The Top 30 San Antonio Spurs of all time

Since their inception as the Dallas Chaparrals in 1967, the San Antonio Spurs have established themselves as one of the most successful franchises in sports history.

Projected to keep an overall regular season win percentage above 60% for the foreseeable future, the Silver and Black have the highest win percentage of any team in the association and five NBA championships to their name. Only four teams have secured more titles over their history: the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and Golden State Warriors.

The new era of Spurs basketball is still working to get back to its glory days and reach the pinnacle for the first time since 2014, and the arrival of generational talent Victor Wembanyama should go a long way toward that happening.

The French sensation will be trying to follow in the footsteps of several big-name players who've acheived success in the Alamo City in the form of individual accolades and championship hardware.

Since we haven't published a list of the top players in franchise history since 2017, it's about time we have an update. Before jumping into my list of the top 30 Spurs in franchise history, here are a few notes.

• The list, order, and reasoning are all my own opinions, so if you have any issues with a snub or someone's placement on the list, feel free to blame me (quietly, to yourself).

• For the purpose of this list, I didn't consider one-year players. So you won't be seeing guys like Dominique Wilkins or John Lucas on here, even if they were outstanding players.

• I only took into account each player's time with the Spurs themselves, not their entire NBA career.

• I don't have one specific criterion I'm applying across the board. For some guys, I'm bumping them up due to their contributions to NBA titles and the direction of the franchise. For others, I'm putting more stock into individual stats and my research than my own personal feeling about the player. After all, many of these guys played before I was even born.

Let's get started with number 30.

30. Frank Brickowski (1987-90)

Traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Spurs during the 1986-87 season, Frank Brickowski spent three seasons with them and had the best season of his career in San Antonio in 1988.

While he averaged a fairly productive 11.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in the Alamo City, he had the misfortune of being traded just one season into David Robinson's arrival due to an increase in the NBA's salary cap.

Brickowski wouldn't manage to win a championship in his career, but he helped the Seattle SuperSonics make the NBA Finals in 1996.

Highlight: Dropping 34 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists in a win over the Houston Rockets in 1988.

29. Derrick White (2017-22)

One of the San Antonio Spurs' many late-draft success stories, Derrick White only got better with each passing season since being taken 29th overall in 2017. It only took Coach Gregg Popovich 17 games in White's rookie year to see enough to make him a full-time starter for a majority of his remaining years.

White established himself as one of the best shot-blocking guards in the game by the tail-end of his time in San Antonio, and his overall defense was a sight to behold. When his offensive game started to catch up, he became a prized two-way talent.

Unfortunately, the Spurs' commitment to a full rebuild meant it was time to unload the 27-year-old to Boston to give their younger core a fuller runway to create something special. He'll remain one of the most beloved recent members of the team for years to come.

Highlight: The breakout 2019 playoff series against Denver that included a monster 36-point Game 3.

28. Rod Strickland (1989-92)

Although he had a quick start to his NBA career in New York, the presence of Mark Jackson led to the Knicks trading Rod Strickland to San Antonio during the 1989-90 season. He immediately thrived alongside rookie David Robinson, who led the Spurs to a miraculous 35-win turnaround from the season prior.

Injuries saddled Strickland throughout his time in San Antonio, but he still put up 13.9 points and 8.2 assists per game through his three seasons.

Highlight: Game 1 of the 1991 first round against Golden State: 30 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds.

27. Billy Paultz (1975-80)

After being named an ABA All-Star for the second time in 1975 with the New York Nets, Billy Paultz received the honor again after being traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Paultz averaged 16.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.0 blocks per game that season.

On the 30th anniversary of the ABA in 1997, Paultz was named to the ABA All-Time Team and retired with one ABA championship on his resume (1974).

Highlight: A stat-stuffing performance of 31 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks in a win over the New Orleans Jazz in 1977.

