Selecting the San Antonio Spurs’ Mount Rushmore

San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan

Despite Robinson’s peak, Duncan clearly ranks as the greatest player in franchise history. Duncan was selected first overall in 1997 and was immediately paired with Robinson, who was still great but was an aging star. They formed the Twin Towers, an elite pairing who could both score 20 points and get 10 rebounds while also shutting down the paint.

Still, it was Duncan’s team, and he led the Spurs to their first NBA title at only 22 years old. Four years later, he had arguably his best season as well as a historic postseason in which he averaged a staggering 24.7 points, 15.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.3 blocks. He was so good, in fact, that he led a team that featured a 37-year-old Robinson, a young Parker, and a rookie Ginobili past the Los Angeles Lakers, who were the 3-time defending champions.

That’s no small feat considering they had prime Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant—two of the top 15 players of all time. He then put up incredible numbers in the NBA Finals, including a near quadruple-double, en route to a second championship in five years. Duncan would go on to help lead the team to four championships in his first nine seasons and five in his first 15. Duncan finished his legendary career with 26,496 points, 15,091 rebounds, and 3,020 blocks, all of which are franchise records.

He also has the second highest winning percentage of any player ever (minimum 1000 games), with teammate Ginobili edging him out of number one. Factor in his five championships, and Duncan is the most successful player in recent NBA history, and he did it all with the Spurs.

Overall, the Spurs have had quite a few great players in their fifty-year history. However, Gervin, Parker, Robinson, and Duncan rank as the best of the best.