1991–92 San Antonio Spurs season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the Spurs' 16th season in the National Basketball Association, and 25th season as a franchise.[1] During the off-season, the Spurs acquired Antoine Carr from the Sacramento Kings,[2][3] then signed free agent Vinnie Johnson in December.[4] After a 10–3 start to the season, the Spurs struggled with mediocrity holding a 21–17 record in late January, as head coach Larry Brown was fired, and soon took a coaching job with the Los Angeles Clippers.[5][6][7] At midseason, the team signed three-point specialist Trent Tucker.[8] Under replacement, interim and General Manager Bob Bass, the Spurs held a 27–19 record at the All-Star break,[9] finishing second in the Midwest Division with a 47–35 record.[10]

1991–92 San Antonio Spurs season
Head coach
General managerBob Bass
Owner(s)Red McCombs
ArenaHemisFair Arena
Results
Record47–35 (.573)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Midwest)
Conference: 5th (Western)
Playoff finishFirst round
(lost to Suns 0–3)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKSAT-TV
KABB
Home Sports Entertainment
RadioWOAI
< 1990–91 1992–93 >

David Robinson averaged 23.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 4.5 blocks per game, and was named Defensive Player of the Year,[11] and made the All-NBA First Team, the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and was selected for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game.[12][13] He also finished in third place in Most Valuable Player voting behind Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler.[14][15][16] In addition, Terry Cummings averaged 17.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while Sean Elliott provided the team with 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, Rod Strickland provided with 13.8 points, 8.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game, Willie Anderson contributed 13.1 points and 5.3 assists per game, and Carr averaged 10.9 points per game.[17]

However, in March, Robinson went down with a thumb injury, and would not be available for the postseason.[18][19][20][21] Without their star center, the Spurs were swept in three straight games in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs to the Phoenix Suns.[22][23][24] Following the season, Strickland signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers,[25][26][27] while Bass was fired as head coach, and Johnson retired.

Draft picks edit

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 49 Greg Sutton PG   United States Oral Roberts

Roster edit

1991–92 San Antonio Spurs roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
SG 40 Anderson, Willie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1967–01–08 Georgia
PF 35 Carr, Antoine 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961–07–23 Wichita State
C 30 Copa, Tom 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1964–10–30 Marquette
PF 34 Cummings, Terry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1961–03–15 DePaul
SF 32 Elliott, Sean 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1968–02–02 Arizona
PF 21 Green, Sidney 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1961–01–04 UNLV
PG 15 Johnson, Vinnie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1956–09–01 Baylor
SF 8 Pressey, Paul 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1958–12–24 Tulsa
C 50 Robinson, David   7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1965–08–06 Navy
SF 5 Royal, Donald 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–05–22 Notre Dame
PG 1 Strickland, Rod 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–07–11 DePaul
PG 23 Sutton, Greg 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1967–12–03 Oral Roberts
SG 6 Tucker, Trent 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1959–12–20 Minnesota
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Regular season edit

Season standings edit

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 37–4 18–23 20–6
x-San Antonio Spurs 47 35 .573 8 31–10 16–25 18–8
Houston Rockets 42 40 .512 13 28–13 14–27 12–14
Denver Nuggets 24 58 .293 31 18–23 6–35 8–18
Dallas Mavericks 22 60 .268 33 15–26 7–34 11–15
Minnesota Timberwolves 15 67 .183 40 9–32 6–35 9–17
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Portland Trail Blazers 57 25 .695
2 y-Utah Jazz 55 27 .671 2
3 x-Golden State Warriors 55 27 .671 2
4 x-Phoenix Suns 53 29 .646 4
5 x-San Antonio Spurs 47 35 .573 10
6 x-Seattle SuperSonics 47 35 .573 10
7 x-Los Angeles Clippers 45 37 .549 12
8 x-Los Angeles Lakers 43 39 .524 14
9 Houston Rockets 42 40 .512 15
10 Sacramento Kings 29 53 .354 28
11 Denver Nuggets 24 58 .293 33
12 Dallas Mavericks 22 60 .268 35
13 Minnesota Timberwolves 15 67 .183 42
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents edit

