San Antonio Spurs: 25 Best Players To Play For The Spurs
By Phil Watson
29. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Purchased contract, Virginia Squires, Jan. 30, 1974.. SG-SF. 1974-85. George Gervin. 3. player
George Gervin had just played in the ABA All-Star Game before the San Antonio Spurs gave the Virginia Squires what they always seemed to need—cash—in exchange for the contract for the 21-year-old swingman.
Gervin became an institution with the Spurs, earning two ABA and nine NBA All-Star berths—including MVP honors at the 1980 NBA All-Star Game—to go with two All-ABA nods and seven All-NBA selections.
He was second in the MVP voting in 1977-78 and 1978-79, finished third in 1979-80 and placed fifth in 1980-81.
Gervin was a four-time NBA scoring champion with the Spurs, including three in a row from 1977-78 through 1979-80 and winning again in 1981-82, placing third in 1980-81 and fourth in 1982-83. He was also fourth in the ABA in scoring in 1973-74.
He was fourth in the NBA in field-goal percentage in 1976-77. He was also fourth in free-throw shooting in 1981-82 and 1982-83 and was fourth in the ABA in 1975-76.
His long stint with the team ended when he was traded to the Chicago Bulls in October 1985 in exchange for Dave Greenwood.
In parts of 12 seasons in San Antonio, Gervin averaged 26.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals and a block in 34.6 minutes per game, shooting .508/.292/.842.
Gervin was a third-round pick out of Eastern Michigan by the Phoenix Suns in the 1974 NBA Draft, but had signed with the Squires in January 1973.
A free agent in the summer of 1986, Gervin played a season in Italy before retiring in 1987. However, he came back in the Continental Basketball Association in 1989 and played a season in Spain, retiring for good in 1990.
He was ninth in ABA history with 377 blocked shots and seventh with an average of 21.9 points per game.
Gervin is also 37th in NBA history with 20,708 points and ninth with an average of 26.2 points per game.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996.
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