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San Antonio Spurs (1989-2003) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Robinson has spent his entire career with the Spurs after being selected by San Antonio with the first pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. He is the team’s all-time NBA leader in points, rebounds, blocks, steals and games played. After his two years of military service, during which he competed at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, he joined the Spurs in 1989-90 and earned Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 24.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.89 blocks and shooting .531 from the field. San Antonio had posted a 21-61 record in 1988-89, but in Robinson's rookie year the Spurs went 56-26 and captured the Midwest Division title. The 35-game improvement marked the greatest single-season turnaround in NBA history. Robinson's numbers were similar in each
of the next three seasons as he took his place among the best in the league. His
achievements included All-NBA First Team selections in 1991 and 1992, an All-NBA
Third Team spot in 1993, and NBA All-Defensive First Team berths in 1991 and
1992. He led the league in blocked shots in 1991-92 at 4.49 per game and was a
member of the original Dream Team that won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in
Barcelona. But the best was yet to come. Robinson scored 71 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on the last day of the 1993-94 season to win the NBA scoring title at 29.8 points per game. (Shaquille O'Neal finished at 29.3). The next year, 1994-95, Robinson averaged 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.23 blocks; paced the Spurs to the NBA's best record at 62-20; and won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. The Spurs advanced to the conference finals before losing to Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston Rockets, who went on to dispatch O'Neal and the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals. Following the 1994-95 season, Robinson was named to the 1996 U.S. Dream Team, which would win a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. Robinson continued his outstanding play in 1995-96, earning All-NBA and All-Defensive First Team honors as he ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring (25.0 ppg), second in rebounding (12.2 rpg), third in blocked shots (3.30 bpg) and 20th in field goal percentage (.516). His career blocked shot average of 3.60 per game is the highest in NBA history among players with 400 or more games played. Back and foot injuries limited Robinson to just six games in 1996-97. He missed the first 18 games of the season while recovering from a lower back strain, then missed the final 58 games after suffering a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his left foot on December 23 in a game against Miami. There were rumors that the Spurs kept Robinson on the injury list in order to play a weak season and therefore improve their position in the draft. This turned out to be a smart move as the Spurs got the #1 pick in 1997. With their first pick the Spurs selected Tim Duncan from Wake Forest.
As Duncan continued to develop into the Spurs' primary weapon, Robinson adjusted his game in 1998-99 and focused more on setting up his teammates, rebounding and playing team defense. The result was a Spurs juggernaut that went 31-5 over the last nine weeks of the regular season and 15-2 in the playoffs for the franchise's first NBA title. Robinson was fifth in the NBA in field goal percentage, led the team in steals and was second on the club behind Duncan in scoring, rebounding and blocks. David Robinson won his second NBA Title in 2003, after the Spurs beat Phoenix, LA Lakers, Dallas and finally the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals. Spurs
Appeared in 64 games, averaging 8.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.73 blocks and .81 steals in 26.2 minutes per contest … shot .469 (197-420) from the field and .710 (152-214) from the line. Won his second NBA Title. Spurs
Appeared in 78 games, averaging 12.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.79 blocks and 1.10 steals in 29.5 minutes per contest … shot .507 (341-672) from the field and .681 (269-395) from the line … ranked 13th in FG percentage and 18th in blocks … on 3/5 vs. Golden State became the 27th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points … on 11/16 vs. Cleveland moved past George Gervin to become the Spurs all-time NBA scoring leader … scored in double-figures 58 times with 20-or-more six times … scored a season-high 27 points – along with 8 boards and a season-high-tying 7 blocks – in 40 minutes at Orlando on 2/3 … had 25 points (12-19 FG, 1-1 FT) in 37 minutes at Phoenix on 2/24 … posted 20 double-doubles … finished with 15 points and a season-high 17 rebounds at Chicago on 3/14 … did not play on 1/29 at Charlotte due to a right quad contusion … missed the final three games of the regular season and six of the team’s 10 playoff games due to a low back sprain … appeared in just four playoff games averaging 4.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 20.3 minutes in the post-season … saw 7 minutes of action in Game 1 vs. Seattle on 4/20 before his back locked up … returned to the court on 5/10 logging 22 minutes in Game 3 vs. the Lakers. Spurs Season 2000-01: Appeared in 80 games, averaging 14.