How many NBA championships have the San Antonio Spurs won?

How many NBA championships have the San Antonio Spurs racked up?

The San Antonio Spurs’ history is difficult for most of the current franchises to match. Of course, there are the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, whose successes date back to the 1960’s. However, looking around the rest of the NBA, few teams matched their title wins, especially over the past two decades.

It starts with the 1998-99 NBA season. This was the strike-shortened year, something that didn’t happen until the 2011-12 campaign that had 66 games compacted into just a few months.

50 games were played in 1998-99, with the Spurs finishing at 37-13. They made their way through the 1999 playoffs, and faced the New York Knicks. This featured an aging Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, and Latrell Sprewell in what became the franchise’s best attempt at a title until 2012.

In just five games, the Spurs defeated the Knicks, 4-1. Tim Duncan won the NBA Finals MVP Award.

The next NBA championship attempt didn’t come until 2003 for the Spurs. They made that season’s NBA Finals, facing the New Jersey Nets. It was the culmination of a fantastic season from Duncan and what became David Robinson’s last. San Antonio defeated the Nets, 4-2, to win the franchise’s second title.

In 2005, the Spurs returned to the title scene. This time, they faced the Detroit Pistons, an organization looking to go back-to-back under head coach Larry Brown.

In what was arguably one of the least anticipated NBA Finals of the 2000’s due to the Spurs and Pistons’ style of play (defensive and possession-filled games), the former won in seven games. It gave Gregg Popovich his third title in just six years.

Another two years later, the Spurs reached the 2007 NBA Finals. The LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers met them there.

This San Antonio team in the Finals was not only about a 30-year-old Duncan, but a rising point guard, Tony Parker. He won the series’ MVP award and earned his spot in NBA history, as the team swept the Cavaliers in four games.

To cap it off, the Spurs made the 2014 NBA Finals. After coming one Ray Allen shot away from defeating the Miami Heat in 2013, these teams rematched one season later. Duncan, Parker, Manu Ginobili and a rising Kawhi Leonard (the Finals MVP winner), led the way toward a dominating 4-1 series win.

Next: Top 25 players in Spurs history

The San Antonio Spurs’ championship total reaches five, with the opportunity for more to come. When will the next one arrive?