The 1976–77 NBA season was the Spurs first season in the NBA. Months earlier, the Spurs were part of the American Basketball Association (Six in Dallas and three in San Antonio). The ABA had ended its ninth and last campaign. Of the seven remaining ABA teams, four joined the NBA: the Denver Nuggets, New York Nets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs.[1] The Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis agreed to take a cash settlement and cease operations. Immediately, the ABA players were dispersed across the new 22-team league.[1] The other ABA teams from the prior season were all folded prior to the ABA–NBA merger: the Baltimore Claws, Utah Stars, San Diego Sails and Virginia Squires.
The Spurs made their debut on October 22 stunning the 76ers in Philadelphia by a score of 121–118.[2] Afterwards, the Spurs would win just 1 of their next 7 games. In November, the Spurs would win 6 straight. By February the Spurs were 10 games over .500, and were the NBA's highest scoring team at 115 points per game.[2] Despite the offensive flash, the Spurs also had the league's worst defense at 114 points per game as they struggled to finish in 3rd place in the Central Division with a record of 44–38.[2] In the playoffs, the Spurs were swept in 2 straight by the defending world champion Boston Celtics.
Neither the Spurs, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets or Denver Nuggets were allowed to participate in the 1976 NBA draft.
The American Basketball Association merged with the NBA in 1976. Of the teams remaining in the ABA, four joined the NBA. The two teams, the Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis, which folded had their players assigned to a dispersal draft for draft purposes.
| 1976–77 NBA records | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NOJ | NYK | NYN | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | WAS |
| — | 0–4 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | ||
| 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | ||
| 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | ||
| 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | ||
| 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | ||
| 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | ||
| 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | ||
| 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | ||
| 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | ||
| 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | ||
| 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | ||
| 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | ||
| 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | ||
| 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | ||
| 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | ||
| 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | ||
| 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | ||
| 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | ||
| 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | ||
| San Antonio | 0–4 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | |
| 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | ||
| Washington | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | |
Record: 2–4; home: 1–1; road: 1–3
| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record | ||
| 1 | October 22, 1976 | 121–118 | 1–0 | |||
| 2 | October 23, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 98–117 | 1–1 | ||
| 3 | October 26, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 114–122 | 1–2 | ||
| 4 | October 27, 1976 | 106–115 | San Antonio Spurs | 2–2 | ||
| 5 | October 29, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 102–130 | 2–3 | ||
| 6 | October 30, 1976 | 126–117 | San Antonio Spurs | 2–4 |
Record: 9–5; home: 8–0; road: 1–5
| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record | ||
| 7 | November 3, 1976 | 97–113 | 2–5 | |||
| 8 | November 5, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 119–127 | 2–6 | ||
| 9 | November 6, 1976 | 94–113 | San Antonio Spurs | 3–6 | ||
| 10 | November 9, 1976 | 114–138 | San Antonio Spurs | 4–6 | ||
| 11 | November 11, 1976 | 104–108 | San Antonio Spurs | 5–6 | ||
| 12 | November 13, 1976 | 101–113 | 6–6 | |||
| 13 | November 16, 1976 | 112–114 | San Antonio Spurs | 7–6 | ||
| 14 | November 18, 1976 | 104–129 | San Antonio Spurs | 8–6 | ||
| 15 | November 20, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 103–109 | 8–7 | ||
| 16 | November 23, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 122–115 | Buffalo Braves | 9–7 | |