26. Dennis Rodman (1993-95)

Probably the most unlikely pairing of franchise culture and player personality, Dennis Rodman's time with the San Antonio Spurs was certainly interesting. Although he often clashed with the wholesome nature of guys like David Robinson, who he once said "hated his guts because he wasn't a bible guy," you can't argue with some of the results he got on the court.

Although he was only with the Spurs for 128 total games, Rodman still holds the franchise record for rebounds per game with the franchise with 17.1. As you'd expect, he's also number one in Spurs history in total rebound percentage.

Highlight: Rodman's 22 points and 22 rebounds leads the Spurs past the Lakers in Game 2 of the 1995 Western Conference Semifinals.

25. Pau Gasol (2016-19)

If the Spurs had been able to acquire Pau Gasol about 10 years earlier than they did, he'd probably be about 10 spots higher on this list. As it stands, he was a serviceable big to cushion the departure of Tim Duncan to begin the 2016-17 season alongside the team's newest stars, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard.

Gasol was 36 when he signed with the Spurs and still had plenty of gas left in the tank at the time. Although the extension the team offered to him in the 2017 offseason ended up being regrettable, Pau still had some vintage performances for the Silver and Black before age and injuries took over.

Highlight: Pau scores his 20,000th career point in 2017 against the Utah Jazz, becoming the second European player to reach that mark (Dirk Nowitzki).

24. Willie Anderson (1988-95)

As the 10th overall pick in 1988, Willie Anderson quickly lived up to the hype coming out of Georgia. Averaging 18.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals in his first season, he made the All-Rookie Team and only missed one game in his first two seasons.

After seven standout seasons in San Antonio, Anderson was taken by the Toronto Raptors in their 1995 expansion draft and ended up playing overseas after he turned 30.

Highlight: Anderson scores a career-high 36 points three years apart, both times against the Golden State Warriors (1989,1992).

23. John Beasley (1967-72)

This is one of those "putting more stock into individual stats" guys I mentioned earlier. I wasn't around for the Dallas Chaparrals' inaugural season in 1967, but it's hard to argue the numbers John Beasley put up through his 334 games with the organization.

A 6-9 power forward, the Texarkana-born talent was an All-Star in his first three seasons, winning the All-Star Game MVP Award in 1969. Through a little over four seasons, he averaged 17.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game for the Dallas/Texas Chaparrals before finishing his career in Utah.

Highlight: Beasley leads the Chaparrals past the first round of their first-ever playoffs in 1968, averaging 27 points per game in the three-game sweep.

22. Rich Jones (1969-75)

Spending six seasons with the franchise, Rich Jones is one of the few players to hit the court as a Dallas Chaparral, Texas Chaparral, and San Antonio Spur. He helped them to the playoffs in five of his six seasons, averaging 16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.

Highlight: Rich Jones makes an All-Star appearance as a Chaparral in 1973 and as a San Antonio Spur in 1975.

21. Swen Nater (1973-75)

Another star before my time, Swen Nater's league-best average of 16.4 rebounds per game in 1975 alone earns him a spot somewhere on this list. Nater averaged over 12 rebounds per game in six different seasons, including both years he spent in San Antonio.

Overall, Nater put up impressive averages of 14.8 points, 15.2 rebounds, and a block per game through 140 games. If he had stayed in San Antonio longer, he'd easily be a few spots higher on this countdown.

Highlight: Swen Nater makes the All-ABA Second Team in his first season with the Spurs.

20. Patty Mills (2011-21)

In March 2012, the San Antonio Spurs took a chance on a 6-1 point guard who was coming off a short stint in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. Patty Mills had played 74 games with the Portland Trail Blazers before the 2011 NBA lockout had caused him to go overseas.

Over the next 10 years, Mills would become a dependable backup, an NBA champion, and an all-time franchise favorite. As one of the longest-tenured Spurs of all-time, Patty's name is up there in several team categories. At the time of his departure to Brooklyn, he's seventh in games played (665), second in 3-pointers made (1,171), and first in free-throw percentage (86.7).

