1994–95 San Antonio Spurs season
The 1994–95 NBA season was the Spurs' 19th season in the National Basketball Association, and 28th season as a franchise.[1] During the off-season, the Spurs hired Bob Hill as head coach, re-acquired Sean Elliott after playing one year with the Detroit Pistons,[2] re-signed Avery Johnson after one season with the Golden State Warriors, and signed free agents Chuck Person and former All-Star forward Moses Malone.[3][4] Early into the season, they signed free agent Doc Rivers, who was previously released by the New York Knicks. With Dennis Rodman serving a suspension at the start of the season,[5] the Spurs struggled early in the season with a 7–9 start. However, they would win 13 of their next 14 games, then later on post a 15-game winning streak between March and April, and win 21 of their final 23 games, finishing with the league's best record of 62–20.[6] It was also their best regular season record in franchise history, surpassing the 56-win 1989–90 season, which would be surpassed 11 seasons later by the 2005-06 team (63-19), then 10 seasons later by the 2015-16 squad (67-15).
| 1994–95 San Antonio Spurs season | |
|---|---|
Division champions | |
| Head coach | Bob Hill |
| General manager | Gregg Popovich |
| Owner(s) | Peter Holt |
| Arena | Alamodome |
| Results | |
| Record | 62–20 (.756) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Midwest) Conference: 1st (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Conference Finals (Lost to Rockets 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | KSAT-TV KABB Prime Sports Southwest |
| Radio | WOAI |
David Robinson averaged 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game, and was named Most Valuable Player of the Year,[7] and made the All-NBA First Team. He was also selected for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game.[8] Rodman, who only played just 49 games, led the league with 16.8 rebounds per game was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Elliott finished second on the team in scoring averaging 18.1 points per game, Johnson provided the team with 13.4 points, 8.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and Vinny Del Negro contributed 12.5 points per game. Person played a sixth man role, averaging 10.8 points per game off the bench.[9] Both Robinson and Rodman were selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Spurs swept the Denver Nuggets in three straight games.[10] In the Western Conference Semi-finals, they defeated the 5th-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in six games.[11] However, in the Western Conference Finals, they would lose to the 6th-seeded and defending champion Houston Rockets in six games.[12]
Following the season, the Spurs traded Rodman to the Chicago Bulls, no longer being able to handle the distractions that came along with the NBA's top rebounder.[13] Also following the season, Terry Cummings re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks, Willie Anderson left in the 1995 NBA Expansion Draft,[14] and Malone, who only played just 17 games this season due to injury, retired after playing 19 seasons in the NBA.
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | Bill Curley | Forward | Boston College | |
Roster
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
Season standings
| Midwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-San Antonio Spurs | 62 | 20 | .756 | — | 33–8 | 29–12 | 20–6 |
| x-Utah Jazz | 60 | 22 | .732 | 2 | 33–8 | 27–14 | 17–9 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 | 25–16 | 22–19 | 13–13 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 | 23–18 | 18–23 | 13–13 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 | 19–22 | 17–24 | 11–15 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 21 | 61 | .256 | 41 | 13–28 | 8–33 | 4–22 |
| # | Western Conference | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
| 1 | z-San Antonio Spurs | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Phoenix Suns | 59 | 23 | .720 | 3 |
| 3 | x-Utah Jazz | 60 | 22 | .732 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 57 | 25 | .695 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 7 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 8 | x-Denver Nuggets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
| 9 | Sacramento Kings | 39 | 43 | .476 | 23 |
| 10 | Dallas Mavericks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 26 | 56 | .317 | 36 |
| 12 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 21 | 61 | .256 | 41 |
| 13 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman helped San Antonio to their then-franchise best win-loss record of 62–20, and they made it to the Western Conference finals. However, his increasingly erratic off-court life, including a brief but heavily-publicized relationship with singer Madonna, and on-court antics, such as dyeing his hair and starting on-court arguments resulted in him being traded to the Chicago Bulls after only two years with the Spurs.