1991-92 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta 3–1 2–2 0–5 0–5 2–0 2–0 1–4 1–1 2–0 1–4 1–1 0–2 2–2 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2
Boston 1–3 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–2 0–2 2–3 3–2 5–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1
Charlotte 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–3 1–1 1–1 1–4 1–1 0–2 3–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–3 1–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–2
Chicago 5–0 3–1 4–0 3–2 2–0 2–0 4–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 3–2 2–0 4–0 4–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0
Cleveland 5–0 1–3 3–2 2–3 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 5–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–2 4–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0
Dallas 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–2 0–2 0–4 4–2 1–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 0–5 0–4 1–4 0–2
Denver 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–4 2–3 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–4 1–3 1–5 1–1
Detroit 4–1 0–4 4–1 1–4 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–2 3–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Golden State 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 3–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–3 5–0 2–2 3–2 1–3 2–0
Houston 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–4 3–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 3–2 1–3 1–4 2–0
Indiana 4–1 2–2 2–3 1–3 0–5 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 4–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–2
L.A. Clippers 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 2–0 2–3 2–2 2–0 2–3 2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–3 2–2 2–3 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–3 2–2 0–2 3–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–3 1–4 4–1 1–3 1–4 1–3 1–1
Miami 2–2 2–3 3–1 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 4–0 2–0 2–2 1–4 3–1 1–4 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 5–0
Milwaukee 1–3 2–2 3–2 2–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–3 0–2 1–1 1–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–4 1–3 3–1 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Minnesota 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–3 3–2 1–1 0–4 2–3 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 0–6 0–4 2–3 0–2
New Jersey 1–3 3–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–3 3–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–3
New York 2–2 2–3 4–0 0–4 0–4 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 4–1 3–1 2–0 3–2 4–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 4–0
Orlando 2–2 0–5 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–3 1–4 3–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–3
Philadelphia 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 2–0 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 4–1 1–3 2–0 2–3 1–3 2–3 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 5–0
Phoenix 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–3 3–1 1–1 2–3 3–2 2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 3–2 4–1 3–1 3–2 2–2 2–0
Portland 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 3–2 1–3 2–0 3–2 4–1 2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 5–0 2–2 4–1 2–2 2–0
Sacramento 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 0–2 0–5 1–3 1–1 3–2 1–4 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–4 0–5 1–3 1–4 1–3 2–0
San Antonio 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 5–0 4–1 1–1 2–2 2–3 0–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 6–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–4 0–2
Seattle 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 2–3 3–1 2–0 3–2 4–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–3 1–4 4–1 1–3 3–1 2–0
Utah 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–1 5–1 1–1 3–1 4–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 4–1 1–3 2–0
Washington 2–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–4 2–0 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 1–3 2–0 3–2 0–4 3–2 0–5 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2

Game log edit

Playoffs edit

1992 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 24 @ Phoenix L 111–117 Terry Cummings (30) Terry Cummings (12) Rod Strickland (9) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,496
0–1
2 April 26 @ Phoenix L 107–119 Terry Cummings (31) Terry Cummings (10) Rod Strickland (10) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14,496
0–2
3 April 29 Phoenix L 92–101 Antoine Carr (20) Cummings, Carr (12) three players tied (5) HemisFair Arena
14,853
0–3
1992 schedule

Player statistics edit

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 edit

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Willie Anderson 57 55 33.1 .455 .232 .775 5.3 5.3 .9 .9 13.1
Steve Bardo 1 0 1.0 . . . 1.0 .0 .0 .0 .0
Jud Buechler 11 0 12.7 .500 . .333 2.0 1.0 .7 .3 3.0
Antoine Carr 81 27 23.0 .490 .200 .764 4.3 .8 .4 1.2 10.9
Tom Copa 33 1 4.0 .550 . .308 1.1 .1 .1 .2 1.5
Terry Cummings 70 67 30.7 .488 .385 .711 9.0 1.5 .8 .5 17.3
Sean Elliott 82 82 38.0 .494 .305 .861 5.4 2.6 1.0 .4 16.3
Tom Garrick 19 5 19.7 .473 .000 .625 2.2 3.3 1.1 .1 5.2
Sidney Green 80 1 14.1 .427 . .820 4.3 .5 .4 .1 4.6
Sean Higgins 6 0 6.0 .267 .000 1.000 1.3 .7 .3 .0 2.5
Avery Johnson 20 14 23.2 .509 .200 .750 1.8 5.0 1.1 .2 6.8
Vinnie Johnson 60 23 22.5 .405 .317 .647 3.0 2.4 .7 .2 8.0
Tony Massenburg 1 0 9.0 .200 . . .0 .0 .0 .0 2.0
Paul Pressey 56 7 13.6 .373 .143 .683 . 2.5 .5 .3 2.7
David Robinson 68 68 37.7 .551 .125 .701 12.2 2.7 2.3 4.5 23.2
Donald Royal 60 4 12.0 .449 . .692 2.1 .6 .4 .1 4.2
Rod Strickland 57 54 36.0 .455 .333 .687 4.6 8.6 2.1 .3 13.8
Greg Sutton 67 2 9.0 .388 .292 .756 .7 1.4 .4 .1 3.7
Trent Tucker 24 0 17.3 .465 .396 .800 1.5 1.1 .9 .1 6.5
Morlon Wiley 3 0 4.3 .600 . . .3 .3 .0 .0 2.0