Patty was one of the most passionate players to ever play in the Alamo City and one of the kindest, most charitable people off of it.

Highlight: Patty Mills erupts when it matters most -- on the NBA's biggest stage in 2014.

19. Terry Cummings (1989-95)

Although half of his six seasons in San Antonio were underwhelming due to a serious knee injury from a summer pickup game, Terry Cummings deserves his flowers for what he did in the first half of his Spurs career.

As the starting power forward from 1989-92, he averaged 19.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in the regular season. In the playoffs over that stretch, he increased that production even further to 22.7 points and 9.7 boards.

It's staggering and unfortunate to see just what that knee injury did to Cumming's output, as he put up 22.4 points and nine rebounds a game through eight seasons before it and just 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game after.

Highlight: In the closeout game of the first round of the 1990 Western Conference Playoffs, Cummings scores 28 points and crashes the glass for 14 boards to send Denver packing.

18. Dejounte Murray (2016-present)

This is definitely the ranking with the biggest potential of a rapid jump. In looking just at the numbers, Dejounte Murray probably already deserves at least a top 15 spot. Still, it's maybe a season too early to put him much higher even if he's about to finish 2022 with an average dangerously close to a triple-double.

Murray's recent NBA All-Star selection is likely the first of many (as Stephen Curry put it) as he continues to establish himself as the newest face of the franchise. As such, Dejounte's all-around game will start to propel him up the leaderboard in Spurs' lore.

There aren't many players in the league who've ever had a statistical season like Murray is having in 2021-22, and I can't see a reason that would change anytime soon for the 25-year-old. Look for him to be entering the top 10 conversation very soon, and that's certainly not his limit.

Highlight: Dejounte Murray makes the 2022 NBA All-Star team in his first year as the number one option.

17. Johnny Moore (1980-88, '89-90)

Johnny Moore's stats in San Antonio don't jump off the page more than some of the guys behind him on the list, but his longevity and postseason performances give him a decent jump in my book. Through his first six seasons with the Spurs, Moore averaged 10.5 points, 8.7 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. He bumped that up to 14 points and 10.1 assists per game in the playoffs during that span.

Unfortunately, Moore contracted a rare illness called Desert Fever in 1985 that all but ended his basketball career before he even turned 30. Still, Moore ranks in the top 10 in team assists, steals, and triple-doubles.

Highlight: Johnny Moore dazzles in the first two rounds of the 1983 NBA Playoffs, averaging 22.5 points, 14.6 assists, and 2.5 steals through 11 games.

16. Artis Gilmore (1982-87)

We're finally approaching Hall of Fame territory. Although his peak years came before he joined the Spurs, Artis Gilmore still had an impressive five seasons throughout his mid-30s in San Antonio. Making the NBA All-Star team in his first and fourth seasons with the team, he remains one of the most efficient scorers in league history.

Gilmore led the league in field goal percentage a total of six times in his Hall of Fame career, two of those happening with the Silver and Black. He ended his Spurs career in 1987 with averages of 16.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.

Highlight: Artis averages 16.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game at age 36 to make his final NBA All-Star appearance.

15. James Silas (1972-81)

It's safe to say the Houston Rockets made a grave mistake when they waived James Silas after drafting him in 1972. The 6-1 guard would proceed to instantly make an impact with the Dallas Chaparrals, whose gamble greatly paid off for the next nine seasons.

Silas would make the 1972-73 All-Rookie Team and follow that up with a couple of All-Star appearances in his second and third years. Because of his greatness in the Alamo City, he was the first Spur ever to have his number retired in 1984.

Highlight: Silas averages career-bests in both points (23.8) and assists per game (5.4) to make his final All-Star appearance in 1976.

14. Alvin Robertson (1984-89)

If there's a former Spur Dejounte Murray resembles most, it's the two-way talent, Alvin Robertson. While Murray was just 10 years old, Robertson was leading the league in steals per game for two straight seasons.

