1976–77 San Antonio Spurs season

1976–77 San Antonio Spurs season
Head coach Doug Moe
Arena HemisFair Arena
Results
Record 44–38 (.537)
Place Division: 3rd (Central)
Conference: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finish East First Round
(Lost to Celtics 0–2)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television KMOL-TV
Radio WOAI

The 1976–77 NBA season was the Spurs first season in the NBA. Months earlier, the Spurs were part of the American Basketball Association (Six in Dallas and three in San Antonio). The ABA had ended its ninth and last campaign. Of the seven remaining ABA teams, four joined the NBA: the Denver Nuggets, New York Nets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs.[1] The Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis agreed to take a cash settlement and cease operations. Immediately, the ABA players were dispersed across the new 22-team league.[1] The other ABA teams from the prior season were all folded prior to the ABA–NBA merger: the Baltimore Claws, Utah Stars, San Diego Sails and Virginia Squires.

The Spurs made their debut on October 22 stunning the 76ers in Philadelphia by a score of 121–118.[2] Afterwards, the Spurs would win just 1 of their next 7 games. In November, the Spurs would win 6 straight. By February the Spurs were 10 games over .500, and were the NBA's highest scoring team at 115 points per game.[2] Despite the offensive flash, the Spurs also had the league's worst defense at 114 points per game as they struggled to finish in 3rd place in the Central Division with a record of 44–38.[2] In the playoffs, the Spurs were swept in 2 straight by the defending world champion Boston Celtics.

Offseason

NBA Draft

Neither the Spurs, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets or Denver Nuggets were allowed to participate in the 1976 NBA draft.

ABA Dispersal Draft

The American Basketball Association merged with the NBA in 1976. Of the teams remaining in the ABA, four joined the NBA. The two teams, the Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis, which folded had their players assigned to a dispersal draft for draft purposes.

Pick Player Nationality NBA Team ABA Team Purchase Price
10 Louie Dampier (PG)  United States San Antonio Spurs Kentucky Colonels $20,000

Roster

San Antonio Spurs roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
F 30 United States Bristow, Allan 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Virginia Tech
G 10 United States Dampier, Louie 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Kentucky
F/C 25 United States Dietrick, Coby 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) San José State
G 12 United States Gale, Mike 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Elizabeth City State
G/F 44 United States Gervin, George 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Eastern Michigan
G 22 United States Karl, George 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) North Carolina
F 35 United States Kenon, Larry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Memphis
F 53 United States Olberding, Mark 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Minnesota
F/C 5 United States Paultz, Billy 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) St. John's
G 13 United States Silas, James 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Stephen F. Austin
G 15 United States Ward, Henry 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jackson State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division
TeamWLPCT.GB
Houston Rockets4933.598–
Washington Bullets4834.5851
San Antonio Spurs4438.5375
Cleveland Cavaliers4339.5246
New Orleans Jazz3547.42714
Atlanta Hawks3151.37818

[3]

Record vs. opponents

1976–77 NBA records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NOJ NYK NYN PHI PHO POR SAS SEA WAS
Atlanta —0–44–02–22–22–20–40–41–30–41–22–22–21–31–33–11–30–43–14–01–21–3
Boston 4–0—3–12–21–33–12–21–32–21–23–12–13–12–22–23–11–32–21–34–02–20–4
Buffalo 0–41–3—1–32–22–23–10–31–31–30–31–33–13–11–32–22–23–11–30–43–10–4
Chicago 2–22–23–1—3–11–32–22–21–32–22–23–13–14–02–22–12–22–20–43–12–21–2
Cleveland 2–23–12–21–3—2–21–32–21–32–13–12–24–02–22–23–11–32–12–22–23–11–3
Denver 2–21–32–23–12–2—3–12–23–03–13–12–23–13–12–23–11–33–12–21–24–02–2
Detroit 4–02–21–32–23–11–3—3–12–22–24–01–33–13–11–23–12–22–22–21–21–31–3
Golden State 4–03–13–02–22–22–21–3—2–14–01–32–21–31–31–33–13–14–01–32–21–33–1
Houston 3–12–23–13–13–10–32–21–2—4–02–22–23–12–22–22–21–33–13–12–23–13–1
Indiana 4–02–13–12–21–21–32–20–40–4—2–21–32–22–22–24–02–22–20–42–22–20–4
Kansas City 2–11–33–02–21–31–30–43–12–22–2—1–32–22–24–04–01–33–12–21–31–32–2
Los Angeles 2–21–23–11–32–22–23–12–22–23–13–1—3–13–01–34–02–23–13–13–13–14–0
Milwaukee 2–21–31–31–30–41–31–33–11–32–22–21–3—1–21–33–11–21–32–23–11–31–3
New Orleans 3–12–21–30–42–21–31–33–12–22–22–20–32–1—3–12–20–43–12–21–31–32–2
N.Y. Knicks 3–12–23–12–22–22–22–13–12–22–20–43–13–11–3—2–21–32–21–31–31–22–2
N.Y. Nets 1–31–32–21–21–31–31–31–32–20–40–40–41–32–22–2—1–32–20–31–31–31–3
Philadelphia 3–13–12–22–23–13–12–21–33–12–23–12–22–14–03–13–1—1–22–21–32–23–1
Phoenix 4–02–21–32–21–21–32–20–41–32–21–31–33–11–32–22–22–1—1–31–33–11–3
Portland 1–33–13–14–02–22–22–23–11–34–02–21–32–22–23–13–02–23–1—2–23–11–2
San Antonio 0–40–44–01–32–22–12–12–22–22–23–11–31–33–13–13–13–13–12–2—3–12–2
Seattle 2–12–21–32–21–30–43–13–11–32–23–11–33–13–12–13–12–21–31–31–3—3–1
Washington 3–14–04–02–13–12–23–11–31–34–02–20–43–12–22–23–11–33–12–12–21–3—

