Selecting the San Antonio Spurs’ Mount Rushmore
By Cal Durrett
San Antonio Spurs: David Robinson
Despite being a league MVP and a 10-time all-star, David Robinson is often overlooked during all-time debates. That’s crazy to think, given how dominant he was and how he completely transformed the Spurs. During the 1988–1989 season, the team won just 21 games. However, when the Admiral joined the team in 1989, they won an impressive 56 games, thanks to Robinson having one of the greatest rookie seasons ever.
He averaged an incredible 24.3 points, 12 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, 1.7 steals, and shot 53.1% from the field. Robinson continued to put up historic numbers over his first seven seasons and led the Spurs to the playoffs each year, including the Western Conference Finals in 1995.
Unfortunately, he missed most of the 1996-97 season, but that resulted in the Spurs ending up with the number one pick and selecting Tim Duncan. Just two seasons later, Robinson and Duncan led the Spurs to victory over the New York Knicks in the NBA finals to win the franchise’s first title.
During their five years as teammates, Duncan and Robinson formed one of the greatest power forward-center combinations in NBA history, combining to make eight all-star teams during that span and winning two NBA championships.
Robinson retired as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker, and while Duncan eventually surpassed him in all three categories, Robinson was likely better at his peak. That makes him all the more impressive.