On top of his elite defense, Robertson rebounded very well for his position and size (5.4), adding 16 points per game to boot. His best stretch of basketball started in his sophomore season, when he averaged 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and an insane 3.67 steals per game in 1985-86. That mark is still a league record that will probably never be broken.

Highlight: Alvin Robertson gets 10 steals in three separate games with the Spurs, solidifying him as one of the best thieves in league history.

13. Avery Johnson (1990-2001)

It's about time we get back to another player who won a title in San Antonio. Avery Johnson's steady and underrated career was finally rewarded when The Big Fundamental came to town, but he had put in all his dues and then some by the time his big moment finally arrived.

One of only a handful of Spurs to spend 10+ years with the club, Johnson is the second-best facilitator in franchise history with 4,474 career assists. He was the definition of a pure point guard in San Antonio, beloved by his teammates for his ability to set them up and equally beloved by the community off the court.

Highlight: It's fitting that the Little General hit the biggest shot in the Spurs' first title run that would lead to several more over the next two decades.

12. DeMar DeRozan (2018-21)

While his lack of a decent supporting cast ultimately led to a rare dark period in Spurs' fandom, it would be a disservice to DeMar DeRozan to knock him down much further than 12th. Put in a situation he never saw coming, he became the go-to scorer for an organization that was having a tough time letting go of the past.

There's no question DeRozan had at least one All-Star season in San Antonio and he probably would have had multiple selections if he was getting more attention. I mean, he averaged 21.6, 6.9, and 4.2 in 2021. What he's doing now in Chicago is something he's always been capable of if surrounded by better complementary pieces, and it's a shame the Spurs weren't able to provide him that in his superb stint with them.

DeRozan was one of the most clutch players in the league throughout his time in San Antonio and is currently second to only George Gervin in points per game as a Spur.

Highlight: DeMar comes up with a big Game 6 to force the Denver Nuggets to an unexpected Game 7 in 2019. He finishes with 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting, adding seven assists and seven boards.

11. Mike Mitchell (1981-88)

When you can play a full season alongside George Gervin and still lead your team in scoring, you know you're special. In fact, Mike Mitchell's 22.2 point average in the 1984-85 season was the only time any Spur was able to outscore The Iceman for a season in San Antonio.

Through his career, Mitchell finished in the top 10 in scoring four times and averaged 23 points and 5.7 rebounds in his three peak years with the Spurs. Although his only All-Star appearance happened in Cleveland, there's a real case to be made that he should've had a few more and deserved for his jersey to be retired in the Alamo City.

Despite retiring in 1988, Mitchell is still sixth in field goals and points per game all-time in San Antonio Spurs history.

Highlight: Mitchell (45) and Gervin (50) combine for a staggering 95 points in a triple overtime win over the Bucks in 1982. It remains one of the highest outputs by a duo in NBA history.

10. Bruce Bowen (2001-09)

I told you this list would alternate between relying on statistics sometimes and sentiment other times. On paper, not much really jumps out about Bruce Bowen to the casual fan. But to the city of San Antonio and its team's success, he was everything.

"The simple fact is the Spurs don’t win NBA Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007 without Bruce Bowen," said Coach Popovich when Bowen's jersey retirement was announced. "Statistics are meaningless when talking about his importance to this franchise."

Day in and day out for eight seasons, Bowen was tasked with guarding the best perimeter players in the league from Kobe Bryant to LeBron James and everyone in between. From 2002-2009, he missed just three of a possible 574 games, becoming the ultimate iron man in a position vital to the Spurs' success.

Despite never being known for his offense, Bowen developed one of the deadliest 3-point shots in Spurs history, especially from the corners. in the Spurs' title-winning 2003 season, he led the league with a 44.1% mark, and that was just one of five times he shot over 40% over a season in San Antonio.

“His success is proof that hard work and determination do, in fact, pay off," said Popovich. You won't hear an argument from me.

