1987–88 San Antonio Spurs season

1987–88   San Antonio Spurs season
Head coach	Bob Weiss
General manager	Bob Bass
Owner	Angelo Drossos
Arena	HemisFair Arena
Results
Record	31–51 (.378)
Place	Division: 5th (Midwest) Conference: 8th (Western)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to Lakers 0–3)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KSAT-TV
Radio	KTSA
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

The 1987–88 San Antonio Spurs season was the 12th season for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association, and their 21st season as a franchise. ^[1] This season was most memorable when the Spurs won the NBA draft lottery, and selected 7' 1" center David Robinson from the United States Naval Academy with the first overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft; the team also selected center Greg "Cadillac" Anderson from the University of Houston with the 23rd overall pick. ^{[2] [3] [4]} However, Robinson had a two-year commitment to the U.S. Navy after graduating from the Naval Academy, and would not play for the Spurs until the 1989–90 season. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

In November, the team traded second-year forward Larry Krystkowiak to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Charles Davis; Krystkowiak previous played overseas in Italy early into the regular season, and was placed on the Spurs' suspended list for violating his contract. Davis would later on be released to free agency after 16 games with the Spurs. ^{[8] [9] [10]}

The Spurs got off to a 13–12 start to the regular season, but played below .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, holding an 18–23 record at the All-Star break. ^[11] The team struggled in the second half of the season, losing 9 of their 13 games in February, and posting a 7-game losing streak in March. Despite finishing in fifth place in the Midwest Division with a 31–51 record, which was ten games under .500, the Spurs earned the eighth seed in the Western Conference, and qualified for the NBA playoffs. ^[12]

Alvin Robertson averaged 19.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 3.0 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while second-year forward Walter Berry averaged 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, and Frank Brickowski provided the team with 16.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. In addition, second-year guard Johnny Dawkins provided with 15.8 points, 7.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while Mike Mitchell contributed 13.5 points per game, and Anderson averaged 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. Meanwhile, Dave Greenwood provided with 8.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, but only played just 45 games due to injury, Jon Sundvold contributed 8.1 points and 3.5 assists per game, Kurt Nimphius averaged 4.4 points per game, and Ed Nealy provided with 2.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. ^[13]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, Robertson was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team, ^{[14] [15] [16]} while Anderson participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. ^[17] Robertson also finished in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, ^{[18] [19]} while Brickowski finished tied in sixth place in Most Improved Player voting, ^[19] and Anderson finished tied in second place in Rookie of the Year voting, behind Mark Jackson of the New York Knicks. ^{[20] [19]}

In the Western Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Spurs were swept by the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in three straight games. ^[21] The Lakers would go on to defeat the Detroit Pistons in seven games in the 1988 NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive NBA championship. ^{[22] [23] [24]}

Following the season, head coach Bob Weiss was fired, ^{[25] [26] [27]} while Berry was traded to the New Jersey Nets, ^{[28] [29] [30]} Sundvold was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Miami Heat expansion team, ^{[31] [32] [33]} and Mitchell and Nealy were both released to free agency.

Draft picks

Main article: 1987 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	1	David Robinson	C	United States	Navy
1	23	Cadillac Anderson	PF/C	United States	Houston
2	27	Nate Blackwell	G	United States	Temple
3	50	Phil Zevenbergen	C	United States	Washington
4	73	Todd May		United States	Pikeville
5	96	Dennis Williams		United States	Georgia
6	119	Ricky Brown		United States	South Alabama
7	142	Raynard Davis		United States	Texas

Roster

San Antonio Spurs roster

• v
• t
• e

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From F/C 33 Cadillac Anderson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Houston F 6 Walter Berry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) St. John's F 43 Frank Brickowski 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Penn State G 24 Johnny Dawkins 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Duke F 10 Dave Greenwood 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 222 lb (101 kg) UCLA C 35 Pétur Guðmundsson 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Washington F 34 Mike Mitchell 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Auburn G 9 Pete Myers 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Little Rock F 32 Ed Nealy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 238 lb (108 kg) Kansas State F/C 40 Kurt Nimphius 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 218 lb (99 kg) Arizona State F 42 Richard Rellford 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Michigan G 21 Alvin Robertson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Arkansas G 20 Jon Sundvold 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Missouri G 15 Ricky Wilson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) George Mason C 41 Phil Zevenbergen 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Washington

