David Robinson (left) and Tim Duncan (right) also known as the “Twin Towers”, won two NBA titles together in 1999 and 2003.
The Spurs have quietly been one of the best organizations in the history of the NBA, winning five championships since 1999. What’s made them so special is their culture, which will become apparent in this article. Not only have they had numerous great players, but all of them have stayed in San Antonio throughout the entirety of their careers. That says something about the culture of this organization, and they might get back to the top of the mountain soon with Victor Wembanyama, who looks like a revolutionary player!
1. Tim Duncan – 26,496 Points
The Big Fundamental was the top pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and became one of the greatest players in NBA history. Duncan won Rookie of the Year in his first season and made an All-Star appearance in 15 of his 19 seasons. He also won MVP twice while winning five championships with the Spurs. Playing his full career with San Antonio might be his most proud achievement, and he received a Hall-of-Fame induction in 2020.
2. George Gervin – 23,602 Points
Gervin is the only player who wasn’t part of the Spurs dynasty to be on this list, dominating the league through the 70s and 80s. He was drafted into the ABA initially but made his Spurs debut in 1973. Iceman spent the next 12 seasons playing for San Antonio, making an All-Star appearance in 11 of those. He also finished Top 3 in MVP voting three times, averaging 29.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks between 1978 and 1982. He led the league in scoring four times in five years and was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame in 1996.
3. David Robinson – 27,090 Points
The Spurs made some brilliant picks in the 80s and 90s, with Robinson being the top pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. It’s rare to take a player out of Navy, but The Admiral finished his service and joined the Spurs in 1989. Being patient was one of the best decisions they could’ve made, with Robinson playing his full 14-year career in San Antonio. He won Rookie of the Year in 1989 and won MVP in 1994. What made him so scary was his defense, receiving All-Defensive Team votes in 13 seasons! He won two championships with San Antonio and is one of only four players in NBA history to record a quadruple-double.
4. Tony Parker – 18,943 Points
Parker is one of the greatest players to come out of France, taking over as the point guard during the Spurs glory days. T.P. was the 28th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft and didn’t make an All-Star appearance until his fifth season in the league. That’s when things got going, making the All-Star team in six of the next nine seasons. Parker also averaged 18.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 0.9 steals in that span. Most importantly, he won four championships with the Spurs and even took down Finals MVP in 2006. He played 17 of his 18 seasons in San Antonio, but we’ll forget that strange Charlotte signing in his final season. He was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame in 2023.
5. Manu Ginobili – 14,043 Points
Seeing a bench player on any franchise’s scoring list is truly remarkable, but that’s how good Ginobili was. Many people consider the Argentinian to be the best sixth man in the history of the NBA, winning four championships in San Antonio. He was actually taken 57th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft and is one of the only players in history who’s made an impact at such a late draft slot. He didn’t play in the first two seasons after being drafted, but Manu made his debut in 2002. Between 2004 and 2011, Ginobili averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals in the best stretch of his career. He also spent his full 16-year career with the Spurs and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.
More Spurs All-Time Leading Scorers
- James Silas (10,290 Points)
- Mike Mitchell (9,799 Points)
- Sean Elliott (9,659 Points)
