# 1977–78 San Antonio Spurs season

The 1977–78 NBA season was the second in the NBA, the 5th in San Antonio, and the 11th as a franchise. While George Gervin was lighting up the scoreboard with his first point title, the Spurs won the Central Division with a 52–30 record. In the playoffs the Spurs would be stunned in 6 games by the eventual champion Washington Bullets In the series, Gervin averaged 33.2 points per game.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 2 | 37 | Jeff Wilkins | C/PF | United States | Illinois State |
| 3 | 59 | Dan Henderson | | United States | Arkansas State |
| 4 | 81 | Matt Hicks | | United States | Northern Illinois |
| 5 | 103 | Scott Sims | G | United States | Missouri |
| 6 | 125 | Bruce Buckley | | United States | North Carolina |
| 7 | 145 | Richard Robinson | | United States | New Mexico |
| 8 | 164 | Jerome Gladney | | United States | Arizona |

## Regular season

George Gervin and David Thompson of the Denver Nuggets would battle all season for the NBA scoring title. On the final day of the season, Thompson would take the lead by scoring 73 points in an afternoon game against the Detroit Pistons. That night, Gervin needed 58 points against the Jazz in New Orleans. Gervin got to a good start by scoring 20 points in the 1st Quarter. In the 2nd, Gervin set a single period record with 33 points. Early on in the 3rd, Gervin would score his 58 points on the way to 63 points, capturing the scoring title. While Gervin was lighting up the scoreboard, the Spurs won the Central Division with a 52–30 record.

### Season Standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-San Antonio Spurs | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 32–9 | 20–21 | 15–5 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 8 | 29–12 | 15–26 | 14–6 |
| x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 | 27–14 | 16–25 | 9–11 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 11 | 29–12 | 12–29 | 8–12 |
| New Orleans Jazz | 39 | 43 | .476 | 13 | 27–14 | 12–29 | 8–12 |
| Houston Rockets | 28 | 54 | .341 | 24 | 21-20 | 7-34 | 6–14 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Philadelphia 76ers | 55 | 27 | .671 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 52 | 30 | .634 | 3 |
| 3 | x-Washington Bullets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 11 |
| 4 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 12 |
| 5 | x-New York Knicks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 12 |
| 6 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 14 |
| 7 | New Orleans Jazz | 39 | 43 | .476 | 16 |
| 8 | Boston Celtics | 32 | 50 | .390 | 23 |
| 9 | Houston Rockets | 28 | 54 | .341 | 27 |
| 10 | Buffalo Braves | 27 | 55 | .329 | 28 |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 31 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1977–78 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 |
| Boston | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Buffalo | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Cleveland | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Denver | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Houston | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Indiana | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Kansas City | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Los Angeles | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| New York | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Portland | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| San Antonio | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Seattle | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 |
| Washington | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — |

