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1987–88 San Antonio Spurs season

(lost to Lakers 0–3) The 1987–88 San Antonio Spurs season was the 12th season for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association, and their 21st season as a franchise. This season was most memorable when the Spurs won the NBA draft lottery, and selected 7' 1" center David Robinson from the United States Naval Academy with the first overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft; the team also selected center Greg "Cadillac" Anderson from the University of Houston with the 23rd overall pick. However, Robinson had a two-year commitment to the U.S. Navy after graduating from the Naval Academy, and would not play for the Spurs until the 1989–90 season.

In November, the team traded second-year forward Larry Krystkowiak to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Charles Davis; Krystkowiak previous played overseas in Italy early into the regular season, and was placed on the Spurs' suspended list for violating his contract. Davis would later on be released to free agency after 16 games with the Spurs.

The Spurs got off to a 13–12 start to the regular season, but played below .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, holding an 18–23 record at the All-Star break. The team struggled in the second half of the season, losing 9 of their 13 games in February, and posting a 7-game losing streak in March. Despite finishing in fifth place in the Midwest Division with a 31–51 record, which was ten games under .500, the Spurs earned the eighth seed in the Western Conference, and qualified for the NBA playoffs.

Alvin Robertson averaged 19.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 3.0 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while second-year forward Walter Berry averaged 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, and Frank Brickowski provided the team with 16.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. In addition, second-year guard Johnny Dawkins provided with 15.8 points, 7.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while Mike Mitchell contributed 13.5 points per game, and Anderson averaged 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. Meanwhile, Dave Greenwood provided with 8.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, but only played just 45 games due to injury, Jon Sundvold contributed 8.1 points and 3.5 assists per game, Kurt Nimphius averaged 4.4 points per game, and Ed Nealy provided with 2.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, Robertson was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team, while Anderson participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Robertson also finished in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while Brickowski finished tied in sixth place in Most Improved Player voting, and Anderson finished tied in second place in Rookie of the Year voting, behind Mark Jackson of the New York Knicks.

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Spurs were swept by the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in three straight games. The Lakers would go on to defeat the Detroit Pistons in seven games in the 1988 NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive NBA championship.

Following the season, head coach Bob Weiss was fired, while Berry was traded to the New Jersey Nets, Sundvold was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Miami Heat expansion team, and Mitchell and Nealy were both released to free agency.

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
11David RobinsonCNavy
123Cadillac AndersonPF/CHouston
227Nate BlackwellGTemple
350Phil ZevenbergenCWashington
473Todd MayPikeville
596Dennis WilliamsGeorgia
6119Ricky BrownSouth Alabama
7142Raynard DavisTexas

Roster

  • Bob Weiss ()
  • Lee Rose ()

Regular season

Season standings

:z - clinched division title :y - clinched division title :x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | November 7 | Dallas | W 130–106 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 1–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | November 10, 1987 7:30 PM CST | L.A. Lakers | L 124–133 | | | | HemisFair Arena 13,751 | 1–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | November 15, 1987 9:30 PM CST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 130–147 | | | | The Forum 17,505 | 2–4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 8 | November 20 | @ Denver | L 142–156 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 3–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 9 | November 21 | Utah | W 120–119 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 4–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 12 | November 27, 1987 6:30 PM CST | @ Detroit | L 111–143 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome 30,743 | 5–7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 13 | November 28 | @ Atlanta | L 100–124 | | | | The Omni | 5–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 15 | December 5 | Chicago | W 110–101 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 7–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | December 8 | Utah | W 105–100 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 8–8 |- style="background:#cfc" | 20 | December 18 | Denver | W 133–114 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 10–20 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 26 | January 2 | Dallas | L 109–116 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 13–13 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 27 | January 4, 1988 9:30 PM CST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 115–133 | | | | The Forum 17,505 | 13–14 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 31 | January 13 | Atlanta | L 110–120 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 14–17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 35 | January 22 | @ Utah | L 106–119 | | | | Salt Palace | 15–20 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 37 | January 26 | @ Dallas | L 111–128 | | | | Reunion Arena | 16–21 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 41 | February 4 | Denver | L 123–129 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 18–23 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 42 | February 9 | @ Denver | L 108–136 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 18–24 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 43 | February 10 | Boston | L 120–136 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 18–25 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 44 | February 12, 1988 7:30 PM CST | L.A. Lakers | L 132–133 | | | | HemisFair Arena 15,770 | 18–26 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 55 | March 5 | @ Utah | L 106–125 | | | | Salt Palace | 22–33 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 57 | March 9 | @ Boston | L 118–119 | | | | Boston Garden | 22–35 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 59 | March 12 | @ Chicago | L 92–112 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 22–37 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 63 | March 19 | Utah | W 113–110 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 24–39 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 65 | March 22 | @ Denver | L 109–136 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 24–41 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 66 | March 25, 1988 7:30 PM CST | Detroit | W 107–106 | | | | HemisFair Arena 8,596 | 25–41 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 67 | March 26 | @ Dallas | L 112–131 | | | | Reunion Arena | 25–42 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 74 | April 8 | Denver | L 124–129 (OT) | | | | HemisFair Arena | 28–46 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 78 | April 16 | @ Utah | L 82–107 | | | | Salt Palace | 30–48 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 79 | April 19, 1988 7:30 PM CDT | L.A. Lakers | L 126–133 | | | | HemisFair Arena 12,456 | 30–49 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 81 | April 22 | @ Dallas | L 96–127 | | | | Reunion Arena | 31–50 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 82 | April 24 | Dallas | L 109–119 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 31–51

