - Best point guard for the Spurs, and it's emotional leader/floor general during their first title run. All-time leader in assists, top ten in points/steals too. Can't be overstated how important his presence was in that first title run.
4. Sean Michael Elliott - Who could forget the "Memorial Day Miracle"?
A crowd favourite, and one of the most amazing comebacks in NBA history - coming back from kidney disease to return to the Spurs. A vital cog in the Spurs machine that won the '99 Title, Elliott is also the all time leader for San Antonio in 3s hit. Is also in the top ten for seven other categories for SA.
3. David Maurice Robinson - The Admiral. A defensive monster who could also score, Robinson was a beast throughout his NBA career. However... a great player, but even tho' he won an MVP in '95, it wasn't really until he became half of the vaunted Twin Towers front-court that he got his first - ring... and another in 2003.
2. George Gervin - 7 times an All NBA player. 12 times an All Star (3 ABA, 9 NBA). The Iceman was San Antonio's first true superstar. Fluid in motion, with devastating moves, Gervin always seemed to find enough space to complete his signature finger roll. Still leads the Spurs scoring table, and in his day was one of the most exciting players in the game.
1. Timothy Theodore Duncan - It's said that some dogs grow to look like their owners... the Spurs have certainly grown to look like their greatest ever player. All business, getting the job done with the minimum of fuss or excitement. That's San Antonio. That's Tim Duncan.
Whether you consider him a power forward, or a center, it's irrelevant. History will remember Duncan as one of the greatest bigs ever.
Check out Bloguin NBA's thought process in the Top Ten Spurs of all time...
Up next: Toronto's Raptors!
