5 NBA legends you forgot played for the San Antonio Spurs

Tracy McGrady #1 of the San Antonio Spurs warms-up before taking on the Miami Heat in Game Four of the 2013 NBA Finals at the AT&T Center on June 13, 2013 in San Antonio, Texas. 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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Maurice Cheeks #10 of the San Antonio Spurs (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

1. Maurice Cheeks — 1989-90 season

Maurice Cheeks was one of the most underrated point guards of his era. He was someone who was just over overlooked because he played in the same era as Magic Johnson. However, Cheeks was one of the greats of the 80s. He was helping lead different teams, but his time with the San Antonio Spurs was strange.

He was traded there from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Spurs in the 1989 offseason. He was with the Spurs for 50 games as he tried to lead a team with a young David Robinson, but he was only able to average just over 10 points per game and 6 assists. The Spurs were likely hoping for more, and they traded Cheeks to the New York Knicks in the middle of the season.

Cheeks helped the Spurs make a record turnaround, going from one of the worst teams in the league to a playoff contender. It was a trade that had a lot of people scratching their heads. In fact, both trades did that. It was strange to send a prime point guard to a bottom dweller, and then it was even stranger to send him away when he helped the team turn around.

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The Spurs traded Cheeks for 23-year-old Rod Strickland. He had a few good games against the Spurs, and he was good when he joined the team during the season. However, he did have one of the most costly turnovers of that era when his behind the head pass was intercepted and change the outcome of the Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers. Would things have been different with Cheeks in the driver’s seat? Maybe the Spurs have another Finals appearance before the arrival of Tim Duncan.

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