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 29, 1988 9:30 PM CDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 110–122 | Alvin Robertson (34) | Anderson, Berry (8) | Robertson, Brickowski (5) | The Forum 17,505 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | May 1, 1988 9:30 PM CDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 112–130 | Alvin Robertson (28) | Frank Brickowski (12) | Alvin Robertson (12) | The Forum 17,505 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 3, 1988 7:30 PM CDT | L.A. Lakers | L 107–109 | Frank Brickowski (27) | Greg Anderson (8) | Alvin Robertson (11) | HemisFair Arena 11,542

0–3

Player statistics

Ragular season

PlayerPOSGPGSMPREBASTSTLBLKPTSMPGRPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
SG**82****82****2,978**498**557****243**69**1,610****36.3**6.16.8**3.0**.8**19.6**
PF**82**451,984**513**7954**122**95724.26.31.0.7**1.5**11.7
SF73561,92239511055631,27226.35.41.5.8.917.4
C72791915353225631612.82.1.7.3.84.4
C70682,22748326674361,11931.8**6.9**3.81.1.516.0
C6991,01732386186139514.74.71.2.3.95.7
SF68201,50119868311391922.12.91.0.5.213.5
PF6818372224929514212.33.3.7.4.12.1
PG65612,1792044808821,02733.53.1**7.4**1.4.015.8
PG52121,0244818327242119.7.93.5.5.08.1
PF45401,23630097332238527.56.72.2.7.58.6
†PG3888305115522135221.81.34.1.6.09.3
SG220328374817611214.91.72.2.8.35.1
†PG181373266317310420.71.43.5.9.25.8
†SF1601873817039211.72.41.1.0.25.8
PG100112618303711.2.61.8.3.03.7
C805813331307.31.6.4.4.13.8
†PG405141130812.81.02.8.8.02.0
SF404271031610.51.8.3.0.84.0
  • † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Spurs only.

Playoffs

PlayerPOSGPGSMPREBASTSTLBLKPTSMPGRPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
SG**3****3****119**14**28****12**1**70****39.7**4.7**9.3****4.0**.3**23.3**
C**3****3**113**22**14625837.7**7.3**4.72.0.719.3
PF**3****3**952132**4**3831.77.01.0.7**1.3**12.7
PG**3****3**90415403530.01.35.01.3.011.7
SF**3****3**74154113124.75.01.3.3.310.3
SF**3**094216526631.37.02.01.7.722.0
PG**3**05335201517.71.01.7.7.05.0
C**3**03082011210.02.7.7.0.34.0
PF20367410418.03.52.0.5.02.0
PG209010004.5.0.5.0.0.0
C206010003.0.0.5.0.0.0
C101000001.0.0.0.0.0.0

Awards and records

  • Alvin Robertson, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • Cadillac Anderson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

References

References

  1. [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1988.html 1987-88 San Antonio Spurs]
  2. Goldaper, Sam. (June 23, 1987). "Guards Dominate Draft, But Robinson Goes First". The New York Times.
  3. Edes, Gordon. (June 23, 1987). "Only Surprise in the NBA Draft Is the Big Demand for Guards". Los Angeles Times.
  4. "1987 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference.
  5. (July 3, 1989). "Ensign David Robinson, the NBA No. 1 Draft Pick,...". United Press International.
  6. (November 6, 1987). "Robinson Will Receive $26 Million from Spurs". The New York Times.
  7. Cotton, Anthony. (November 9, 1987). "Robinson Deal a Spur to New Heights". The Washington Post.
  8. (November 5, 1987). "Spurs Suspend 2, Cut Guard". The Victoria Advocate.
  9. (November 19, 1987). "Krystkowiak Swapped to Bucks by Spurs". Spokane Chronicle.
  10. (November 19, 1987). "Basketball". The Argus-Press.
  11. "NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988". Basketball-Reference.
  12. "1987–88 San Antonio Spurs Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference.
  13. "1987–88 San Antonio Spurs Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.
  14. Barnard, Bill. (February 7, 1988). "Today's NBA All-Star Game Will Be Homecoming of Sorts for 3 Players". Los Angeles Times.
  15. (September 13, 2021). "1988 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com.
  16. "1988 NBA All-Star Game: East 138, West 133". Basketball-Reference.
  17. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference.
  18. Kragthorpe, Kurt. (May 14, 1988). "Lineup Has Familiar Look as Jazz Use Few Subs". Deseret News.
  19. "1987–88 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.
  20. Goldaper, Sam. (May 11, 1988). "Jackson Is Top Rookie". The New York Times.
  21. "1988 NBA Western Conference First Round: Spurs vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference.
  22. Goldaper, Sam. (June 22, 1988). "N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Lakers Hold Off Pesky Pistons to Regain Their Title". The New York Times.
  23. (June 22, 1988). "Lakers Repeat as Champions in Tight Game". Los Angeles Times.
  24. "1988 NBA Finals: Pistons vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference.
  25. (June 8, 1988). "Sports People; Spurs Dismiss Weiss". The New York Times.
  26. (June 8, 1988). "Weiss, 59-105 in Two Seasons, Fired by Spurs". Los Angeles Times.
  27. (June 8, 1988). "Struggling Spurs Fire Bob Weiss". Deseret News.
  28. (August 30, 1988). "Nets Get Walter Berry". The New York Times.
  29. (August 30, 1988). "Spurs Trade Berry to Nets for Comegys". Los Angeles Times.
  30. Goldaper, Sam. (October 30, 1988). "N.B.A. '88-'89; League Is Changing, But Lakers Are Still on Top". The New York Times.
  31. Goldaper, Sam. (June 24, 1988). "Miami Chooses "Who?" First". The New York Times.
  32. Edes, Gordon. (June 24, 1988). "Billy Thompson Goes to Miami; Valentine Winds Up in Cleveland". Los Angeles Times.
  33. "1988 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference.
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