Game log

October

Record: 2–4; Home: 1–1; Road: 1–3

#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1October 22, 1976San Antonio Spurs121–118Philadelphia 76ers1–0
2October 23, 1976San Antonio Spurs98–117New York Knicks1–1
3October 26, 1976San Antonio Spurs114–122Atlanta Hawks1–2
4October 27, 1976Phoenix Suns106–115San Antonio Spurs2–2
5October 29, 1976San Antonio Spurs102–130Kansas City Kings2–3
6October 30, 1976Boston Celtics126–117San Antonio Spurs2–4

[4]

November

Record: 9–5; Home: 8–0; Road: 1–5

#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
7November 3, 1976San Antonio Spurs97–113Indiana Pacers2–5
8November 5, 1976San Antonio Spurs119–127New Orleans Jazz2–6
9November 6, 1976Indiana Pacers94–113San Antonio Spurs3–6
10November 9, 1976Seattle SuperSonics114–138San Antonio Spurs4–6
11November 11, 1976New York Nets104–108San Antonio Spurs5–6
12November 13, 1976Portland Trail Blazers101–113San Antonio Spurs6–6
13November 16, 1976Buffalo Braves112–114San Antonio Spurs7–6
14November 18, 1976Kansas City Kings104–129San Antonio Spurs8–6
15November 20, 1976San Antonio Spurs103–109Washington Bullets8–7
16November 23, 1976San Antonio Spurs122–115Buffalo Braves9–7
17November 24, 1976San Antonio Spurs91–99New York Nets9–8
18November 26, 1976Golden State Warriors121–123San Antonio Spurs10–8
19November 27, 1976San Antonio Spurs89–75Houston Rockets10–9
20November 30, 1976Detroit Pistons129–130San Antonio Spurs11–9

[4]

December

Record: 7–7; Home: 4–1; Road: 3–6

#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
21December 2, 1976San Antonio Spurs116–124Golden State Warriors11–10
22December 3, 1976San Antonio Spurs105–114Los Angeles Lakers11–11
23December 5, 1976San Antonio Spurs98–103Phoenix Suns11–12
24December 8, 1976Atlanta Hawks117–106San Antonio Spurs11–13
25December 10, 1976San Antonio Spurs136–120Milwaukee Bucks12–13
26December 11, 1976New Orleans Jazz106–121San Antonio Spurs13–13
27December 14, 1976New York Knicks98–111San Antonio Spurs14–13
28December 15, 1976San Antonio Spurs102–116Indiana Pacers14–14
29December 17, 1976San Antonio Spurs101–103Chicago Bulls14–15
30December 19, 1976San Antonio Spurs105–106Cleveland Cavaliers14–16
31December 21, 1976Golden State Warriors123–120San Antonio Spurs15–16
32December 23, 1976Washington Bullets116–118San Antonio Spurs16–16
33December 26, 1976San Antonio Spurs110–105Kansas City Kings17–16
34December 28, 1976Philadelphia 76ers116–127San Antonio Spurs18–16

[4]

Playoffs

East First Round

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs: Celtics win series 2–0

  • Game 1 @ Boston: Boston 104, San Antonio 94
  • Game 2 @ San Antonio: Boston 113, San Antonio 109

Awards and records

References

  1. 1 2 NBA.com: Walton, Lucas Ignite 'Blazermania'
  2. 1 2 3 San Antonio Spurs (1973–Present)
  3. ↑ 1970–71 NBA Season Summary – Basketball-Reference.com
  4. 1 2 3 1976–77 San Antonio Spurs Games – Basketball-Reference.com
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