Ranking The Top 5 Shooting Guards In San Antonio Spurs History

Dec 19, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Danny Green (14) reacts after a shot against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The San Antonio Spurs have had some of the best players in NBA history to don the Silver and Black to chase after championships.

How else to explain the mind-boggling success this small market franchise has had over the years? San Antonio might be best known for their history of big men, such as David Robinson and Tim Duncan, but this great franchise has also had its fair share of phenomenal shooting guards.

Over the last few years especially, one thing that has kept the team so competitive is their lethal outside shooting. It was a big reason why they won the 2014 NBA Championship.

At nearly every position on this team, there have been Spurs greats. As we looked at the top five point guards in Spurs’ history, we continue our breakdown of the greatest players of all-time for the Spurs, we take a stab at listing the five greatest shooting guards to play in the Alamo City.

Next: No. 5 Ranked Shooting Guard In Spurs History

5. Danny Green: 2010-Present

Although one could understandably make a case for James Silas, I view him as more of a point guard, which means Danny Green cracks the top five. Although his stats will not wow you and he has only averaged double-figures in points in one of his four seasons with the team, what makes Green great is his knowledge of spacing and his defense. He set a NBA Finals record for threes in 2013 and was a 43 percent shooter from deep last season.

Green is the least known on a Spurs team filled with greats. But this sharpshooter doesn’t want to be in the spotlight, he just wants to contribute to the Spurs success, and contribute he has. Quietly, Green has developed into one of the NBA’s best two-way players, a lockdown defender who can also nail timely three-pointers.

Green just finished his sixth season with San Antonio where he saw his scoring averaged drop nearly four points from a year ago. In his career with the Spurs, he is averaging 9.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and is a 40 percent shooter from beyond the arc.

During the playoffs, Green has stepped his game up on both sides of the ball. He has upped his scoring nearly three points compared to his career season averages. In the playoffs he is averaging just under 13 points a game. He also turns up his shooting from long distance as he is knocking down 43 percent of his attempts.

Next: No. 4 Ranked Shooting Guard In Spurs History

4. Willie Anderson: 1988-95

Picked by the Spurs as the 10th pick in the 1988 Draft, he was one of the main pieces in the Spurs climb to contentious, and he was the prototype small forward on the Spurs status in the ‘90s. The 6-foot-7 Anderson served as a “jack of all trades” player while he was on the team. He could score, rebound, pass and play defense. Although he did not possess much of an outside jumper, he was smart and crafty in finding ways to score inside.

Anderson started most of the games he played for the silver and black and had the reputation of being a reliable role player during his seven seasons with the club. No longtime Spur fan can forget the contributions No. 40 made to San Antonio.

Over his seven seasons with San Antonio, Anderson averaged 13.2 points, 4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Next: No. 3 Ranked Shooting Guard In Spurs History

3. Alvin Robertson: 1984-89

During his five seasons with the team, the athletic, skilled Robertson was simply one of the best defensive players the team ever had. In four out of the five seasons he played with the team, he averaged over three steals a game. Robertson was a master thief, leading the NBA in steals twice, and taking home Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1986.

His 1,129 steals ranks second in Spurs history, and he set a then-NBA record 105 consecutive games with a steal, which was broken by Chris Paul in 2008. And just like Anderson, even though he could not really shoot from outside, he scored a high percentage of his points inside the three-point line, to go along with stellar rebounding and passing.

In five seasons with San Antonio, Robertson averaged 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.9 steals.

Next: No. 2 Ranked Shooting Guard In Spurs History

2. Manu Ginobili: 2002-Present

Manu Ginobili is the prime example of Greg Popovich’s uncanny ability to find Diamonds in the rough. As the 57th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, Ginobili came on like a bolt of lightning in 2002, and during his 14 years in San Antonio, he has helped the Spurs capture four NBA Championships. he also a two-time NBA All-Star and has become a fan favorite in the Alamo City.

One of the best penetrating guards in the history of the league, Ginobili is a legend in San Antonio. His ability to shoot from anywhere on the court combined with his remarkable passing ability is impressive, but the thing that makes him most memorable is his fierce competitiveness and willingness to throw his body around on every play.

There are times in games where he maybe trying to do too much and not taking what is given in front of him, but that is what makes Ginobili. The court-vision he possesses on the floor can rank up with the best of them in the league.

Ginobili in 2015-16 finished up his 14th season with San Antonio and continues to impress many at the point in his career. In his career, thus far, Ginobili is averaging 14 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He is not the best shooter from long-range but he will not hesitate to let one fly. He is a career 36 percent shooter from the three.

If it were not for the player to come in at No. 1, Ginobili, would of definitely dawned that spot.

Next: No. 1 Ranked Shooting Guard In Spurs History

1. George Gervin: 1973-85

Before David Robinson and Tim Duncan, there was “The Iceman,” George Gervin. Gervin came to San Antonio when the Spurs were part of the ABA, and he stayed with the team when they made the transition to the NBA.

Gervin was an offensive machine, and he became the face of a Spurs team that was known for their run-and-gun offense. No 44’s jersey was the first to be retired by the Spurs, and he is still loved by many Spurs fans, young and old.

It was because of the strong play of both Gervin and Julius Erving that the NBA eventually merged with the ABA, which helped take the league to new places. He is not only regarded as one of the best scorers of all time, but also one of the best to ever play the game.

Combining his play in the ABA and NBA, Gervin spent 12 seasons with San Antonio racking up eye-popping numbers. Over the 12 seasons, he averaged 27.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 blocks while shooting 50 percent from the field.

Known for his finger-roll, Gervin will always be known as a legend in not only San Antonio, but all around the NBA.

Next: Ranking The Top 5 PG's In Spurs History

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