The team was initially given the nickname Gunslingers but this was changed to Spurs before they started playing at San Antonio. As the Chaparrals, their team colors were red, blue and white. They changed their colors to black and silver. The Spurs played their home games at the HemisFair Arena and drew huge crowds. The ABA folded in 1976 and the San Antonio Spurs were admitted into the NBA along with three other ABA teams.

The Spurs In The NBA

In their first seven years, the Spurs went on to win five division titles. But they could never make it beyond the playoffs, falling to great teams like the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets. The main star player of the Spurs from 1973 was George Gervin. He was traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1984 and the Spurs went downhill for a while after that.

In 1989, David Robinson started playing for the Spurs and he won the Rookie of the Year. This year heralded the beginning of a new life for the Spurs. In 1992, John Lucas was hired as head coach. Under him, the Spurs went on to reach the Western Conference semi-finals, but lost to the Phoenix Suns. The next season, they moved to their new home arena the Alamodome. They made the playoffs but lost in the first round. Lucas was fired after that.

In 1997, the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan who along with Robinson would change the teams’ fortunes. Their first NBA Championship came in 1999. They defeated the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Duncan was named the Most Valuable Player of the Finals. With this win, the Spurs earned the distinction of being the first former ABA team to appear in the NBA Finals and to win the NBA Championship. The next three years, they were unable to make it beyond the playoffs.

In 2002, the Spurs moved to their new arena, the SBC Center. Robinson also announced he would be retiring from the NBA after that season. They advanced to the NBA Finals and defeated the New Jersey Nets to win their second NBA Championship. Their third NBA Championship came in 2005 when they defeated the Detroit Pistons who were the defending champions. The Spurs are the current NBA Champions after they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this year.

The current team consists of players like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Bruce Bowen.