1976–77 San Antonio Spurs season

1976–77 San Antonio Spurs season
Inaugural NBA 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 (Eliminated 0-2)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KMOL
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From	Head coach Vacant Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season Standings

Central Division

Team	W	L	PCT.	GB
Houston Rockets	49	33	.598	-
Washington Bullets	48	34	.585	1
San Antonio Spurs	44	38	.537	5
Cleveland Cavaliers	43	39	.524	6
New Orleans Jazz	35	47	.427	14
Atlanta Hawks	31	51	.378	18

Game log

October

Record: 2-4; Home: 1-1; Road: 1–3

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	October 22, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	121–118	Philadelphia 76ers	1–0
2	October 23, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	98–117	New York Knicks	1-1
3	October 26, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	114–122	Atlanta Hawks	1–2
4	October 27, 1976	Phoenix Suns	106–115	San Antonio Spurs	2-2
5	October 29, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	102–130	Kansas City Kings	2-3
6	October 30, 1976	Boston Celtics	126–117	San Antonio Spurs	2-4

November

Record: 9-5; Home: 8–0; Road: 1–5

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
7	November 3, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	97-113	Indiana Pacers	2-5
8	November 5, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	119–127	New Orleans Jazz	2–6
9	November 6, 1976	Indiana Pacers	94–113	San Antonio Spurs	3-6
10	November 9, 1976	Seattle SuperSonics	114–138	San Antonio Spurs	4–6
11	November 11, 1976	New York Nets	104–108	San Antonio Spurs	5–6
12	November 13, 1976	Portland Trail Blazers	101–113	San Antonio Spurs	6–6
13	November 16, 1976	Buffalo Braves	112–114	San Antonio Spurs	7–6
14	November 18, 1976	Kansas City Kings	104–129	San Antonio Spurs	8–6
15	November 20, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	103–109	Washington Bullets	8–7
16	November 23, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	122–115	Buffalo Braves	9–7
17	November 24, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	91–99	New York Nets	9–8
18	November 26, 1976	Golden State Warriors	121–123	San Antonio Spurs	10–8
19	November 27, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	89–75	Houston Rockets	10–9
20	November 30, 1976	Detroit Pistons	129–130	San Antonio Spurs	11–9

December

Record: 7–7; Home: 4–1; Road: 3–6

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
21	December 2, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	116-124	Golden State Warriors	11-10
22	December 3, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	105–114	Los Angeles Lakers	11-11
23	December 5, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	98–103	Phoenix Suns	11-12
24	December 8, 1976	Atlanta Hawks	117–106	San Antonio Spurs	11-13
25	December 10, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	136–120	Milwaukee Bucks	12–13
26	December 11, 1976	New Orleans Jazz	106–121	San Antonio Spurs	13-13
27	December 14, 1976	New York Knicks	98–111	San Antonio Spurs	14–13
28	December 15, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	102–116	Indiana Pacers	14–14
29	December 17, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	101–103	Chicago Bulls	14-15
30	December 19, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	105–106	Cleveland Cavaliers	14-16
31	December 21, 1976	Golden State Warriors	123–120	San Antonio Spurs	15-16
32	December 23, 1976	Washington Bullets	116–118	San Antonio Spurs	16–16
33	December 26, 1976	San Antonio Spurs	110–105	Kansas City Kings	17-16
34	December 28, 1976	Philadelphia 76ers	116–127	San Antonio Spurs	18-16

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

Player statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Allan Bristow
Mack Calvin
Mike D'Antoni
Louie Dampier
Coby Dietrick
Mike Gale
George Gervin
George Karl
Larry Kenon
Louie Nelson
Mark Olberding
Billy Paultz
James Silas
Henry Ward

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Allan Bristow
Louie Dampier
Coby Dietrick
Mike Gale
George Gervin
George Karl
Larry Kenon
Mark Olberding
Billy Paultz
Henry Ward

Awards and records

• George Gervin, All-NBA Second Team

References

• Spurs on Basketball Reference