San Antonio Spurs: 15 players you may have forgot played in San Antonio
No. 5: Terry Cummings (1992-93 to 1994-95)
To look at Terry Cummings’ career arc is to look at the steepest rollercoaster on Earth. Over a ten-year stretch from 1983 to 1992, Cummings averaged 21.3 points and 8.7 rebounds, mostly for historic Milwaukee Bucks teams. After a pick-up game in Chicago destroyed ligaments in his knee, he went on to play nearly another decade in the NBA, never again averaging double-figures in points.
On paper, when the Spurs traded for Cummings, then just a 28-year-old star coming off his second All-Star appearance, it once again looked to be the perfect frontcourt go-to punch. It couldn’t have been a detriment that like Robinson, Cummings was knee-deep into religion and preaching, as well.
The early returns were sensational. Cummings was the de facto “Robin,” averaging 22.4 points and 8.4 rebounds on a 56-win team, despite having to part ways with All-Star guard Alvin Robertson.
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The partnership wasn’t always easy, as Sports Illustrated’s Rick Telander reported in 1992. Cummings apparently feuded with head coach Larry Brown over his new role, which forced him to be more of a defender and rebounder, instead of being able to use his trusty post fallaway jump shot.
Tides changed following that aforementioned Chicago incident. When a 125 lbs player fell onto his leg, his career as an All-Star fixture cratered as well, even as he would later become, as he recalled, the go-to fourth quarter scorer for the Warriors at age 37.
Perhaps fortunes change if either Cummings or Robinson were a bit closer in their respective primes, or even if Strickland’s pass in that 1990 series doesn’t go awry. But, it’s hard to find fault in the success Cummings did have in the Alamo.