San Antonio Spurs all-time starting lineup by Win Shares

The San Antonio Spurs are home to one of the most impressive collection of superstars in the NBA, and those household names have led this historic franchise to sustained success across numerous eras and iterations of the league. Piecing together an all-time starting lineup for the Silver and Black will always mean excluding worthy names from the discussion, but using Win Shares makes this task easier to manage. So what does this metric say about who belongs in the perfect five-man rotation?

Point Guard: Tony Parker (110.4)

From Dejounte Murray and Avery Johnson to James Silas and Johnny Moore, the Spurs have seen an abundance of gifted point guards walk through the doors of their organization. Those names deserve their flowers, but no one was as impactful as Tony Parker. He was the engine of the offense during the peak of their dynasty, and his 110.4 win shares are third behind only Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

Parker had an eight-season stretch from 2005 to 2013 where he averaged 18.8 points and 6.4 assists per game. Despite being an exclusively below-the-rim finisher, the six-time All-Star used his blistering first step and feathery floater to pick apart defenses. He may not have the same name recognition as Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo, or Jason Kidd, but he is the only point guard of that era with a Finals MVP.

Shooting Guard: Manu Ginobili (106.4)

Was there ever any question about who would fill the shooting guard position for the Spurs in this all-time starting lineup? Manu Ginobili has 106.4 win shares, a number that ranks fifth in franchise history and is more than double that of any swingman who has donned the Silver and Black. He stayed in San Antonio for his entire career, winning four rings and becoming the best sixth man we have ever seen.

Despite what his unassuming per-game statistics might suggest, Ginobili was a superstar talent who was selfless enough to sacrifice individual accomplishments for the betterment of the club. The two-time All-Star perfected and popularized the eurostep for generations of future hoopers and is one of two people on Earth who have won a EuroLeague title, NBA championship, and Olympic Gold Medal.

Small Forward: George Gervin (107.4)

George Gervin is the man that started it all for the Spurs, their first superstar that provided them the bedrock they desperately needed to have a smooth transition from the ABA to the NBA. Though San Antonio failed to advance past the Conference Finals while the lanky forward led the charge, he took them to the playoffs in all but one of his 12 seasons with the ball club, keeping them afloat every year.

The Iceman earned his moniker for his patented finger roll and smooth moves with the rock, and it is easy to see why he was four-time scoring champion during his career. He averaged a mind-boggling 28.8 points per game from 1978 to 1984, dropping buckets on everyone in the league. His 107.4 win shares are fourth in franchise history, and that doesn't include any of his production from the ABA.

Power Forward: Tim Duncan (206.4)

There is no doubt Tim Duncan is the greatest player to ever suit up for the Spurs, and his franchise-leading 206.4 win shares only cements his place at the top of the totem pole. The Big Fundamental spent his entire 19-year career in San Antonio, collecting five championships, 15 All-Defense nods, 15 All-NBA honors, 15 All-Star appearances, three Finals MVPs, and countless illustrious accolades.

While he retired seven years ago, Duncan has the seventh most win shares in NBA history, a number that is likely to remain near the top of the leaderboard for decades to come. The Hall of Fame power forward also helped Gregg Popovich establish a team-first culture that will be the foundation for the organization as they attempt to construct another dominant dynasty around Victor Wembanyama.

Center: David Robinson (178.7)

David Robinson is a fabled figure in the annals of Spurs basketball. Not only are his 178.7 win shares second in team history, but his timely arrival in San Antonio ended an extended cold spell and saved them from relocating to another city. The 7-foot-1 center has an MVP, scoring title, Defensive Player of the Year, two NBA championships, and a laundry list of other prestigious awards in his trophy case.

The Admiral called it quits over two decades ago, but only a handul of players have surpassed him on a handful of the all-time leaderboards. He is one of eight players in league history with at least 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 2,000 blocks, placing him among superstars like Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Robert Parish, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, and Tim Duncan.