1987–88 San Antonio Spurs season

The 1987–88 NBA season was the Spurs' 12th season in the NBA and 21st season as a franchise.^[1] The season saw the team draft future All-Star and 2-time NBA Champion David Robinson with the first pick in the 1987 NBA Draft, but due to his Naval service, he did not join the team until 1989.

1987–88 San Antonio Spurs season
Head coach	Bob Weiss
General manager	Bob Bass
Owner(s)	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.com
Local media
Television	KSAT-TV
Radio	KTSA
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

Despite inconsistent basketball all year, the Spurs made the playoffs with a low 31–51 record. However, a sweep to the eventual champion Lakers ended the season for the Spurs. Alvin Robertson was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game.

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. Name Height Weight DOB From F/C 33 Anderson, Cadillac 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Houston F 6 Berry, Walter 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) St. John's F 43 Brickowski, Frank 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Penn State G 24 Dawkins, Johnny 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Duke F 10 Greenwood, Dave 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 222 lb (101 kg) UCLA C 35 Guðmundsson, Pétur 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg) Washington F 34 Mitchell, Mike 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Auburn G 9 Myers, Pete 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Little Rock F 32 Nealy, Ed 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 238 lb (108 kg) Kansas State F/C 40 Nimphius, Kurt 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 218 lb (99 kg) Arizona State F 42 Rellford, Richard 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Michigan G 21 Robertson, Alvin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Arkansas G 20 Sundvold, Jon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Missouri G 15 Wilson, Ricky 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) George Mason C 41 Zevenbergen, Phil 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Washington

Head coach Bob Weiss (Penn State) Assistant coach(es) 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

Record vs. opponents

1987-88 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–4	2–3	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–0	3–3	6–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–3
Boston	4–2	—	3–3	2–3	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	5–1
Chicago	3–2	3–3	—	3–3	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	2–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–1	5–1	3–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Cleveland	1–5	3–2	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	1–5	0–2	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	5–1	2–4	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	6–0
Dallas	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	—	3–3	1–1	4–1	4–2	2–0	5–0	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	5–1	5–1	3–2	3–3	1–1
Denver	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–3	—	1–1	4–1	4–2	1–1	5–0	3–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–2	2–3	4–2	5–1	4–1	2–4	2–0
Detroit	4–2	3–3	4–2	5–1	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	4–2	5–1	4–2	4–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–2
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–4	1–4	0–2	—	0–5	0–2	3–3	0–6	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–5	2–3	3–2	1–5	1–4	0–2
Houston	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–1	5–0	—	2–0	3–2	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1	4–1	4–2	2–4	3–2	3–3	2–0
Indiana	2–4	0–5	3–3	2–4	0–2	1–1	3–3	2–0	0–2	—	1–1	1–1	3–3	6–0	2–3	2–4	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	0–5	1–1	3–3	2–3	1–1	—	1–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	0–6	3–2	0–5	1–5	1–4	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	2–3	2–0	6–0	4–1	1–1	5–1	—	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	5–1	3–3	4–1	5–0	4–2	4–1	1–1
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	1–5	4–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	2–0	—	3–2	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1
New Jersey	0–5	1–5	1–5	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–5	0–2	1–1	0–6	2–0	0–2	2–3	—	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–6
New York	3–3	1–5	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	3–3	—	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Philadelphia	0–6	2–4	2–4	2–3	1–1	0–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	0–2	4–2	4–2	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Phoenix	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	2–3	0–2	4–2	1–4	0–2	4–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	—	0–6	3–2	2–3	2–4	2–3	0–2
Portland	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	1–1	5–1	1–4	2–0	6–0	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	6–0	—	4–1	5–0	3–3	1–4	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–4	0–2	3–2	2–4	0–2	2–3	1–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	—	3–3	1–4	1–5	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–5	1–1	2–3	4–2	0–2	5–0	0–5	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–5	3–3	—	3–2	3–3	0–2
Seattle	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	1–1	5–1	2–3	1–1	5–1	2–4	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	3–3	4–1	2–3	—	1–4	2–0
Utah	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–3	4–2	0–2	4–1	3–3	1–1	4–1	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–2	4–1	5–1	3–3	4–1	—	2–0
Washington	3–3	1–5	3–3	0–6	1–1	0–2	2–3	2–0	0–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–4	6–0	3–3	3–3	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	—

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

Transactions

References

1. 1987-88 San Antonio Spurs

See also

• 1987-88 NBA season