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San Antonio Spurs: 25 Best Players To Play For The Spurs

By Phil Watson

Apr 24, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; A general view of the AT&T center before the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; A general view of the AT&T center before the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON - 1981: Johnny Moore #00 of the San Antonio Spurs drives the ball up court against the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1981 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1981 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON – 1981: Johnny Moore #00 of the San Antonio Spurs drives the ball up court against the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1981 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 1981 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /

29. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Milwaukee Bucks, July 1, 1992.. PG. 1980-87, 1989-90. Johnny Moore. 17. player

Johnny Moore fought an uphill climb just to make an NBA roster, but his toughest fight came off the court.

The San Antonio Spurs acquired the rights to Moore, a second-round pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, from the Seattle SuperSonics in a straight cash deal in June 1979, but waived the point guard in October 1979.

SAS_17_MOORE
SAS_17_MOORE /

Moore re-signed with the Spurs in March 1980 and did not play with the club that season, but earned a spot as a backup in 1980-81.

He took over the starting job in 1981-82 and led the NBA in assists that season, finishing second in 1982-83, third in 1984-85 and fifth in 1983-84, when he was also third in three-point shooting.

Moore was second in the league in steals in 1984-85 and third in 1982-83.

But he was felled in December 1985 by a rare form of meningitis known as “Desert Fever” and it nearly ended his career and put his life in jeopardy. He needed two operations to relieve swelling on his brain and it appeared his NBA career was done.

Moore battled back to earn a job as a reserve for the Spurs in 1986-87, but was waived in December 1987.

He returned to San Antonio as a free agent in November 1989 after playing a season in Mexico.

His career ended when he was released by the Spurs in August 1990.

In parts of nine seasons, Moore averaged 9.4 points, 7.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 25.9 minutes per game, shooting .460/.251/.712.

He averagted 10.2 points as a senior at Texas and was taken by the Sonics in the second round, 43rd overall, in the 1979 NBA Draft before his rights were sold to San Antonio.

He signed with the New Jersey Nets in December 1987, but was waived 12 days later after playing in just one game.

Moore is 21st in NBA history with an average of 7.4 assists per game and 15th with an average of 2.0 steals per game. He is currently a head coach in the American Basketball Association.

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