The San Antonio Spurs have developed Hall of Fame bigs in the past
The 1987 San Antonio Spurs finished 28-54, good for last place in the Midwest Division and 4th worst record in the NBA overall. They managed to win the No. 1 overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft Lottery and selected David Robinson, a 7-1 center out of the U.S. Naval Academy.
The Spurs had to wait two years for Robinson to finish his military service in the Navy, but he was well worth the wait.
Robinson led the Spurs to 56 wins in his rookie season (1989-90). San Antonio had won just 21 games the year before. “The Admiral” averaged 24.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game. He was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, selected to his first All-Star game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. San Antonio even reached the Western Conference Semifinals.
Fast forward to 1997.
The Spurs missed the playoffs after making seven consecutive postseason appearances. San Antonio had a franchise-worst 20-62 record in the 1996-97 season, good for 3rd worst in the NBA. The Spurs were a M*A*S*H* unit with most key players missing significant time due to injury. Robinson only played in six games.
The NBA lottery was kind to the Spurs once again. San Antonio won the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and selected Wake Forest big man Tim Duncan.
Duncan led the 1997-98 San Antonio Spurs to 56 wins, a 36 win-improvement from the previous season. He averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blockers per game. Like Robinson, Duncan won Rookie of the Year, was an NBA All-Star, and was an All-NBA selection – but on the First Team.
The Spurs were back to being contenders and reached the Western Conference Semis in 1997.
Do I expect Victor Wembanyama to lead the Spurs to 56 wins and the Western Semis this year? No. The Spurs added All-Star forward Terry Cummings and lottery pick Sean Elliott ahead of Robinson’s rookie season. Duncan joined a veteran group getting its franchise player Robinson back from injury.
“Wemby” is joining a young Spurs team that added Cedi Osman and Khem Birch.
No offense to either but you get my point. Still, Victor Wembanyama is joining a San Antonio Spurs organization that is one of the league’s best. They have a track record of success. It may not be this year, but it could only be a matter of time until the Spurs contend.
The success the Spurs have had includes developing and utilizing big men with generational talent. It started with Robinson, then Duncan, and now continues with Wembanyama. Through it all there has been one constant in San Antonio.