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.46 bpg and one steal in 29.6 mpg....Shot .486 from the field and .747 from the free-throw line....Ranked sixth in the NBA in blocks, 17th in field goal percentage and 21st in rebounds....Posted his 13th career 20-20 game, finishing with 29 points and a season-best 22 rebounds in 41 minutes vs. Detroit on 1/6/01...Scored 20 or more points 11 times with a season-high 34 (14-18 FG, 6-11 FT) in 35 minutes vs. Dallas on 4/10/01....Scored in double figured 67 times....Recorded 22 double-doubles....Blocked four or more shots 18 times with a season high eight rejections on 3/22/01 at Atlanta....Missed two games due to tightness in his lower back....Scored his 19,000th career point on 3/9/01 at the LA Lakers. Spurs Season 1999–2000 Named to the All-NBA Third Team ... appeared in 80 games, averaging 17.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.21 steals and 2.29 blocks in 32.0 minutes ... shot .512 (528-1031) from the field and .726 (317-511) from the line ... was 0-for-2 from three-point land ... ranked 9th in the NBA in rebounds, 6th in blocks and 6th in field goal percentage ... led the Spurs in blocks, steals and FG percentage ... made his ninth All-Star appearance, as a reserve for the Western squad ... became the Spurs all-time NBA leader in games played on 12/18 (passing George Gervin at 709) and the team's all-time leader in steals on 2/18 (passing Alvin Robertson at 1,128) ... scored in double-figures 73 times with 34 double-doubles ... scored 20-or-more 31 times and had 30-plus 5 times ... scored a season-best 38 points in 41 minutes at the Clippers on 1/17 ... had 31 points, 18 boards and 4 blocks in 41 minutes vs. Phoenix on 2/21 ... finished with 30 three times: at Denver on 2/9, at Dallas on 3/21 and at Orlando on 4/4 ... led the team in scoring 29 times, in rebounds 24 times and in blocks 45 times ... got stronger as the season went on - averaged 20.7 points while shooting .533 from the field in his final 45 games of the season ... scored his 17,000th career point vs. Washington on 12/11 and scored point number 18,000 vs. Sacramento on 4/5 ... missed two games due to injury: did not play on 11/27 at Denver due to cervical spasms and missed vs. Toronto on 2/3 due to a right shoulder contusion ... had an impressive run in the post-season ... in the four-game series with Phoenix averaged 23.5 points, 13.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.75 steals and 3.00 blocks in 38.8 minutes ... named to the NBA All-Interview First Team. Spurs Season 1998–99 Named to the 1998-99 NBA All-Interview First Team Led the Spurs in field-goal percentage (.509, 5th in the NBA) and steals (1.41 spg) and ranked 2nd on the team in scoring (15.8 ppg), rebounds (10.0 ppg, 10th), blocked shots (2.43 bpg, 9th) and double-doubles (23, 12th) Scored 23 points (8-16 FG, 7-9 FT) and grabbed a game-high 20 rebounds in an 88-81 victory over the Golden State Warriors on 5/5 Registered game-highs of 29 points (11-19 FG, 7-9 FT) and 12 rebounds in an 87-81 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on 5/4 Posted game-highs of 26 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocked shots, and added 3 assists, in a 98-90 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers on 5/1 Notched his 2,000th career assist, totaling a team-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, against the Dallas Mavericks on 4/13 Recorded game-highs of 25 points, 16 rebounds and 8 blocked shots in a 93-86 victory over the Golden State Warriors on 4/5 Registered game-highs of 24 points (8-14 FG), 16 rebounds and 4 blocked shots against the Toronto Raptors on 3/26 Posted game-highs of 29 points (10-14 FG), 17 rebounds and 3 steals in a 99-81 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on 2/24 Scored his 16,000th career point, totaling 16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocked shots and 3 assists, against the Cleveland Cavaliers on 2/11 Recorded 19 points, 13 rebounds, 7 blocked shots and 4 assists in a 96-82 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on 2/6. Spurs Season 1997–98 Named to the 1997-98 NBA All-Interview Second Team Named to the 1997-98 All-NBA Second Team and to the 1997-98 NBA All-Defensive Second Team Registered 23 points, 18 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and 3 assists against the Portland Trail Blazers on 4/6 Recorded 21 points and game-highs of 14 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 blocked shots in a 103-89 victory over the Miami Heat on 4/2 Totaled team-highs of 27 points, 10 rebounds and 8 blocked shots and added 3 assists in an 86-85 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on 3/24 Posted a game-high 35 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocked shots against the Chicago Bulls on 3/14 Made the game-winning layup at the buzzer, registering team-highs of 19 points, 16 rebounds and 6 blocked shots, in a 79-78 win over the New Jersey Nets on 3/10 Sidelined for six consecutive games, from 2/17 to 2/26, due to a sore right knee Recorded 15 points and 6 rebounds in the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York Named NBA Player of the Week for the week ending 2/1, averaging 31.