Head coach Bob Weiss (Penn State) Assistant(s) Lee Rose (Transylvania) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Denver Nuggets	54	28	.659	–	35–6	19–22	18–12
x-Dallas Mavericks	53	29	.646	1	33–8	20–21	20–10
x-Utah Jazz	47	35	.573	7	33–8	14–27	18–12
x-Houston Rockets	46	36	.561	8	31–10	15–26	13–17
x-San Antonio Spurs	31	51	.378	23	23–18	8–33	12–18
Sacramento Kings	24	58	.293	30	19–22	5–36	9–21

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Los Angeles Lakers	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Denver Nuggets	54	28	.659	8
3	x-Dallas Mavericks	53	29	.646	9
4	x-Portland Trail Blazers	53	29	.646	9
5	x-Utah Jazz	47	35	.573	15
6	x-Houston Rockets	46	36	.561	16
7	x-Seattle SuperSonics	44	38	.537	18
8	x-San Antonio Spurs	31	51	.378	31
9	Phoenix Suns	28	54	.341	34
10	Sacramento Kings	24	58	.293	38
11	Golden State Warriors	20	62	.244	42
12	Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

1987–88 game log Total: 31-51 (home: 23-18; road: 8-33)
November: 5–8 (home: 4–1; road: 1–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 2 November 7 Dallas W 130–106 HemisFair Arena 1–1 3 November 10, 1987 7:30 PM CST L.A. Lakers L 124–133 HemisFair Arena 13,751 1–2 6 November 15, 1987 9:30 PM CST @ L.A. Lakers L 130–147 The Forum 17,505 2–4 8 November 20 @ Denver L 142–156 McNichols Sports Arena 3–5 9 November 21 Utah W 120–119 HemisFair Arena 4–5 12 November 27, 1987 6:30 PM CST @ Detroit L 111–143 Pontiac Silverdome 30,743 5–7 13 November 28 @ Atlanta L 100–124 The Omni 5–8
December: 8–4 (home: 7–0; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 15 December 5 Chicago W 110–101 HemisFair Arena 7–8 16 December 8 Utah W 105–100 HemisFair Arena 8–8 20 December 18 Denver W 133–114 HemisFair Arena 10–20
January: 4–10 (home: 3–5; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 26 January 2 Dallas L 109–116 HemisFair Arena 13–13 27 January 4, 1988 9:30 PM CST @ L.A. Lakers L 115–133 The Forum 17,505 13–14 31 January 13 Atlanta L 110–120 HemisFair Arena 14–17 35 January 22 @ Utah L 106–119 Salt Palace 15–20 37 January 26 @ Dallas L 111–128 Reunion Arena 16–21
February: 4–9 (home: 3–5; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 41 February 4 Denver L 123–129 HemisFair Arena 18–23 42 February 9 @ Denver L 108–136 McNichols Sports Arena 18–24 43 February 10 Boston L 120–136 HemisFair Arena 18–25 44 February 12, 1988 7:30 PM CST L.A. Lakers L 132–133 HemisFair Arena 15,770 18–26
March: 5–12 (home: 4–4; road: 1–8) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 55 March 5 @ Utah L 106–125 Salt Palace 22–33 57 March 9 @ Boston L 118–119 Boston Garden 22–35 59 March 12 @ Chicago L 92–112 Chicago Stadium 22–37 63 March 19 Utah W 113–110 HemisFair Arena 24–39 65 March 22 @ Denver L 109–136 McNichols Sports Arena 24–41 66 March 25, 1988 7:30 PM CST Detroit W 107–106 HemisFair Arena 8,596 25–41 67 March 26 @ Dallas L 112–131 Reunion Arena 25–42
April: 5–8 (home: 2–3; road: 3–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 74 April 8 Denver L 124–129 (OT) HemisFair Arena 28–46 78 April 16 @ Utah L 82–107 Salt Palace 30–48 79 April 19, 1988 7:30 PM CDT L.A. Lakers L 126–133 HemisFair Arena 12,456 30–49 81 April 22 @ Dallas L 96–127 Reunion Arena 31–50 82 April 24 Dallas L 109–119 HemisFair Arena 31–51
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs

