Major honours
Founded in 1967 as the ABA's Dallas Chaparrals and absorbed into the NBA in the 1976 merger, San Antonio is the example of how a small-market franchise can stay at the top for more than two decades. The Spurs built around two Hall of Fame centers in succession, David Robinson and 1997 first overall pick Tim Duncan, winning five titles — in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014 — under coach Gregg Popovich, who ran the team from 1996 to 2023. San Antonio made 22 consecutive playoff appearances from 1998 to 2019, the second-longest streak in any of America's four major pro sports. The club's method leaned heavily on late draft picks and international scouting: Argentina's Manu Ginóbili went 57th overall in 1999 and France's Tony Parker went 28th in 2001, and both are now in the Hall of Fame. The ball-movement-based offense on display in the 2014 Finals was dubbed "the beautiful game" and became a template for modern team basketball.
Record comparison
Bars are scaled to the strongest team in this list.
Club legends
Rivalry
San Antonio met the Miami Heat in back-to-back Finals in 2013 and 2014, splitting them 1-1. After Ray Allen's corner three snatched away a title on the brink of Game 6 in 2013, the Spurs beat the same opponent 4-1 the following year.