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg and 3.25 bpg for the 4-0 Spurs Totaled game-highs of 33 points, 18 rebounds and 3 blocked shots and added 4 assists in a 103-97 win over the Sacramento Kings on 2/1 Posted a team-high 34 points (13-15 FG, 8-8 FT), 7 rebounds and 6 blocked shots in a 115-90 win over the Houston Rockets on 1/26 Registered team-highs of 30 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals in a 98-92 overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks on 1/18 Recorded team-highs of 36 points (13-19 FG), 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in a 97-88 win over the Boston Celtics on 1/13 Named NBA Player of the Week for the week ending 12/28, averaging 29.7 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 2.7 apg and 2.33 bpg for the 2-1 Spurs Scored his 15,000th career point, totaling a game-high 34 points (11-14 FG), 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocked shots, in a 101-86 victory over the Boston Celtics on 12/26 Posted a season-high 39 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in a 91-79 win over the Indiana Pacers on 12/23 Registered a game-high 33 points (13-22 FG), 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in a 98-87 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies on 12/17 Scored a game-high 30 points, tying a Spurs franchise record by making 18 free-throws, in a 102-87 win over the L.A. Clippers on 12/10 Recorded team-highs of 29 points and 18 rebounds and added 3 assists against the Minnesota Timberwolves on 11/15 Totaled team-highs of 27 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists against the L.A. Lakers on 11/13 Posted a game-high 36 points, including a game-winning tip-in of his own shot at the buzzer, 16 rebounds and 6 assists in a 93-92 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on 11/11. Spurs Season 1996–97 Robinson played just six games in 1996-97 after missing a total of 17 games in his first seven season. He was sidelined for the first 18 games of the season while recovering from a lower back strain, then saw limited duty after he was activated on Dec. 10. He played in six games and averaged 17.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.5 minutes per game. On Dec. 23, in a game against Miami, Robinson suffered a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his left foot. He was placed on the injured list the next day and underwent surgery on Dec. 27 at which time a screw was inserted in his left foot. He missed the final 58 games of the season. There were rumors that the Spurs kept Robinson on the injury list in order to play a weak season and therefore improve their position in the draft. This turned out to be a smart move as the Spurs got the #1 pick in 1997. With their first pick the Spurs selected Tim Duncan from Wake Forest. Spurs
Robinson had another banner year for the Spurs, earning All-NBA and All-Defensive First Team honors. He led San Antonio in scoring 50 times and rebounding 61 times and posting 63 double-doubles. He ranked second in the league in rebounding at 12.2 rpg and was the only player to grab 1,000 or more rebounds in 1995-96, hauling down an even 1,000. He finished fifth in the league in scoring (25.0 ppg), third in blocked shots (3.30 bpg) and 20th in field goal percentage (.516). Robinson scored 30 points or more 23 times and 40 points or more three times, including a season-high 45 points at New York on Dec. 10. He also scored 44 points against New Jersey on March 8 and 40 points at the Lakers on April 7. Robinson grabbed a season-high 21 rebounds against Portland on Jan. 26 and 20 against Cleveland on Jan. 10, and had a season-high eight blocks three times. His streak of 157 games scoring in double figures was broken on March 6 against Denver when he suffered a laceration of his right middle finger and had six points. But he came back two nights later and got 44 against New Jersey. Robinson was the NBA's Player of the Week on Jan. 14 and Player of the Month for March. He appeared in his seventh consecutive All-Star Game, which was hosted by the Spurs, and had 18 points and 11 rebounds in 23 minutes for the West team. He averaged 23.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.50 blocks, all team highs, in 10 postseason appearances. Spurs Season 1994–95 Robinson won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 1994–95 for his superlative performance with the San Antonio Spurs. He finished among the league leaders in five major statistical categories: scoring (27.6 ppg, third), rebounding (10.8 rpg, seventh), field-goal percentage (.530, 15th), blocked shots (3.23 per game, fourth), and steals (1.65 per game, 15th). He made more foul shots (656) than anyone in the league, converting at a .774 clip. He was leading the league in rebounding when Dennis Rodman joined the team on December 10; Rodman went on the win the NBA rebounding crown. Robinson was named NBA Player of the Month for March after averaging 28.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 4.19 blocks and leading the Spurs to a 14-2 record, the team’s best month ever. On January 1 he became the first Spurs player ever to collect 5,000 career rebounds, and on November 7 he scored his 10,000th career point. At midseason he played in his sixth consecutive All-Star Game. Robinson unleashed some phenomenal performances. On January 15 he collected 43 points and 17 rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks, and four times he tallied 42 points in a game. He set a franchise record with 18 free throws during a 36-point outburst against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 23. On November 15 he hauled down a season-best 20 rebounds versus the Denver Nuggets to go along with 33 points. Most important, he was the best player on the league’s best team in the regular season. San Antonio compiled a 62-20 record and went into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. The Spurs swept Denver in three straight games and then got past the Los Angeles Lakers in six games to meet the Houston Rockets in the conference finals. Robinson’s selection as MVP helped to motivate Houston center Hakeem Olajuwon, the past season’s MVP. Olajuwon got the better of Robinson in the clash. In the series, Robinson averaged 23.