1995–96 San Antonio Spurs season explained

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]

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

See main article: article and 1995 NBA draft.

Regular season

Season standings

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1995-96 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
— 4–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–3
0–4 — 2–2 0–3 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–4 1–3 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
1–3 2–2 — 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–3 3–0 0–4 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–1
4–0 3–0 3–1 — 4–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 4–0
1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 — 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 1–2 3–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 — 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 4–0 0–2
1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 — 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1
2–2 1–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 4–0 0–4 1–3 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–2
1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 — 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 — 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 — 2–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 3–0
0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 — 0–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1
L.A. Lakers2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 4–0 — 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 0–2 — 3–0 1–1 5–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–3 — 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3
1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 — 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2
0–4 2–2 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–4 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 3–1 1–1 — 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–2
1–2 4–0 0–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 — 1–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 3–1
2–2 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 — 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
1–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–0 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 — 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–3
2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 — 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 — 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2
0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 — 1–3 0–4 2–0 0–4 2–2 0–2
San Antonio 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 — 2–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1
2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 4–0 2–2 — 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1
0–4 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–4 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 — 0–2 1–1 3–1
1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 2–0 — 4–0 1–1
0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 — 0–2
Washington3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 —

Game log

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 26| Phoenix| W 120–98| Vinny Del Negro (29)| Will Perdue (9)| Avery Johnson (18)| Alamodome
16,545| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 28| Phoenix| W 110–105| David Robinson (40)| David Robinson (21)| Avery Johnson (15)| Alamodome
19,507| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 1| @ Phoenix| L 93–94| David Robinson (22)| Will Perdue (9)| Vinny Del Negro (8)| America West Arena
19,023| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| May 3| @ Phoenix| W 116–98| David Robinson (30)| David Robinson (13)| Avery Johnson (13)| America West Arena
19,023| 3–1|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| May 7| Utah| L 75–95| David Robinson (29)| Will Perdue (7)| Avery Johnson (5)| Alamodome
15,112| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| May 9| Utah| W 88–77| David Robinson (24)| David Robinson (12)| Avery Johnson (10)| Alamodome
18,635| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 11| @ Utah| L 75–105| Sean Elliott (17)| David Robinson (9)| Avery Johnson (10)| Delta Center
19,911| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 12| @ Utah| L 86–101| Sean Elliott (22)| Chuck Person (6)| Avery Johnson (8)| Delta Center
19,911| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 14| Utah| W 98–87| David Robinson (24)| David Robinson (15)| Sean Elliott (8)| Alamodome
34,215| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| May 16| @ Utah| L 81–108| Del Negro, Robinson (17)| David Robinson (8)| Avery Johnson (8)| Delta Center
19,911| 2–4|-

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player
PG82 82 3,084 206 789 119 21 1,071 37.6 2.5 9.6 1.5 .3 13.1
C82 82 3,019 1,000 247 111 271 2,051 36.8 12.2 3.0 1.4 3.3 25.0
SG82 82 2,766 272 315 85 6 1,191 33.7 3.3 3.8 1.0 .1 14.5
C80 22 1,396 485 33 28 75 413 17.5 6.1 .4 .4 .9 5.2
SF80 16 2,131 413 100 49 26 873 26.6 5.2 1.3 .6 .3 10.9
PG78 0 1,235 138 123 73 21 311 15.8 1.8 1.6 .9 .3 4.0
SF77 77 2,901 396 211 69 33 1,537 37.7 5.1 2.7 .9 .4 20.0
PG60 0 560 42 121 27 2 168 9.3 .7 2.0 .5 .0 2.8
PF46 7 344 100 10 9 24 54 7.5 2.2 .2 .2 .5 1.2
PF44 6 393 81 16 9 8 85 8.9 1.8 .4 .2 .2 1.9
†PF32 30 826 202 36 32 29 306 25.8 6.3 1.1 1.0 .9 9.6
†PF32 5 643 123 14 25 10 208 20.1 3.8 .4 .8 .3 6.5
†PF32 1 273 33 17 2 7 107 8.5 1.0 .5 .1 .2 3.3
†SF17 0 122 23 4 4 2 49 7.2 1.4 .2 .2 .1 2.9
SG16 0 87 9 8 3 1 53 5.4 .6 .5 .2 .1 3.3

