Fansided

Every NBA team’s worst iteration ever

By Rich Kraetsch

BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA – 1990: Willie Anderson #40 of San Antonio Spurs shoots against the Atlanta Hawks during a game played circa 1990 at the Omni in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1990 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA – 1990: Willie Anderson #40 of San Antonio Spurs shoots against the Atlanta Hawks during a game played circa 1990 at the Omni in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1990 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

San Antonio Spurs (1988-89, 21-61, -7.45 SRS)

The San Antonio Spurs franchise dates back to the Dallas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association. In the 51 seasons the Spurs have existed, they have missed the playoffs only five times.

Five times in 51 seasons!

That’s not fair.

As a result, there aren’t a whole lot of seasons to highlight here. I have five contenders to choose from and one of their worst (1996-97) featured their best player (David Robinson) out for most of the season with an injury and the (gasp!) intent to lose as many games as possible in a season. The result was the Spurs getting the first overall pick and Tim Duncan, setting up another two decades of success for the franchise. You can’t pick that year.

Thus, my pick is 1988-89. The Spurs went 21-61 that year under head coach and former ABA player Larry Brown. Brown was brought in fresh off winning a National Championship at the University of Kansas.

San Antonio was in the midst of the first true “dark period” as a franchise. Despite going 31-51 the prior season, they were awarded a playoff berth (eventually losing in the first round to 62-win, eventual NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers). That year they were without their number one overall pick as United States Naval Academy graduate Devin Robinson had a two-year commitment he had to serve with the US Navy. That meant despite using the top pick on the dominant big man, San Antonio would have to wait until the 1989-90 season to see him in action.

This was a monumental risk at the time but one that absolutely paid off for San Antonio in the long-term. Robinson accrued the most career Win Shares among players in his draft class (including Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant) despite playing less years.

Not having access to their number one overall pick coupled with a deep but star-lacking roster led to the disastrous 1988-89 season as San Antonio finished with a record of 21-61, the worst in franchise history.

Six players on the 1988-89 Spurs finished with double figures in scoring led by 1988 first round draft pick Willie Anderson’s 18.6 PPG. The remainder of the Spurs double figure scorers—Alvin Robertson, Johnny Dawkins, Greg Anderson, Frank Brickowski and Vernon Maxwell—were under 30 and the team seemed to be developing a strong core for the future.

The present, though, was not bright.

San Antonio’s average margin of victory was well over seven points per game. The Spurs were near the bottom of the league in effective field goal percentage and despite playing at the sixth-highest pace in the league (104.1), they finished 23rd (out of 25) in offensive rating at 100.9.

Throughout the year, San Antonio battled injuries and poor play across their roster. In total, 22 players suited up for the Spurs in 1988-89 including Over and Back Classic NBA podcast favorite Mike Smrek and someone named Dallas Comegys.

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