1995–96 San Antonio Spurs season

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Spurs' 20th season in the National Basketball Association, and 29th season as a franchise.[1] San Antonio hosted the 1996 NBA All-Star Game at the Alamodome.[2] During the off-season, the team signed free agents Carl Herrera, who previously won two championships with the Houston Rockets,[3] former Spurs center Greg Anderson, and three-point specialist Brad Lohaus.[4][5][6] Without Dennis Rodman, who was dealt to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Will Perdue during the off-season,[7][8][9][10] the Spurs had a solid team chemistry led by reigning MVP David Robinson and Sean Elliott, who were both selected for the All-Star Game.[11][12][13][14] The team got off to a solid 11–4 start, holding a 31–14 record at the All-Star break.[15] At midseason, they traded Lohaus and J.R. Reid to the New York Knicks in exchange for Charles D. Smith and second-year forward Monty Williams.[16][17][18][19] The Spurs posted a 17-game winning streak in March, where they went undefeated posting a 16–0 record, which matched the 1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers' record.[20][21][22][23] The Spurs went on to win their second straight Midwest Division title with a 59–23 record.[24]

1995–96 San Antonio Spurs season
Division champions
Head coachBob Hill
General managerGregg Popovich
PresidentGregg Popovich (vice)
Owner(s)Peter Holt
ArenaAlamodome
Results
Record59–23 (.720)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Midwest)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Jazz 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKSAT-TV
KABB
Prime Sports Southwest
RadioWOAI

Robinson averaged 25.0 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team.[25] In addition, Elliott averaged 20.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while Vinny Del Negro provided the team with 14.5 points per game, and Avery Johnson provided with 13.1 points, 9.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Off the bench, sixth man and three-point specialist Chuck Person contributed 10.9 points per game, and led the team with 190 three-point field goals, and Perdue averaged 5.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.[26] Robinson also finished in second place in Most Valuable Player voting,[27][28][29] and in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[30] while head coach Bob Hill finished tied in third place in Coach of the Year voting.[31][32][33]

In their seventh consecutive trip to the playoffs, the Spurs would easily beat the Phoenix Suns in four games in the Western Conference First Round.[34][35][36][37] However, in the Western Conference Semi-finals, the Spurs would again stumble in the postseason losing to Karl Malone, John Stockton and the 3rd-seeded Utah Jazz in six games, including a 108–81 road loss in Game 6.[38][39][40][41] Following the season, Doc Rivers retired to become a broadcast analyst for Turner Sports, ending his 13-year career in the NBA.[42][43][44]

A notable highlight of the season was the Spurs defeating the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies, 111–62 at the Alamodome on November 8, 1995. Vancouver's 62 points were the fifth-lowest number of points scored in a game in NBA history at the time.[45][46][47][48]

Draft picks
Main article: 1995 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
129Cory AlexanderPG United StatesVirginia

Roster
1995–96 San Antonio Spurs roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 1 Alexander, Cory 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1973–06–22 Virginia
C 33 Anderson, Greg 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–06–22 Houston
G 15 Del Negro, Vinny 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1966–08–09 NC State
G 5 Demps, Dell Injured 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1970–02–12 Pacific
F 32 Elliott, Sean 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1968–02–02 Arizona
F 7 Herrera, Carl 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1966–12–14 Houston
G 6 Johnson, Avery 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1965–03–25 Southern
C 41 Perdue, Will 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1965–09–29 Vanderbilt
F 45 Person, Chuck 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–06–27 Auburn
G 25 Rivers, Doc 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1961–10–13 Marquette
C 50 Robinson, David 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1965–08–06 Navy
F 54 Smith, Charles 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1965–07–16 Pittsburgh
F 3 Williams, Monty 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1971–10–08 Notre Dame
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}