Record vs. opponents
| 1994-95 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 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 |
| Boston | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Charlotte | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 4–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Cleveland | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 0–4 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Houston | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | — | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–5 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 4–1 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | — | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Miami | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 0–4 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| New York | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 2–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 |
| Orlando | 3–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| Philadelphia | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 1–4 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 5–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | — | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 0–4 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | — | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |
Playoffs
Player statistics
| 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
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Anderson | 38 | 11 | 14.6 | .469 | .158 | .732 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 4.9 |
| Corey Crowder | 7 | 0 | 4.1 | .200 | .000 | .333 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
| Terry Cummings | 76 | 20 | 16.8 | .483 | .585 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 6.8 | |
| Vinny Del Negro | 75 | 71 | 31.5 | .486 | .407 | .790 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 12.5 |
| Howard Eisley | 15 | 0 | 3.7 | .176 | .200 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.5 | |
| Sean Elliott | 81 | 81 | 35.3 | .468 | .408 | .807 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 18.1 |
| Jack Haley | 31 | 0 | 3.8 | .426 | .000 | .656 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.4 |
| Avery Johnson | 82 | 82 | 36.7 | .519 | .136 | .685 | 2.5 | 8.2 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 13.4 |
| Moses Malone | 17 | 0 | 8.8 | .371 | .500 | .688 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.9 |
| Julius Nwosu | 23 | 0 | 3.7 | .321 | .765 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.3 | |
| Chuck Person | 81 | 1 | 25.1 | .423 | .387 | .647 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 10.8 |
| J.R. Reid | 81 | 37 | 19.3 | .508 | .500 | .687 | 4.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 7.0 |
| Doc Rivers | 60 | 0 | 15.7 | .360 | .344 | .732 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 5.0 |
| David Robinson | 81 | 81 | 38.0 | .530 | .300 | .774 | 10.8 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 27.6 |
| Dennis Rodman | 49 | 26 | 32.0 | .571 | .000 | .676 | 16.8 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 7.1 |
| Chris Whitney | 25 | 0 | 7.2 | .298 | .158 | 1.000 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.7 |
Playoffs
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Anderson | 11 | 0 | 8.8 | .450 | .000 | .667 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| Terry Cummings | 15 | 2 | 9.0 | .375 | .000 | .733 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 3.9 |
| Vinny Del Negro | 15 | 15 | 25.5 | .432 | .450 | .833 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 8.7 |
| Sean Elliott | 15 | 15 | 38.3 | .435 | .364 | .776 | 4.8 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 17.3 |
| Jack Haley | 4 | 0 | 3.3 | .143 | .500 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | |
| Avery Johnson | 15 | 15 | 38.3 | .517 | .000 | .621 | 2.1 | 8.3 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 14.5 |
| Julius Nwosu | 2 | 0 | 3.5 | .000 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Chuck Person | 15 | 0 | 17.2 | .351 | .289 | .727 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 5.0 |
| J.R. Reid | 15 | 1 | 13.9 | .492 | .846 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 6.1 | |
| Doc Rivers | 15 | 0 | 21.2 | .389 | .370 | .839 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 7.8 |
| David Robinson | 15 | 15 | 41.5 | .446 | .200 | .812 | 12.1 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 25.3 |
| Dennis Rodman | 14 | 12 | 32.8 | .542 | .000 | .571 | 14.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 8.9 |
Awards and records
References
- 1994–95 San Antonio Spurs
- "PRO BASKETBALL; Sean Elliott Again Is a Spur". New York Times. July 20, 1994. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL;Person, Cut by Timberwolves, Now a Spur". New York Times. July 30, 1994. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- "SPURS SIGN MOSES MALONE". Deseret News. August 26, 1994. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- "BASKETBALL; Rodman Suspended by Spurs". New York Times. November 2, 1994. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
- "1994–95 San Antonio Spurs Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Robinson Captures the M.V.P. Trophy but the Celebration Is Muted". New York Times. May 24, 1995. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- "1995 NBA All-Star Game: West 139, East 112". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- "1994–95 San Antonio Spurs Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- "Spurs 99, Nuggets 95". UPI Archives. May 3, 1995. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- "NBA PLAYOFFS : Spurs Finally Deep-Six Lakers : Western Conference: Robinson, Rodman help San Antonio stave off home team and win series, 100-88". Los Angeles Times. May 19, 1995. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS;Rockets Do Homework And Return To Finals". New York Times. June 2, 1995. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
- "Unhappy Rodman Is Dealt From Spurs to the Bulls". New York Times. October 3, 1995.
- "1995 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 13, 2021.