Highlight: Bruce Bowen's 2008 NBA All-Defensive First Team selection comes at age 36 and is the fifth such selection he receives. He also makes three All-Defensive Second Teams.

9. Kawhi Leonard (2011-18)

Continuing the theme of hard work paying off, the meteoric rise of Kawhi Leonard was certainly special. Coming out of San Diego State as just a 25% shooter from three, his development of a killer jump shot was just one of the ways he expanded his game in San Antonio's developmental system.

As a 15th pick, few could've predicted just how much of an all-around game Leonard possessed somewhere deep down. Although he was in the shadow of bigger stars in his first couple of years in San Antonio, Leonard became an NBA Finals MVP by the end of his third season and a perennial All-Star beginning in his fifth.

All drama surrounding his controversial exit aside, the Spurs would be one title short of having a ring for their collective thumb without him.

Highlight: After scoring 18 total points in Games 1 and 2 of the 2014 NBA Finals, Kawhi blows up for 23.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game over the last three to win his first of two NBA Finals MVPs.

8. Sean Elliott (1989-93, '94-01)

Sean Elliott was a big part of the Spurs' era directly preceding Tim Duncan's era of unmatched excellence. Save for a brief season in which the Spurs traded him away (and likely wishes they never did), he spent his entire career in San Antonio.

Over those 11 years, Elliott made two All-Star Games, including the one held in San Antonio in 1996. Although his consistently high level of play was impressive, nothing was more inspiring than his return to the court seven months after kidney transplant surgery. It's believed to be the first time a professional athlete has returned from such a procedure.

In his first game back, he had a one-handed flush that meant more in the grand scheme than just two points. What made the story even better is that his brother, Noel, was the donor who made it all possible in the first place.

Beyond his feel-good story, Sean also had one of the greatest playoff shots in NBA history, which I couldn't finish this blurb without showing to you.

Highlight: Sean hits the Memorial Day Miracle in 1999.

7. LaMarcus Aldridge (2015-21)

If the Leonard saga didn't end the way it did, it's highly possible we'd be referring to LaMarcus Alridge as an NBA champion by now.

Beginning the transition period from the Big Three along with Kawhi in 2015-16, he averaged 18.0 points and 8.0 boards per game as the second option, and the Spurs won a franchise-record 67 games as a result. Despite the Spurs flaming out in the postseason, they went into the next season with a new duo aged 25 and 31, set up with a supporting cast capable of leading them back to glory.

Aldridge's six seasons in San Antonio started as extremely promising with an arsenal of weapons but shifted to dreary after retirements and departures. None of that was the fault of their established star.

By the end of his six seasons in San Antonio, LaMarcus made the All-Star team three times and did everything he possibly could to make the team's transition from their three Hall of Famers less painful. Hopefully, he can find the title he should've had with the Spurs before he calls it a career.

Highlight: LaMarcus flat-out dominates the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019 with 56 points on 20/33 shooting.

6. Larry Kenon (1976-80)

Admittedly, I hadn't been born yet during Larry Kenon's run with the Spurs, but I just can't figure out why his jersey was never retired. He averaged 20.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game across five seasons with San Antonio, making three All-Star appearances in the process. He kept roughly the same averages through his 32 postseason games with the Spurs.

With James Silas and George Gervin, Kenon helped form the original Big Three in San Antonio that came close to NBA glory.

Kenon's fingerprints are all over the franchise leaderboards. He currently sits at:

• 9th in field goals made
• 4th in total rebounds
• 9th in total points
• 4th in points per game
• 2nd in minutes per game
• 7th in rebounds per game
• 6th in steals per game

I appreciate later number 35s like Antoine Carr and Danny Ferry, but that number should've been hanging in the rafters a long time ago.

Highlight: Kenon drops 51 points on the Detroit Pistons to secure a 20-point win in 1980.