Playoffs

Player
PG10 10 407 36 94 20 1 123 40.7 3.6 9.4 2.0 .1 12.3
SF10 10 389 39 25 11 4 155 38.9 3.9 2.5 1.1 .4 15.5
SG10 10 379 26 29 13 3 143 37.9 2.6 2.9 1.3 .3 14.3
C10 10 353 101 24 15 25 236 35.3 10.1 2.4 1.5 2.5 23.6
PF10 8 165 37 10 7 10 51 16.5 3.7 1.0 .7 1.0 5.1
C10 2 242 79 5 2 4 74 24.2 7.9 .5 .2 .4 7.4
SF10 0 284 40 16 2 3 121 28.4 4.0 1.6 .2 .3 12.1
PG9 0 70 9 9 2 0 26 7.8 1.0 1.0 .2 .0 2.9
SF7 0 29 7 0 0 0 7 4.1 1.0 .0 .0 .0 1.0
PF7 0 28 4 1 2 1 2 4.0 .6 .1 .3 .1 .3
PF6 0 34 9 0 2 1 1 5.7 1.5 .0 .3 .2 .2
PG2 0 20 1 0 0 0 3 10.0 .5 .0 .0 .0 1.5

Awards and records

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1996.html 1995-96 San Antonio Spurs
  2. News: San Antonio Gets '96 NBA All-Star Game . Deseret News . January 20, 1994 . April 19, 2023.
  3. News: Winderman . Ira . Free Agent Herrera to Sign with Spurs . Sun Sentinel . September 29, 1995 . June 30, 2022.
  4. News: Staff and Wire Reports . NBA Locks Out Refs After Pledge Rejected . Los Angeles Times . September 30, 1995 . September 22, 2022.
  5. News: Wire Services . San Antonio Spurs Sign Five; Dennis Rodman Still in Limbo . The Spokesman-Review . September 30, 1995 . January 29, 2023.
  6. News: Hillyer . John . Spurs Glad to Be Rid of Rodman . The Oklahoman . October 10, 1995 . December 30, 2021.
  7. News: Brown . Clifton . Unhappy Rodman Is Dealt from Spurs to the Bulls . The New York Times . October 3, 1995 . July 3, 2021.
  8. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Bulls Take a Chance on Rodman: Pro Basketball: Controversial Forward Is Traded from San Antonio for Will Perdue . Los Angeles Times . October 3, 1995 . May 15, 2022.
  9. News: Gano . Rick . Bulls Acquire Rodman from Spurs . The Washington Post . October 3, 1995 . December 3, 2022.
  10. News: Smith . Sam . Spurs' Missing Man Not Missed . Chicago Tribune . October 8, 1995 . June 30, 2022.
  11. News: Bembry . Jerry . NBA Coaches Recognize Howard's Star Quality; Bullets' 2nd-Year Player Named Eastern Reserve . The Baltimore Sun . January 31, 1996 . April 19, 2023.
  12. News: Heisler . Mark . NBA Has All-Stars in Its Eyes . Los Angeles Times . February 11, 1996 . January 2, 2023.
  13. News: NBA.com Staff . 1996 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 16, 2023.
  14. Web site: 1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118 . Basketball-Reference . October 13, 2021.
  15. News: NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996 . Basketball-Reference . July 18, 2022.
  16. News: Shannon . Kelley . Knicks, Spurs Make Four-Player Deal . Associated Press . February 8, 1996 . December 13, 2022.
  17. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Deal Smith, and His Salary, to San Antonio . The New York Times . February 9, 1996 . July 18, 2021.
  18. News: Spurs Get Knicks' Smith in Package . Chicago Tribune . February 9, 1996 . June 22, 2023.
  19. News: NBA NOTES; Knicks Send Smith to Spurs for Reid . SFGate . February 9, 1996 . September 24, 2022.
  20. News: Spurs March to 17th Straight Victory . The Washington Post . April 1, 1996 . January 17, 2022.
  21. News: San Antonio Wins 17th Straight Game . The Oklahoman . April 1, 1996 . January 30, 2023.