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.17 blocks while Olajuwon averaged 35.3 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 4.17 blocks. The Rockets won in six games. Spurs Season 1993–94With the arrival of the NBA’s designated rebounder, Dennis Rodman, taking some of the frontcourt load off his shoulders, Robinson enjoyed his finest season as a pro in 1993–94. He led the league in scoring (29.8 ppg) for the first time in his career, a feat helped greatly by Rodman’s presence underneath, which allowed Robinson to bring his all-around game to the perimeter. Still, it took a 71-point effort on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers on the final day of the season to wrest the scoring crown away from Orlando Magic center Shaquille O’Neal. Robinson became the fourth player ever to score 70 points in a game, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and David Thompson. Among Robinson’s many accomplishments, perhaps most impressive was that he led the Spurs in assists (4.8 apg) from the center position. He also ranked fourth in the league in minutes played (40.5 per game), third in blocked shots (3.31 per game), and 14th in rebounding (10.7 rpg). After earning strong consideration all year for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, he finished as a runner-up to the Houston Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon. Robinson settled for a fifth straight All-Star Game appearance and spots on the All-NBA Second Team and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. On February 17 Robinson became the fourth player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double. In a game against the Detroit Pistons, Robinson had 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocked shots. The Spurs won, 115-96. Robinson carried San Antonio to a 55-27 record, the team’s fifth consecutive season of at least 47 victories. However, the Spurs lost to the Utah Jazz in the opening round of the postseason, three games to one. Robinson averaged 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in the series. Spurs Season 1992–93Robinson was a workhorse for the Spurs in his fourth NBA season. He appeared in all 82 games and played a franchise-record 3,211 minutes. After averaging 23.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.22 blocks, and 1.55 steals, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. He finished the year ranking eighth in the league in scoring, eighth in rebounding, and fifth in blocked shots Robinson played more than 40 minutes 41 times during the season, including 53 against the Chicago Bulls on March 5. He scored in double figures 81 times in 82 games and poured in a season-high 52 points against the Charlotte Hornets on January 16. Robinson was voted by NBA fans to start for the Western Conference All-Star Team for the third straight season; he scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the game. The Spurs had the misfortune of meeting the NBA’s winningest team, the Phoenix Suns, in the Western Conference Semifinals. Phoenix eliminated San Antonio in six games, though Robinson averaged 23.1 points and 12.6 rebounds in the postseason. Spurs Season 1991–92The ending to Robinson’s third NBA season seemed hardly fair. He played most of the year at the All-Star level that has come to characterize his pro career, but then a torn ligament in his left hand sidelined him on March 16. The injury forced him to miss the rest of the regular season and the entire postseason. Without Robinson the Spurs struggled, posting a 5-9 record to end the regular season and then suffering a first-round playoff sweep by the Phoenix Suns. It’s hard to say what the club would have done with Robinson, because he was sensational before getting hurt. He joined elite company by becoming the third player in NBA history to rank among the league’s top 10 in five categories, joining Cliff Hagan (1959–60) and Larry Bird (1985–86). Robinson was seventh in scoring (23.2 ppg), fourth in rebounding (12.2 rpg), first in blocks (4.49 per game), fifth in steals (2.32 per game), and seventh in field-goal percentage (.551). Robinson also was the first player in NBA history to rank among the top five in rebounding, blocks, and steals in a single season. His excellence earned him a second consecutive All-NBA First Team selection, his third-straight NBA All-Star berth, and selection as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. After the season, Robinson traveled to Barcelona with the Dream Team, a spectacular collection of NBA stars that would go on to win the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games. Spurs Season 1990–91The plaudits were stacked to Robinson’s ceiling in only his second NBA season. He again played in all 82 games and by season’s end amassed such prolific numbers that he was named to the All-NBA First Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team. An All-Star for the second straight season, Robinson’s most admirable accomplishment was being the only man in the league to rank among the top 10 in four categories. He finished first in rebounding (13.0 rpg), second in blocked shots (3.90 per game), ninth in scoring (25.6 ppg), and ninth in field-goal percentage (.552). Robinson added 2.5 assists and 1.55 steals per game. He scored 30 points or more 27 times during the season, including a season-high 43 points twice. His rebounding high was 23 on April 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers, and he swatted a season-high 11 shots on January 12 against the Utah Jazz. The Spurs and Robinson returned to the NBA Playoffs after a 55-27 season, but they lost a four-game first-round series to the upstart Golden State Warriors. Robinson averaged 25.8 points and 13.5 rebounds in the postseason. Spurs | ||||||||||||||||||
Robinson came back to play in 73 games
in 1997-98, teaming with star rookie Tim Duncan to lead the Spurs to 56 wins by
averaging 21.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He ranked 10th in the league
in scoring, fifth in rebounding, fifth in shotblocking (2.63 bpg) and 14th in
field goal percentage (.511).
