1995–96 San Antonio Spurs season

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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
TelevisionPrime Sports Southwest, KABB
RadioKRIO
< 1994–95 1996–97 >

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. During the off-season, the team signed free agents Carl Herrera, who previously won two championships with the Houston Rockets, and former Spurs center Greg Anderson.[2] Without Dennis Rodman, who was dealt to the Chicago Bulls for Will Perdue during the off-season,[3] 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.[4] The team got off to a solid 11–4 start, holding a 31–14 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, they traded J.R. Reid to the New York Knicks for Charles D. Smith and second-year forward Monty Williams.[5] 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.[6][7] The Spurs went on to win their second straight Midwest Division title with a 59–23 record.[8]

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.[9] 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. Sixth man and three-point specialist Chuck Person contributed 10.9 points per game off the bench, and led the team with 190 three-point field goals.[10] Robinson also finished in second place in Most Valuable Player voting, and in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13] Following the season, Doc Rivers retired.[14]

Draft picks[]

Main article: 1995 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 29 Cory Alexander PG  United States Virginia

Roster[]

1995–96 San Antonio Spurs roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
G 1 Alexander, Cory 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1973–06–22 Virginia
F/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 North Carolina 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

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Midwest Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 59 23 .720 – 33–8 26–15 19–5
x-Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 4 34–7 21–20 14–10
x-Houston Rockets 48 34 .585 11 27–14 21–20 15–9
Denver Nuggets 35 47 .427 24 24–17 11–30 13–11
Minnesota Timberwolves 26 56 .317 33 17–24 9–32 10–14
Dallas Mavericks 26 56 .317 33 16–25 10–31 10–14
Vancouver Grizzlies 15 67 .183 44 10–31 5–36 3–21
Western Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 c-Seattle SuperSonics * 64 18 .780 – 82
2 y-San Antonio Spurs * 59 23 .720 5 82
3 x-Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 9 82
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers 53 29 .646 11 82
5 x-Houston Rockets 48 34 .585 16 82
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers 44 38 .537 20 82
7 x-Phoenix Suns 41 41 .500 23 82
8 x-Sacramento Kings 39 43 .476 25 82
9 Golden State Warriors 36 46 .439 28 82
10 Denver Nuggets 35 47 .427 29 82
11 Los Angeles Clippers 29 53 .354 35 82
12 Minnesota Timberwolves 26 56 .317 38 82
13 Dallas Mavericks 26 56 .317 38 82
14 Vancouver Grizzlies 15 67 .183 49 82


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 — 4–0 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
Boston 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
Charlotte 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
Chicago 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
Cleveland 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
Dallas 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
Denver 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
Detroit 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
Golden State 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
Houston 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
Indiana 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
L.A. Clippers 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. Lakers 2–0 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
Miami 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
Milwaukee 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
Minnesota 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
New Jersey 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
New York 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
Orlando 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
Philadelphia 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
Phoenix 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
Portland 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
Sacramento 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
Seattle 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
Toronto 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
Utah 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
Vancouver 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
Washington 3–1 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[]

1996 playoff game log
First Round: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
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[]

Transactions[]

References[]

  1. ^ 1995-96 San Antonio Spurs
  2. ^ "Spurs Glad to Be Rid of Rodman". The Oklahoman. October 10, 1995. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Unhappy Rodman Is Dealt From Spurs to the Bulls". New York Times. October 3, 1995. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Deal Smith, and His Salary, to San Antonio". New York Times. February 9, 1996. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  6. ^ "SPURS MARCH TO 17TH STRAIGHT VICTORY". Washington Post. April 1, 1996. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  7. ^ "NBA teams that went unbeaten for a full month". HoopsHype. December 3, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  8. ^ "1995–96 San Antonio Spurs Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "Jordan's Latest Honor: Unanimous First Team". Los Angeles Times. May 24, 1996. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  10. ^ "1995–96 San Antonio Spurs Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Spurs Dig In and Bury Suns to Advance". Los Angeles Times. May 4, 1996. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  13. ^ "Spurs Get Played by This Jazz Ensemble". Los Angeles Times. May 17, 1996. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  14. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Rivers Heading to the Booth". New York Times. July 11, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2022.

See also[]

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