1988 playoff game log
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 29, 1988 9:30 PM CDT @ L.A. Lakers L 110–122 Alvin Robertson (34) Anderson, Berry (8) Robertson, Brickowski (5) The Forum 17,505 0–1 2 May 1, 1988 9:30 PM CDT @ L.A. Lakers L 112–130 Alvin Robertson (28) Frank Brickowski (12) Alvin Robertson (12) The Forum 17,505 0–2 3 May 3, 1988 7:30 PM CDT L.A. Lakers L 107–109 Frank Brickowski (27) Greg Anderson (8) Alvin Robertson (11) HemisFair Arena 11,542 0–3
1988 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Alvin Robertson	SG	82	82	2,978	498	557	243	69	1,610	36.3	6.1	6.8	3.0	.8	19.6
Cadillac Anderson	PF	82	45	1,984	513	79	54	122	957	24.2	6.3	1.0	.7	1.5	11.7
Walter Berry	SF	73	56	1,922	395	110	55	63	1,272	26.3	5.4	1.5	.8	.9	17.4
Kurt Nimphius	C	72	7	919	153	53	22	56	316	12.8	2.1	.7	.3	.8	4.4
Frank Brickowski	C	70	68	2,227	483	266	74	36	1,119	31.8	6.9	3.8	1.1	.5	16.0
Pétur Guðmundsson	C	69	9	1,017	323	86	18	61	395	14.7	4.7	1.2	.3	.9	5.7
Mike Mitchell	SF	68	20	1,501	198	68	31	13	919	22.1	2.9	1.0	.5	.2	13.5
Ed Nealy	PF	68	1	837	222	49	29	5	142	12.3	3.3	.7	.4	.1	2.1
Johnny Dawkins	PG	65	61	2,179	204	480	88	2	1,027	33.5	3.1	7.4	1.4	.0	15.8
Jon Sundvold	PG	52	12	1,024	48	183	27	2	421	19.7	.9	3.5	.5	.0	8.1
David Greenwood	PF	45	40	1,236	300	97	33	22	385	27.5	6.7	2.2	.7	.5	8.6
Leon Wood †	PG	38	8	830	51	155	22	1	352	21.8	1.3	4.1	.6	.0	9.3
Pete Myers	SG	22	0	328	37	48	17	6	112	14.9	1.7	2.2	.8	.3	5.1
Ricky Wilson †	PG	18	1	373	26	63	17	3	104	20.7	1.4	3.5	.9	.2	5.8
Charles Davis †	SF	16	0	187	38	17	0	3	92	11.7	2.4	1.1	.0	.2	5.8
Nate Blackwell	PG	10	0	112	6	18	3	0	37	11.2	.6	1.8	.3	.0	3.7
Phil Zevenbergen	C	8	0	58	13	3	3	1	30	7.3	1.6	.4	.4	.1	3.8
Johnny Moore †	PG	4	0	51	4	11	3	0	8	12.8	1.0	2.8	.8	.0	2.0
Richard Rellford	SF	4	0	42	7	1	0	3	16	10.5	1.8	.3	.0	.8	4.0

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Spurs only.

