1973–74 San Antonio Spurs season

1973–74 San Antonio Spurs season
Head coachTom Nissalke
General managerJack Ankerson
ArenaHemisFair Arena
Results
Record45–39 (.536)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Western)
Conference: 3rd
Playoff finishWest Division semifinals
(lost to Pacers 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWOAI-TV
RadioKKYX
< 1972–73 1974–75 >

The 1973–74 San Antonio Spurs season was the first season for the newly named San Antonio Spurs, who had spent the past six seasons as the Dallas Chaparrals in the American Basketball Association. The Spurs made their debut on October 10, 1973, vs the San Diego Conquistadors in San Antonio, losing 121–106.[1] Afterwards, the Spurs would win just 6 of their next 13 games. By the end of November, they would be back to .500. By February the Spurs were at 34–33, but they would win 11 of their next 16 games to finish the season 3rd in the 3 team Western Conference, going to the playoffs. In the 1974 ABA Playoffs, the Spurs lost in the first round 4–3 to the Indiana Pacers.

ABA Draft

Main article: 1973 ABA Draft
Player Position Nationality School/club team
Mike D'Antoni Marshall
Craig Littlepage Pennsylvania
Kevin Kunnert Butler
George Adams Iowa
Dwight Jones Houston
Tom Henderson Hawaii
John Brown Missouri
John Coughran California
Kevin Joyce South Carolina
Bob Fullerton Xavier
Bob Kilgore Michigan State
Ron Houge Georgia
Luke Witte Ohio State
Gary Melchionni Duke
John Lang Augustana
Gary Melchionni Duke
Jeff Overhouse Texas A&m
Richie Fuqua Oral Roberts
Henry Wilmore Michigan
Tim Dominiz Valdosta
Bill Harris North Illinois
Mark Sibley Northwestern
Larry Lilly Alabama State
Bob Bodell Maryland
Leon Howard Wisconsin
Jeff Jellison N.E. Massachusetts

[2]

Regular season

Schedule

Game Date Opponent Result Spurs Opponents Record
1
2

[3]

Season standings

1973–74 ABA Western Standings
Western Division W L PCT. GB
Utah Stars 51 33 .607 –
Indiana Pacers 46 38 .548 5
San Antonio Spurs 45 39 .536 6
San Diego Conquistadors 37 47 .440 14
Denver Rockets 37 47 .440 14

[4]

Roster

Number Name Position Height Experience College
10 Bird Averitt Shooting Guard 6–1 Rookie Pepperdine
42 Roger Brown Center 6–11 2 yr. Kansas
40 Jerry Chambers Small Forward 6–5 5 yr. Utah
25 Coby Dietrick Power Forward 6–10 3 yr. San Jose State
44 George Gervin Small Forward 6–7 3 yr. Eastern Michigan
11 Joe Hamilton Power Guard 5–10 3 yr. North Texas State
54 Simmie Hill Small Forward 6–7 3 yr. West Texas A&M
33 Rich Jones Power Forward 6–6 4 yr. Memphis
22 George Karl Power Guard 6–2 Rookie University of North Carolina
50 Goo Kennedy Small Forward 6–5 2 yr. Texas Christian University
31 Swen Nater Center 6–11 2nd yr. UCLA
24 Bob Netolicky Power Forward 6–9 6 yr. Drake University
13 James Silas Power Guard 6–1 2 yr. Stephen F. Austin State
21 Skeeter Swift Shooting Guard 6–3 5 yr. East Tennessee State
30 Chuck Terry Small Forward 6–6 Rookie. California State University, Long Beach
21 Bob Warren Shooting Guard 6–5 5 yr. Vanderbilt

ABA Playoffs

Western Division semifinals[5]

Game Date Location Score Record Attendance
1 March 30 Indiana 113–109 1–0 7,438
2 April 1 Indiana 101–128 1–1 6,988
3 April 3 San Antonio 115–96 2–1 10,693
4 April 4 San Antonio 89–91 2–2 12,079
5 April 6 Indiana 100–105 2–3 10,079
6 April 10 San Antonio 102–86 3–3 12,304
7 April 12 Indiana 79–86 3–4 10,079

References

  1. ^ San Antonio Spurs (1973–Present)
  2. ^ "1972 ABA Draft on Basketballreference.com". Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
  3. ^ 1973–74 San Antonio Games – Basketball-Reference.com
  4. ^ "1972-73 ABA Season Summary".
  5. ^ "Remember the ABA: 1973-74 Regular Season Standings and Playoff Results".