5. Manu Ginobili (2002-18)

Widely considered by most to be the greatest sixth man in NBA history, Manu Ginobili sacrificed what surely would've been an NBA 75th Anniversary Team career for the benefit of the team. Playing for 16 years in San Antonio, his natural abilities were only eclipsed by his unmatched heart, hustle, and passion.

The presence of Manu Ginobili in San Antonio made them one of the most beloved teams among international audiences in the history of sports. He was the ultimate example of a player you hated to play against but would love to have on your squad. He had all the tools to be a top-tier starter throughout his career, yet he only started in one-third of his games with the Spurs.

It's no mistake that the Argentinian's two full seasons of starting both ended in NBA All-Star appearances ('05, '11) and he would've had several more if he wasn't such a selfless teammate.

"Without Manu, there were no championships," said Gregg Popovich at Ginobili's jersey retirement. "His ferocity, his drive, his unbelievable will to win, his competitiveness were off the charts."

Ginobili's name is in the Spurs' record books dozens of times:

• 1st in 3-point field goals attempted and made
• 3rd in games played, 5th in total minutes
• 4th in free throws made
• 5th in total rebounds
• 4th in total assists
• 1st in total steals
• 5th in total points

Manu Ginobili just might be the most beloved Spur the franchise has ever had. Considering the world-class people who've played in San Antonio, that's saying a lot. His efforts recently led to the announcement that he'll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer this September, and he couldn't be more deserving.

Highlight: Manu makes a strong case for a Finals MVP in 2005, averaging 18.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists against Detroit. He shot 38.7% from downtown in the series and scored 23 in the title-clinching Game 7.

4. Tony Parker (2001-18)

Only one man has seen more time on the court as a San Antonio Spur than Tony Parker. Taken with the last pick in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft, he quickly became one of the biggest success stories the league has ever seen.

By his second season in the NBA at just 20 years old, he was the starting point guard on a championship team. By 24, he was a two-time NBA All-Star and an NBA Finals MVP. When all was said and done, he was a four-time NBA champion, a six-time NBA All-Star, and one of the most successful point guards ever.

What made Parker so special on the court was his lightning quick speed and combination of a deadly spin move plus a killer tear drop. As a result, he was often near the top of the association in points in the paint despite being just 6-2.

There's absolutely no doubt Tony Parker is the best point guard to ever play in San Antonio, and his exclusion from the NBA 75th Anniversary Team is criminal. Still, I think he's perfectly happy with the hardware in his collection.

Here's where Parker sits among some of the career leaders in SA:

• 2nd in games played and total minutes
• 3rd in field goals
• 5th in free throws
• 1st in assists
• 5th in steals
• 4th in total points
• 3rd in win shares

Highlight: Tony Parker absolutely carves up the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2007 NBA Finals, averaging 24.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game on a blistering 56.8% mark from the field. Awarding him the NBA Finals MVP was a no-brainer.

3. George Gervin (1973-85)

Putting San Antonio basketball on the map with his unmatched scoring ability and swagger, George Gervin was one of the deadliest offensive players in history. Gervin was so dominant offensively that an opposing team literally held a promotion as an incentive to hold him under 30 points. It's safe to say it didn't work.

Boasting one of the greatest nicknames in sports, "Iceman", for his chill nature, everything Gervin did on and off the court just exuded coolness. From 1977-82, he lead the NBA in points per game in four of five seasons, highlighted by his average of 33.1 in 1979-80.

That still stands alone as the most points per game a Spur has ever averaged, and his 32.3 average two seasons later is second.

Even 37 years after his last game with San Antonio, Gervin is still:

• 5th in games played, 4th in total minutes
• 2nd in field goals
• 3rd in free throws
• 3rd in total rebounds
• 6th in total assists
• 3rd in total steals
• 3rd in total blocks
• 2nd in total points

Highlight: Gervin puts up a superhuman effort in the 1983 postseason, averaging 28.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in round one and 22.7 points in a six-game series loss to the Lakers in round two.