Playoffs edit

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Antoine Carr 3 3 36.3 .545 .500 .625 7.7 1.0 .7 3.7 19.7
Terry Cummings 3 3 40.7 .515 .000 .500 11.3 2.3 1.3 1.3 26.0
Sean Elliott 3 3 45.7 .475 .625 .889 4.3 2.7 1.0 1.3 19.7
Sidney Green 3 0 15.7 .300 . .750 3.7 .7 .0 .0 3.0
Vinnie Johnson 3 0 23.0 .458 .500 .500 2.7 2.3 1.7 .3 8.3
Paul Pressey 3 2 15.3 .333 .500 1.0 1.0 1.0 .3 4.3
Donald Royal 3 2 19.0 .556 . .556 4.0 .0 .7 .7 5.0
Rod Strickland 2 2 40.0 .591 . .625 3.5 9.5 1.5 1.0 15.5
Greg Sutton 2 0 7.5 .333 .000 1.000 .0 1.0 .5 .5 3.5
Trent Tucker 3 0 12.7 .429 .200 1.000 1.0 .7 .0 .0 4.7

Awards and records edit

Transactions edit

References edit

  1. ^ 1991-92 San Antonio Spurs
  2. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Carr to Spurs, Schintzius to Kings". The New York Times. September 24, 1991. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  3. ^ "Kings Send Carr to Spurs for Schintzius". United Press International. September 23, 1991. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  4. ^ "Spurs Sign Vinnie Johnson". United Press International. December 12, 1991. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  5. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 22, 1992). "One Way or Another, Brown Out with Spurs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  6. ^ Martinez, Michael (February 7, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Brown's 'Last Stop' Is Job with Clippers". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  7. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 7, 1992). "Brown Is Surprised by Interest of Clippers: Pro Basketball: New coach Says He Expected to Be Out of Work Longer After Being Fired by Spurs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  8. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Tucker Joins Spurs". The New York Times. February 28, 1992. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  9. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1992". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  10. ^ "1991–92 San Antonio Spurs Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  11. ^ "NBA & ABA Defensive Player of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Heisler, Mark (February 9, 1992). "Comeback or Farewell, a Magical All-Star Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  13. ^ "1992 NBA All-Star Game: West 153, East 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  14. ^ Araton, Harvey (May 19, 1992). "PRO BASKETBALL; M.V.P., Yes. An Ambassador, No". The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  15. ^ "Jordan Chosen MVP; Drexler Is Second". Los Angeles Times. May 19, 1992. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  16. ^ "1991–92 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  17. ^ "1991–92 San Antonio Spurs Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  18. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Spurs' Robinson Might Face Surgery". The New York Times. March 27, 1992. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  19. ^ "Robinson Out for Season and Start of Playoffs After Surgery". United Press International. March 28, 1992. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  20. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Robinson Has Surgery on Injured Thumb". The New York Times. March 29, 1992. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  21. ^ Hafner, Dan (March 30, 1992). "NBA ROUNDUP: Without Robinson, Spurs Just Another Loser". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  22. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Scores 56 Points, Finishing Sweep of Heat". The New York Times. April 30, 1992. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  23. ^ "Jordan Warms to Task, Hits 56, Eliminates Heat". The Washington Post. April 30, 1992. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  24. ^ "1992 NBA Western Conference First Round: Spurs vs. Suns". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  25. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Blazers Add Strickland, But Lose Ainge". The New York Times. July 4, 1992. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  26. ^ "Trail Blazers Lose Ainge, Sign Spurs' Strickland". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. July 4, 1992. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  27. ^ "Blazers Sign Free Agent Strickland". Deseret News. July 4, 1992. Retrieved December 1, 2021.

See also edit