Ranking the NBA’s small market teams
#1: San Antonio Spurs
One could make the case that the San Antonio Spurs are the greatest team in any American sport. Their all-time winning percentage of .611 is not just the best out of any small market NBA team, it’s the best winning percentage of any American sports team, period. They have missed the playoffs only seven times in their 42 seasons, having a winning record in 36 of those.
The Spurs made the playoffs 22 seasons in a row from 1998-2019, second only to the Detroit Red Wings at 25. The Spurs do not mess around. They win basketball games, and that’s pretty much it. There’s no need for flash, swag, or even fun when you have five banners in six NBA Finals appearances. Do you know what’s more fun than a 360-degree dunk? Winning a basketball game.
People love to discredit the Spurs for being a “system” created by Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich. I have two points to refute that: Jordan and Phil Jackson had a system, as do Curry, and Steve Kerr. Simply put, systems result in wins. Second of all, that’s just not true. In 20 seasons without Popovich, the Spurs still made the postseason 17 times. Sure, they never won the Finals, but they were a great team. People forget that there was a time that George Gervin was considered a top 10 player ever.
The Spurs played with a rigid hierarchy during their peak. Popovich was on top, but Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker were his go-to guys. They kept everyone else in line and created a dynasty, unlike anything the NBA has ever seen, and frankly will ever see again.
The Spurs never repeated like the Pistons, but they also never had a down year. Any given season, you could pick the Spurs to win it all and everyone would nod their head in agreement. They were as consistent as a team could be. They were a well-oiled machine.
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Can you tell that I’m a diehard Spurs fan? I have been since birth. I was raised right. Even with my bias, Piston and Jazz fans would agree with me. The Spurs beat them out, and it’s not even close. You knew San Antonio was number one on this list before you even started to read because of course they are. Where else would I put them? Anywhere else would just be wrong.