Regular season

Season standings
Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs5923.720–33–826–1519–5
x-Utah Jazz5527.671434–721–2014–10
x-Houston Rockets4834.5851127–1421–2015–9
Denver Nuggets3547.4272424–1711–3013–11
Minnesota Timberwolves2656.3173317–249–3210–14
Dallas Mavericks2656.3173316–2510–3110–14
Vancouver Grizzlies1567.1834410–315–363–21
Western Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 c-Seattle SuperSonics *6418.780–82
2 y-San Antonio Spurs *5923.720582
3 x-Utah Jazz5527.671982
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers5329.6461182
5 x-Houston Rockets4834.5851682
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers4438.5372082
7 x-Phoenix Suns4141.5002382
8 x-Sacramento Kings3943.4762582
9 Golden State Warriors3646.4392882
10 Denver Nuggets3547.4272982
11 Los Angeles Clippers2953.3543582
12 Minnesota Timberwolves2656.3173882
13 Dallas Mavericks2656.3173882
14 Vancouver Grizzlies1567.1834982
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1995-96 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta —4–03–10–43–11–11–12–21–11–11–32–00–22–22–21–14–02–12–22–10–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–01–3
Boston 0–4—2–20–31–30–21–12–10–21–10–42–00–23–13–12–02–20–41–34–01–10–22–00–20–23–10–21–12–2
Charlotte 1–32–2—1–33–12–02–01–30–20–21–31–12–02–23–11–10–33–00–43–12–01–11–10–20–23–11–12–03–1
Chicago 4–03–03–1—4–02–01–14–02–02–02–22–02–03–14–02–03–03–13–14–01–12–02–02–01–13–12–02–04–0
Cleveland 1–33–11–30–4—2–01–12–22–01–12–22–02–01–34–02–01–23–11–24–02–01–11–10–20–23–10–22–03–1
Dallas 1–12–00–20–20–2—2–20–22–21–30–22–20–40–21–10–41–10–21–10–21–30–42–22–22–21–11–34–00–2
Denver 1–11–10–21–11–12–2—1–12–21–30–21–32–20–21–14–00–21–11–12–03–10–40–40–41–32–03–13–11–1
Detroit 2–21–23–10–42–22–01–1—2–01–12–22–00–21–32–21–14–00–41–34–02–02–01–12–01–14–00–22–01–2
Golden State 1–12–02–00–20–22–22–20–2—2–21–13–11–31–11–13–12–00–20–22–01–31–31–31–30–41–11–34–01–1
Houston 1–11–12–00–21–13–13–11–12–2—2–04–03–10–22–02–22–00–20–22–03–12–22–21–30–42–02–24–01–1
Indiana 3–14–03–12–22–22–02–02–21–10–2—2–01–13–03–11–11–31–32–23–11–11–10–21–12–04–00–22–03–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–10–20–22–23–10–21–30–40–2—0–41–11–13–11–11–10–22–03–12–22–21–30–40–21–33–11–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–00–20–20–24–02–22–03–11–31–14–0—2–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–12–23–11–32–22–02–24–01–1
Miami 2–21–32–21–33–12–02–03–11–12–00–31–10–2—3–01–15–01–31–33–11–10–21–11–10–22–10–21–12–2
Milwaukee 2–21–31–30–40–41–11–12–21–10–21–31–10–20–3—1–11–32–21–32–10–22–00–21–10–22–20–21–11–3
Minnesota 1–10–21–10–20–24–00–41–11–32–21–11–31–31–11–1—1–10–20–21–11–30–43–11–30–41–11–32–20–2
New Jersey 0–42–23–00–32–11–12–00–40–20–23–11–10–20–53–11–1—2–20–42–20–21–11–10–20–22–20–22–02–2
New York 1–24–00–31–31–32–01–14–02–02–03–11–11–13–12–22–02–2—1–33–10–20–20–21–11–14–01–11–13–1
Orlando 2–23–14–01–32–11–11–13–12–02–02–22–01–13–13–12–04–03–1—4–02–01–11–11–11–12–11–12–04–0
Philadelphia 1–20–41–30–40–42–00–20–40–20–21–30–21–11–31–21–12–21–30–4—0–20–20–20–20–23–11–11–11–3
Phoenix 2–01–10–21–10–23–11–30–23–11–31–11–31–31–12–03–12–02–00–22–0—2–22–21–30–42–01–34–02–0
Portland 0–22–01–10–21–14–04–00–23–12–21–12–22–22–00–24–01–12–01–12–02–2—1–31–31–32–01–32–20–2
Sacramento 0–20–21–10–21–12–24–01–13–12–22–02–21–31–12–01–31–12–01–12–02–23–1—1–30–42–00–42–20–2
San Antonio 2–02–02–00–22–02–24–00–23–13–11–13–13–11–11–13–12–01–11–12–03–13–13–1—2–22–03–14–01–1
Seattle 2–02–02–01–12–02–23–11–14–04–00–24–02–22–02–04–02–01–11–12–04–03–14–02–2—1–13–13–11–1
Toronto 0–41–31–31–31–31–10–20–41–10–20–42–00–21–22–21–12–20–41–21–30–20–20–20–21–1—0–21–13–1
Utah 1–12–01–10–22–03–11–32–03–12–22–03–12–22–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–13–14–01–31–32–0—4–01–1
Vancouver 0–21–10–20–20–20–41–30–20–40–40–21–30–41–11–12–20–21–10–21–10–42–22–20–41–31–10–4—0–2
Washington 3–12–21–30–41–32–01–12–11–11–10–31–11–12–23–12–02–21–30–43–10–22–02–01–11–11–31–12–0—

