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1976–77 San Antonio Spurs season
(lost to Celtics 0–2)
The 1976–77 San Antonio Spurs season was the Spurs first season in the NBA. Months earlier, the Spurs were part of the American Basketball Association (Six in Dallas and three in San Antonio). The ABA had ended its ninth and last campaign. Of the seven remaining ABA teams, four joined the NBA: the Denver Nuggets, New York Nets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs. The Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis agreed to take a cash settlement and cease operations. Immediately, the ABA players were dispersed across the new 22-team league. The other ABA teams from the prior season were all folded prior to the ABA–NBA merger: the Baltimore Claws, Utah Stars, San Diego Sails and Virginia Squires.
The Spurs made their debut on October 22 stunning the 76ers in Philadelphia by a score of 121–118. Afterwards, the Spurs would win just 1 of their next 7 games. In November, the Spurs would win 6 straight. By February the Spurs were 10 games over .500, and were the NBA's highest scoring team at 115 points per game. Despite the offensive flash, the Spurs also had the league's worst defense at 114 points per game as they struggled to finish in 3rd place in the Central Division with a record of 44–38. In the playoffs, the Spurs were swept in 2 straight by the defending world champion Boston Celtics.
Offseason
NBA draft
Neither the Spurs, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets or Denver Nuggets were allowed to participate in the 1976 NBA draft.
ABA Dispersal Draft
The American Basketball Association merged with the NBA in 1976. Of the teams remaining in the ABA, four joined the NBA. The two teams, the Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis, which folded had their players assigned to a dispersal draft for draft purposes.
| Pick | Player | Nationality | NBA Team | ABA Team | Purchase Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Louie Dampier (PG) | United States | San Antonio Spurs | Kentucky Colonels | $20,000 |
Roster
- Doug Moe ()
- Bob Bass ()
Regular season
Season standings
Game log
October
Record: 2–4; home: 1–1; road: 1–3
| 6 | October 30, 1976 | Boston Celtics | 126–117 | San Antonio Spurs | 2–4 |
|---|
November
Record: 9–5; home: 8–0; road: 1–5
| 20 | November 30, 1976 | Detroit Pistons | 129–130 | San Antonio Spurs | 11–9 |
|---|
December
Record: 7–7; home: 4–1; road: 3–6
| 34 | December 28, 1976 | Philadelphia 76ers | 116–127 | San Antonio Spurs | 18–16 |
|---|
Playoffs
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 12 | @ Boston | L 94–104 | Kenon, Gervin (20) | Billy Paultz (10) | Louie Dampier (5) | Boston Garden 13,505 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 15 | Boston | L 109–113 | George Gervin (30) | three players tied (7) | Mike Gale (7) | HemisFair Arena 12,067
| 0–2 |
|---|
Player statistics
Ragular season
| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF | **82** | **82** | 2,705 | 454 | 238 | 105 | 104 | **1,895** | 33.0 | 5.5 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 | **23.1** | |
| C | **82** | **82** | 2,694 | 687 | 223 | 55 | **173** | 1,280 | 32.9 | 8.4 | 2.7 | .7 | **2.1** | 15.6 | |
| SG | **82** | 2,598 | 273 | **473** | **191** | 50 | 843 | 31.7 | 3.3 | **5.8** | **2.3** | .6 | 10.3 | ||
| SF | **82** | 2,017 | 348 | 240 | 89 | 2 | 936 | 24.6 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 1.1 | .0 | 11.4 | ||
| PF | **82** | 1,949 | 449 | 119 | 59 | 29 | 853 | 23.8 | 5.5 | 1.5 | .7 | .4 | 10.4 | ||
| C | **82** | 1,772 | 372 | 148 | 88 | 57 | 689 | 21.6 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 1.1 | .7 | 8.4 | ||
| PG | 80 | 1,634 | 76 | 234 | 49 | 15 | 530 | 20.4 | 1.0 | 2.9 | .6 | .2 | 6.6 | ||
| PF | 78 | **2,936** | **879** | 229 | 167 | 60 | 1,705 | **37.6** | **11.3** | 2.9 | 2.1 | .8 | 21.9 | ||
| † | PG | 35 | 606 | 31 | 104 | 23 | 1 | 309 | 17.3 | .9 | 3.0 | .7 | .0 | 8.8 | |
| PG | 29 | 251 | 17 | 46 | 10 | 0 | 79 | 8.7 | .6 | 1.6 | .3 | .0 | 2.7 | ||
| SG | 27 | 171 | 33 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 83 | 6.3 | 1.2 | .2 | .2 | .2 | 3.1 | ||
| PG | 22 | 356 | 32 | 50 | 13 | 3 | 209 | 16.2 | 1.5 | 2.3 | .6 | .1 | 9.5 | ||
| SG | 4 | 57 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 14.3 | 1.8 | .8 | .5 | .0 | 4.5 | ||
| SG | 2 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 1.5 |
- † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Spurs only.
Playoffs
| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PF | **2** | **79** | 15 | 6 | **5** | 1 | 34 | **39.5** | 7.5 | 3.0 | **2.5** | .5 | 17.0 | ||
| C | **2** | 74 | **17** | 5 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 37.0 | **8.5** | 2.5 | 1.0 | .5 | 17.0 | ||
| SG | **2** | 67 | 10 | **10** | 4 | **2** | 22 | 33.5 | 5.0 | **5.0** | 2.0 | **1.0** | 11.0 | ||
| C | **2** | 64 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 32.0 | 4.5 | 2.5 | .5 | .0 | 13.0 | ||
| SF | **2** | 62 | 11 | 3 | 1 | **2** | **50** | 31.0 | 5.5 | 1.5 | .5 | **1.0** | **25.0** | ||
| PG | **2** | 62 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 31.0 | 1.5 | 4.5 | .5 | .5 | 6.0 | ||
| PF | **2** | 42 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 21.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .0 | .5 | 6.5 | ||
| SF | **2** | 28 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 14.0 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .0 | 4.0 | ||
| SG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 4.0 | ||
| PG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
Awards and records
- George Gervin, All-NBA Second Team
References
References
- "NBA.com: Walton, Lucas Ignite 'Blazermania'".
- [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/sanantonio/spurs.html San Antonio Spurs (1973–Present)]
- [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1977_games.html 1976–77 San Antonio Spurs Games – Basketball-Reference.com]
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