## Playoffs

1978 playoff game log :
Conference semifinals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 16
Washington
W 114–103
George Gervin (35)
Larry Kenon (9)
Gervin, Kenon (5)
HemisFair Arena 9,669
1–0
2
April 18
Washington
L 117–121
George Gervin (46)
Larry Kenon (8)
Larry Kenon (6)
HemisFair Arena 9,871
1–1
3
April 21
@ Washington
L 105–118
George Gervin (33)
Larry Kenon (9)
Larry Kenon (4)
Capital Centre 17,417
1-2
4
April 23
@ Washington
L 95–98
George Gervin (35)
Billy Paultz (8)
Mike Gale (7)
Capital Centre 13,459
1-3
5
April 25
Washington
W 116–105
George Gervin (27)
Larry Kenon (14)
Louie Dampier (6)
HemisFair Arena 9,709
2-3
6
April 28
@ Washington
L 100–103
Mark Olberding (24)
Green, Paultz (9)
Mike Gale (9)
Capital Centre 19,035
2-4 :
1978 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| George Gervin | SG | 82 | 82 | 2,857 | 420 | 302 | 136 | 110 | 2,232 | 34.8 | 5.1 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 27.2 |
| Louie Dampier | PG | 82 | | 2,037 | 122 | 285 | 87 | 13 | 748 | 24.8 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 1.1 | .2 | 9.1 |
| Allan Bristow | SF | 82 | | 1,481 | 257 | 194 | 69 | 4 | 666 | 18.1 | 3.1 | 2.4 | .8 | .0 | 8.1 |
| Larry Kenon | SF | 81 | | 2,869 | 773 | 268 | 115 | 24 | 1,672 | 35.4 | 9.5 | 3.3 | 1.4 | .3 | 20.6 |
| Billy Paultz | C | 80 | | 2,479 | 675 | 213 | 42 | 194 | 1,266 | 31.0 | 8.4 | 2.7 | .5 | 2.4 | 15.8 |
| Coby Dietrick | PF | 79 | | 1,876 | 358 | 217 | 81 | 55 | 589 | 23.7 | 4.5 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .7 | 7.5 |
| Mark Olberding | PF | 79 | | 1,773 | 373 | 131 | 45 | 26 | 646 | 22.4 | 4.7 | 1.7 | .6 | .3 | 8.2 |
| Mike Gale | SG | 70 | | 2,091 | 223 | 376 | 159 | 25 | 637 | 29.9 | 3.2 | 5.4 | 2.3 | .4 | 9.1 |
| Mike Green$^†$ | C | 63 | | 1,132 | 304 | 66 | 24 | 87 | 476 | 18.0 | 4.8 | 1.0 | .4 | 1.4 | 7.6 |
| Mo Layton | PG | 41 | | 498 | 32 | 108 | 21 | 4 | 182 | 12.1 | .8 | 2.6 | .5 | .1 | 4.4 |
| James Silas | PG | 37 | | 311 | 23 | 38 | 11 | 1 | 146 | 8.4 | .6 | 1.0 | .3 | .0 | 3.9 |
| Jim Eakins$^†$ | C | 16 | | 251 | 46 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 89 | 15.7 | 2.9 | 1.1 | .2 | .6 | 5.6 |
| Scott Sims | PG | 12 | | 95 | 13 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 1.7 | .3 | .0 | 2.5 |
| George Karl | PG | 4 | | 30 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7.5 | 1.3 | 1.3 | .3 | .0 | 1.5 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Spurs only.

### Playoffs

| Player | POS | GP | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| George Gervin | SG | 6 | 227 | 34 | 19 | 6 | 16 | 199 | 37.8 | 5.7 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 33.2 |
| Mike Gale | SG | 6 | 201 | 25 | 31 | 7 | 4 | 52 | 33.5 | 4.2 | 5.2 | 1.2 | .7 | 8.7 |
| Larry Kenon | SF | 6 | 200 | 55 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 106 | 33.3 | 9.2 | 3.7 | .8 | .3 | 17.7 |
| Billy Paultz | C | 6 | 191 | 41 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 69 | 31.8 | 6.8 | 2.3 | .8 | .8 | 11.5 |
| Mike Green | C | 6 | 174 | 44 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 65 | 29.0 | 7.3 | 1.8 | .8 | 2.7 | 10.8 |
| Mark Olberding | PF | 6 | 152 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 63 | 25.3 | 5.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 10.5 |
| Louie Dampier | PG | 6 | 129 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 35 | 21.5 | 1.2 | 2.5 | .7 | .3 | 5.8 |
| Coby Dietrick | PF | 6 | 96 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 29 | 16.0 | 4.2 | .7 | .8 | .8 | 4.8 |
| Allan Bristow | SF | 5 | 51 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 10.2 | 2.2 | 1.4 | .4 | .0 | 4.4 |
| James Silas | PG | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 6.3 | .0 | .3 | .3 | .0 | 2.3 |

## Awards and honors

* George Gervin, All-NBA First Team