Without George, I'm not sure there'd still be a team in San Antonio today -- and that also applies to the gentleman at number two on the countdown.

2. David Robinson (1989-2003)

While George Gervin put San Antonio basketball on the map, David Robinson kept them there long enough to have a chance at a historically glorious run. It's hard to even fathom how someone with his 7-1, 235-pound frame could do what he did on a nightly basis, and he made it all look so easy while doing it.

Running the floor faster than just about anybody and never running out of energy, what The Admiral did on the basketball court was flat-out unfair. Yes, bigs are supposed to block shots and throw down dunks. They're not supposed to take the ball coast-to-coast though. And they're not supposed to bury mid-range jumpers in your face on the way to 71 points.

I started following the Spurs as a local fan around 1995, so I only caught about half of his career, but it was hard to believe what I was watching even more so in person.

Still, what made his fit in San Antonio with Gregg Popovich even better was the kind of person he was off the court. The only thing bigger than Robinson's biceps was his heart.

Founding the Carver Academy in 2001, which offers education through scholarships in San Antonio, he's since donated over $11 million to the school. That was just one of the many big things he's done for the city and the world. He also recently became a member of the board of directors for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

The Spurs' culture that's become so legendary all started with Mr. Robinson, and he established himself as a franchise superstar on the court in the process. Retiring as a two-time NBA champion, here's where he stands on the franchise leaderboards.

• 4th in games played, 3rd in minutes
• 4th in field goals
• 1st in free throws
• 2nd in total rebounds
• 7th in total assists
• 2nd in total steals
• 2nd in total blocks
• 3rd in total points
• 2nd in triple-doubles

Highlight: David Robinson goes out a champion, and his swan song game is loud. He puts up 13 points and grabs 17 boards to help clinch his second NBA title at age 37 against New Jersey.

Despite his greatness, the Spurs still couldn't quite get over the championship hurdle -- until a single ping pong ball in 1997 changed everything.

1. Tim Duncan (1997-2016)

I always struggle even knowing where to start when bringing up Tim Duncan's excellence. Should I start with his consistency? Maybe focus on his defensive greatness? What about his fundamentals? The fact that he made the playoffs in all 19 of his seasons in the NBA is certainly worth a mention too. As are the 17 straight seasons leading the Spurs to 50+ wins.

There's so much to discuss about Tim on the court to even get close to covering it all, so I'm not even going to try. I'll get into the statistics more later on anyway. What made Duncan such a perfect fit for San Antonio was -- you guessed it -- his character. Starting to sense a theme yet?

You'd be hard-pressed to find a superstar who handled so much success with as much humility as Duncan did, and he did it for almost 20 years.

People who've only recently become Spurs fans tend to wonder how I could be so upbeat and positive about the Spurs given recent rebuilding struggles. To me, it's pretty simple.

The organization was exceptionally blessed when the duo of Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan was formed, and that pairing has led to five championship celebrations, a community unlike any other, and an organization that became the golden standard for everyone. Personally, Duncan's presence in San Antonio ultimately led to stronger bonds with family and friends, something to look forward to in tough times, and a lifelong role model.

In the grand scheme of things, a few losing seasons is nothing for someone who was fortunate enough to be a Spurs fan throughout the Tim Duncan era.

As for Tim's franchise accomplishments, well, be prepared to scroll.

• 1st in games and minutes played
• 1st in field goals
• 2nd in free throws
• 1st in total rebounds
• 3rd in total assists
• 6th in total steals
• 1st in total blocks
• 1st in total points
• 5th in triple-doubles
• 1st in win shares

Highlight: Tim Duncan records what should have been registered as the only NBA Finals quadruple-double in history in a series-clinching Game 6 in 2003. His official statistics say 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and eight blocks, but video evidence suggests he actually had 10 blocks.

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say Tim Duncan's Hall of Fame career impacted millions of people in some way or another, and no one is ever even going to come close to taking his spot as the greatest Spur of all time.