Game log

Playoffs
1996 playoff game log
First Round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 26 Phoenix W 120–98 Vinny Del Negro (29) Will Perdue (9) Avery Johnson (18) Alamodome
16,545		 1–0
2 April 28 Phoenix W 110–105 David Robinson (40) David Robinson (21) Avery Johnson (15) Alamodome
19,507		 2–0
3 May 1 @ Phoenix L 93–94 David Robinson (22) Will Perdue (9) Vinny Del Negro (8) America West Arena
19,023		 2–1
4 May 3 @ Phoenix W 116–98 David Robinson (30) David Robinson (13) Avery Johnson (13) America West Arena
19,023		 3–1
Conference semifinals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 7 Utah L 75–95 David Robinson (29) Will Perdue (7) Avery Johnson (5) Alamodome
15,112		 0–1
2 May 9 Utah W 88–77 David Robinson (24) David Robinson (12) Avery Johnson (10) Alamodome
18,635		 1–1
3 May 11 @ Utah L 75–105 Sean Elliott (17) David Robinson (9) Avery Johnson (10) Delta Center
19,911		 1–2
4 May 12 @ Utah L 86–101 Sean Elliott (22) Chuck Person (6) Avery Johnson (8) Delta Center
19,911		 1–3
5 May 14 Utah W 98–87 David Robinson (24) David Robinson (15) Sean Elliott (8) Alamodome
34,215		 2–3
6 May 16 @ Utah L 81–108 Del Negro, Robinson (17) David Robinson (8) Avery Johnson (8) Delta Center
19,911		 2–4
1996 schedule

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Cory Alexander 60 0 9.3 .406 .394 .640 0.7 2.0 0.5 0.0 2.8
Greg Anderson 46 7 7.5 .511 .000 .240 2.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 1.2
Vinny Del Negro 82 82 33.7 .497 .380 .832 3.3 3.8 1.0 0.1 14.5
Dell Demps 16 0 5.4 .576 .500 .824 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.1 3.3
Sean Elliott 77 77 37.7 .466 .411 .771 5.1 2.7 0.9 0.4 20.0
Carl Herrera 44 6 8.9 .412 .000 .294 1.8 0.4 0.2 0.2 1.9
Avery Johnson 82 82 37.6 .494 .194 .721 2.5 9.6 1.5 0.3 13.1
Brad Lohaus 32 1 8.5 .406 .415 .667 1.0 0.5 0.1 0.2 3.3
Will Perdue 80 22 17.5 .523 .000 .536 6.1 0.4 0.4 0.9 5.2
Chuck Person 80 16 26.6 .437 .410 .644 5.2 1.3 0.6 0.3 10.9
J.R. Reid 32 5 20.1 .439 .000 .736 3.8 0.4 0.8 0.3 6.5
Doc Rivers 78 0 15.8 .372 .343 .750 1.8 1.6 0.9 0.3 4.0
David Robinson 82 82 36.8 .516 .333 .761 12.2 3.0 1.4 3.3 25.0
Charles Smith 32 30 25.8 .458 .767 6.3 1.1 1.0 0.9 9.6
Monty Williams 17 0 7.2 .435 .000 .750 1.4 0.2 0.2 0.1 2.9

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Cory Alexander 9 0 7.8 .417 .200 .714 1.0 1.0 0.2 0.0 2.9
Greg Anderson 6 0 5.7 .000 .500 1.5 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.2
Vinny Del Negro 10 10 37.9 .460 .593 .684 2.6 2.9 1.3 0.3 14.3
Sean Elliott 10 10 38.9 .402 .294 .797 3.9 2.5 1.1 0.4 15.5
Carl Herrera 7 0 4.0 .000 1.000 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.3
Avery Johnson 10 10 40.7 .430 .000 .704 3.6 9.4 2.0 0.1 12.3
Will Perdue 10 2 24.2 .690 .800 7.9 0.5 0.2 0.4 7.4
Chuck Person 10 0 28.4 .532 .532 .824 4.0 1.6 0.2 0.3 12.1
Doc Rivers 2 0 10.0 .333 .500 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5
David Robinson 10 10 35.3 .516 .667 10.1 2.4 1.5 2.5 23.6
Charles Smith 10 8 16.5 .500 .375 3.7 1.0 0.7 1.0 5.1
Monty Williams 7 0 4.1 .222 .500 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0

Awards and records

References
  1. 1995-96 San Antonio Spurs
  2. "San Antonio Gets '96 NBA All-Star Game". Deseret News. January 20, 1994. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  3. Winderman, Ira (September 29, 1995). "Free Agent Herrera to Sign with Spurs". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  4. "NBA Locks Out Refs After Pledge Rejected". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 30, 1995. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  5. "San Antonio Spurs Sign Five; Dennis Rodman Still in Limbo". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Services. September 30, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  6. Hillyer, John (October 10, 1995). "Spurs Glad to Be Rid of Rodman". The Oklahoman. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  7. Brown, Clifton (October 3, 1995). "Unhappy Rodman Is Dealt from Spurs to the Bulls". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
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  42. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Rivers Heading to the Booth". The New York Times. July 11, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  43. Kent, Milton (October 31, 1996). "Doc Rivers Goes to Line in TNT Role". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  44. "Rivers Opts to Coach the Magic". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. June 8, 1999. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  45. "PRO BASKETBALL; Spurs Hold the Grizzlies to 62 Points in a Rout". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 9, 1995. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
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  47. Farber, Michael (November 20, 1995). "Whoa, Canada! When the NBA Hit the Court in Toronto and Vancouver, It Was Clear Both Fans and Players Had a Lot to Learn - Sports Illustrated Vault". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
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See also
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