# 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. 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.
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

| 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 |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | 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 Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | 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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
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