  22. News: Bowman . Tyrone . Streaking San Antonio Spurs Set Franchise Mark, Cap Perfect March . Hoops Habit . April 2, 2014 . February 25, 2023.
  23. News: NBA Teams That Went Unbeaten for a Full Month . HoopsHype . December 3, 2021 . January 17, 2022.
  24. Web site: 1995–96 San Antonio Spurs Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
  25. News: Associated Press . Jordan's Latest Honor: Unanimous First Team . Los Angeles Times . May 24, 1996 . January 19, 2022.
  26. Web site: 1995–96 San Antonio Spurs Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 21, 2021.
  27. News: Jordan Named NBA MVP . United Press International . May 20, 1996 . February 1, 2023.
  28. News: Jordan Wins 4th MVP . Tampa Bay Times . May 21, 1996 . July 25, 2022.
  29. News: Nadel . Mike . Jordan's MVP Price Tag: $18 Million a Year . South Coast Today . May 21, 1996 . June 10, 2022.
  30. News: 1995–96 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . January 2, 2022.
  31. News: Bulls' Jackson NBA Coach of Year . United Press International . May 7, 1996 . February 1, 2023.
  32. News: Isaacson . Melissa . Better Late Than Never: Jackson Selected Coach of the Year . Chicago Tribune . May 8, 1996 . February 1, 2023.
  33. News: 1995-96 Regular Season Award Winners . Eskimo.com . February 24, 2023.
  34. News: Associated Press . NBA PLAYOFFS; The Spurs Eliminate the Suns . The New York Times . May 4, 1996 . May 15, 2022.
  35. News: Associated Press . Spurs Dig in and Bury Suns to Advance . Los Angeles Times . May 4, 1996 . June 4, 2022.
  36. News: Tribune News Services . Spurs 116, Suns 98 . Chicago Tribune . May 4, 1996 . November 25, 2022.
  37. News: 1996 NBA Western Conference First Round: Suns vs. Spurs . Basketball-Reference . February 5, 2023.
  38. News: Associated Press . NBA PLAYOFFS; Jazz Sends the Spurs Home . The New York Times . May 17, 1996 . May 15, 2022.
  39. News: Associated Press . Spurs Get Played by This Jazz Ensemble . Los Angeles Times . May 17, 1996 . June 4, 2022.
  40. News: In the End, Spurs Left with No Kick . The Washington Post . May 18, 1996 . November 25, 2022.
  41. News: 1996 NBA Western Conference Semifinals: Jazz vs. Spurs . Basketball-Reference . February 5, 2023.
  42. News: SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Rivers Heading to the Booth . The New York Times . July 11, 1996 . January 14, 2022.
  43. News: Kent . Milton . Doc Rivers Goes to Line in TNT Role . The Baltimore Sun . October 31, 1996 . October 5, 2022.
  44. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Rivers Opts to Coach the Magic . Los Angeles Times . June 8, 1999 . January 4, 2023.
  45. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; Spurs Hold the Grizzlies to 62 Points in a Rout . The New York Times . November 9, 1995 . October 22, 2022.
  46. News: Associated Press . NBA ROUNDUP: Olajuwon Spins to Milestone, Then Sends Rockets to Victory . Los Angeles Times . November 12, 1995 . February 24, 2023.
  47. News: Farber . Michael . 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 . November 20, 1995 . January 4, 2023.
  48. News: Vancouver Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs Box Score, November 8, 1995 . Basketball-Reference . October 22, 2022.

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