Playoffs

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Alvin Robertson	SG	3	3	119	14	28	12	1	70	39.7	4.7	9.3	4.0	.3	23.3
Frank Brickowski	C	3	3	113	22	14	6	2	58	37.7	7.3	4.7	2.0	.7	19.3
Cadillac Anderson	PF	3	3	95	21	3	2	4	38	31.7	7.0	1.0	.7	1.3	12.7
Jon Sundvold	PG	3	3	90	4	15	4	0	35	30.0	1.3	5.0	1.3	.0	11.7
Mike Mitchell	SF	3	3	74	15	4	1	1	31	24.7	5.0	1.3	.3	.3	10.3
Walter Berry	SF	3	0	94	21	6	5	2	66	31.3	7.0	2.0	1.7	.7	22.0
Johnny Dawkins	PG	3	0	53	3	5	2	0	15	17.7	1.0	1.7	.7	.0	5.0
Kurt Nimphius	C	3	0	30	8	2	0	1	12	10.0	2.7	.7	.0	.3	4.0
Ed Nealy	PF	2	0	36	7	4	1	0	4	18.0	3.5	2.0	.5	.0	2.0
Ricky Wilson	PG	2	0	9	0	1	0	0	0	4.5	.0	.5	.0	.0	.0
Pétur Guðmundsson	C	2	0	6	0	1	0	0	0	3.0	.0	.5	.0	.0	.0
Phil Zevenbergen	C	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

Awards and records

• Alvin Robertson, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• Cadillac Anderson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

References

1. 1987-88 San Antonio Spurs
2. Goldaper, Sam (June 23, 1987). "Guards Dominate Draft, But Robinson Goes First". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
3. Edes, Gordon (June 23, 1987). "Only Surprise in the NBA Draft Is the Big Demand for Guards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
4. "1987 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
5. "Ensign David Robinson, the NBA No. 1 Draft Pick,..." United Press International. July 3, 1989. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
6. "Robinson Will Receive $26 Million from Spurs". The New York Times. November 6, 1987. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
7. Cotton, Anthony (November 9, 1987). "Robinson Deal a Spur to New Heights". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
8. "Spurs Suspend 2, Cut Guard". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. November 5, 1987. p. 3B. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
9. "Krystkowiak Swapped to Bucks by Spurs". Spokane Chronicle. November 19, 1987. p. C5. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
10. "Basketball". The Argus-Press. November 19, 1987. p. 18. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
11. "NBA Games Played on February 4, 1988". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
12. "1987–88 San Antonio Spurs Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
13. "1987–88 San Antonio Spurs Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
14. Barnard, Bill (February 7, 1988). "Today's NBA All-Star Game Will Be Homecoming of Sorts for 3 Players". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
15. "1988 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
16. "1988 NBA All-Star Game: East 138, West 133". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
17. "NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
18. Kragthorpe, Kurt (May 14, 1988). "Lineup Has Familiar Look as Jazz Use Few Subs". Deseret News. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
19. "1987–88 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
20. Goldaper, Sam (May 11, 1988). "Jackson Is Top Rookie". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
21. "1988 NBA Western Conference First Round: Spurs vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
22. Goldaper, Sam (June 22, 1988). "N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Lakers Hold Off Pesky Pistons to Regain Their Title". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
23. "Lakers Repeat as Champions in Tight Game". Los Angeles Times. June 22, 1988. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
24. "1988 NBA Finals: Pistons vs. Lakers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
25. "Sports People; Spurs Dismiss Weiss". The New York Times. June 8, 1988. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
26. "Weiss, 59-105 in Two Seasons, Fired by Spurs". Los Angeles Times. June 8, 1988. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
27. "Struggling Spurs Fire Bob Weiss". Deseret News. June 8, 1988. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
28. "Nets Get Walter Berry". The New York Times. August 30, 1988. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
29. "Spurs Trade Berry to Nets for Comegys". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 30, 1988. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
30. Goldaper, Sam (October 30, 1988). "N.B.A. '88-'89; League Is Changing, But Lakers Are Still on Top". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
31. Goldaper, Sam (June 24, 1988). "Miami Chooses "Who?" First". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
32. Edes, Gordon (June 24, 1988). "Billy Thompson Goes to Miami; Valentine Winds Up in Cleveland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
33. "1988 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 6, 2025.

See also

• 1987-88 NBA season