| 17 | November 24, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 91–99 | New York Nets | 9–8 | |
| 18 | November 26, 1976 | 121–123 | San Antonio Spurs | 10–8 | ||
| 19 | November 27, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 89–75 | 10–9 | ||
| 20 | November 30, 1976 | 129–130 | San Antonio Spurs | 11–9 |
Record: 7–7; home: 4–1; road: 3–6
| Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record | ||
| 21 | December 2, 1976 | 116–124 | 11–10 | |||
| 22 | December 3, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 105–114 | 11–11 | ||
| 23 | December 5, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 98–103 | 11–12 | ||
| 24 | December 8, 1976 | 117–106 | San Antonio Spurs | 11–13 | ||
| 25 | December 10, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 136–120 | Milwaukee Bucks | 12–13 | |
| 26 | December 11, 1976 | 106–121 | 13–13 | |||
| 27 | December 14, 1976 | 98–111 | San Antonio Spurs | 14–13 | ||
| 28 | December 15, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 102–116 | Indiana Pacers | 14–14 | |
| 29 | December 17, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 101–103 | 14–15 | ||
| 30 | December 19, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 105–106 | 14–16 | ||
| 31 | December 21, 1976 | 123–120 | San Antonio Spurs | 15–16 | ||
| 32 | December 23, 1976 | 116–118 | San Antonio Spurs | 16–16 | ||
| 33 | December 26, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | 110–105 | 17–16 | ||
| 34 | December 28, 1976 | 116–127 | San Antonio Spurs | 18–16 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 12| @ Boston| L 94–104| Kenon, Gervin (20)| Billy Paultz (10)| Louie Dampier (5)| Boston Garden
13,505| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 15| Boston| L 109–113| George Gervin (30)| three players tied (7)| Mike Gale (7)| HemisFair Arena
12,067| 0–2|-
| Player | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF | 82 | 82 | 2,705 | 454 | 238 | 105 | 104 | 1,895 | 33.0 | 5.5 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 23.1 | ||
| C | 82 | 82 | 2,694 | 687 | 223 | 55 | 173 | 1,280 | 32.9 | 8.4 | 2.7 | .7 | 2.1 | 15.6 | ||
| SG | 82 | 2,598 | 273 | 473 | 191 | 50 | 843 | 31.7 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 2.3 | .6 | 10.3 | |||
| SF | 82 | 2,017 | 348 | 240 | 89 | 2 | 936 | 24.6 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 1.1 | .0 | 11.4 | |||
| PF | 82 | 1,949 | 449 | 119 | 59 | 29 | 853 | 23.8 | 5.5 | 1.5 | .7 | .4 | 10.4 | |||
| C | 82 | 1,772 | 372 | 148 | 88 | 57 | 689 | 21.6 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 1.1 | .7 | 8.4 | |||
| PG | 80 | 1,634 | 76 | 234 | 49 | 15 | 530 | 20.4 | 1.0 | 2.9 | .6 | .2 | 6.6 | |||
| PF | 78 | 2,936 | 879 | 229 | 167 | 60 | 1,705 | 37.6 | 11.3 | 2.9 | 2.1 | .8 | 21.9 | |||
| † | PG | 35 | 606 | 31 | 104 | 23 | 1 | 309 | 17.3 | .9 | 3.0 | .7 | .0 | 8.8 | ||
| PG | 29 | 251 | 17 | 46 | 10 | 0 | 79 | 8.7 | .6 | 1.6 | .3 | .0 | 2.7 | |||
| SG | 27 | 171 | 33 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 83 | 6.3 | 1.2 | .2 | .2 | .2 | 3.1 | |||
| PG | 22 | 356 | 32 | 50 | 13 | 3 | 209 | 16.2 | 1.5 | 2.3 | .6 | .1 | 9.5 | |||
| SG | 4 | 57 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 14.3 | 1.8 | .8 | .5 | .0 | 4.5 | |||
| SG | 2 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 1.5 |
| Player | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PF | 2 | 79 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 34 | 39.5 | 7.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | .5 | 17.0 | |||
| C | 2 | 74 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 37.0 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .5 | 17.0 | |||
| SG | 2 | 67 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 33.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 11.0 | |||
| C | 2 | 64 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 32.0 | 4.5 | 2.5 | .5 | .0 | 13.0 | |||
| SF | 2 | 62 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 50 | 31.0 | 5.5 | 1.5 | .5 | 1.0 | 25.0 | |||
| PG | 2 | 62 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 31.0 | 1.5 | 4.5 | .5 | .5 | 6.0 | |||
| PF | 2 | 42 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 21.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .0 | .5 | 6.5 | |||
| SF | 2 | 28 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 14.0 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .0 | 4.0 | |||
| SG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 4.0 | |||
| PG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |