How To Collect | The San Antonio Spurs

From Dynasties to Modern Superstars

The San Antonio Spurs have built one of the greatest legacies in the history of basketball, and one of the most impressive success stories of any small-market team across all of American sports. A model of consistency and excellence, the Spurs’ story is one of legendary big men, superlative team basketball, and one of the best minds in the history of the game.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways collectors can capture the tale of the San Antonio Spurs.

San Antonio Spurs Mount Rushmore

Picking just four Spurs from the team’s long and storied history is no easy task. A major honorable mention has to go out to Manu Ginóbili, who just barely missed the cut.

1997 Topps Chrome Basketball #115 Tim Duncan RC Refractor

1996 Topps Chrome Basketball #80 David Robinson Refractor

2007 Topps Chrome Basketball #36 Tony Parker Refractor /999

1974 Topps Basketball #196 George Gervin RC

Before Pop was Boss

Before Pop, before the Twin Towers, before the Big Three, there was George Gervin. Joining the league in 1976, the Spurs were already armed with their own superstar.

In a sign of things to come, the Spurs made the playoffs in their first 10 seasons in the league. Gervin won four scoring titles in a five year span. While his ‘74 RC is his most valuable card, this vintage ‘75 offering is an affordable Gervin card for anyone getting their collection started.

The Admiral

David Robinson announced himself by leading the Spurs to the biggest single-season turnaround in league history. Duncan’s Spurs would break the record, but after only one year out of the playoffs, Robinson and the Spurs rattled off seven straight. 

A Dream Teamer, Robinson once scored 71 points to win the scoring title. Robinson ended his career with over 20,000 points, over 10,000 boards, and was six shy of 3,000 blocks. As amazing as his career was, Robinson’s role at its end was what helped San Antonio go into the stratosphere.

Twin Towers

While Robinson remained critical to San Antonio’s early title runs, the biggest day in franchise history remains the 1997 Draft, when the Spurs jumped up in the lottery to snag one of the greatest big men of all-time. 

The Big Fundamental emerged from four years at Wake Forest as close to a finished product as we’ve ever seen, winning 56 games (up from 20 the year before) as he and Robinson formed one of the most fearsome two-big tandems in league history. The 1997 Rookie of the Year, Duncan finished fifth in MVP voting, starting an eight-year stretch of finishing at least that high. A championship would follow the very next year.

A dynasty was coming.

Duncan’s 1997 Topps Chrome debut has his most valuable Topps card, but his 1997 Topps Draft Redemption is a great way to commemorate the day that San Antonio got their man. 

Collecting the Spurs Dynasty

At their peak, the Spurs won three titles in a five-year span. As Robinson settled into retirement, a Big Three emerged, with Duncan teaming with Tony Parker and the brilliant Manu Ginobili. Parker would win Finals MVP in 2007. Ginobili would win four rings and a stunning Gold Medal in Olympic Men’s Basketball in 2004. All three are inducted in the Hall of Fame.

Parker and Ginobili both have a number of intriguing Topps cards to chase. A favorite is Ginobili’s 2002 Topps Chrome RC, which features an Argentina White Refractor numbered to 249. The card has sold for as much as $2,670. It’s hard to find, with only 6 PSA 10’s and 12 PSA 9’s. 

The Spurs got a breath of fresh air with a shrewd draft day trade for Kawhi Leonard in 2011. San Antonio’s old guard and young star would battle LeBron and The Heatles, losing in excruciating fashion in 2013 before a dominant revenge tour the next year, ending with a five-game dismantling of Miami that led to LeBron’s return to Cleveland.

The eventual split between Kawhi and the Spurs was less than ideal, but all four of these players are worthy additions to a Spurs collection.

Spurs Fan Favorites

While the Spurs had superstars to build around, the organization spearheaded by Gregg Popovich was awesome in adding the right pieces. All three of these beloved role players were poached from other teams, and went onto play key roles in title runs.

Sharpshooter Steve Kerr, seen in this 1996 card during his time in Chicago, would go on to become the most successful of Pop’s coaching tree, himself winning four titles as a coach. Robert Horry won his last two rings with the Spurs, and Boris Diaw’s eclectic game gave the 2014 Spurs title team even more sauce.

While both contributed majorly to other teams as well, as seen in the cards below, they eventually became core pieces of the Spurs legacy.

A Culture and Tradition in San Antonio

Just in case two generational big men weren’t enough, along came French unicorn Victor Wembanyama in the 2023 Draft.

From 1974 to 2019, San Antonio missed the playoffs a total of just four times. Since then, the Spurs have gone six straight years without postseason play. But, in the last two years, Wemby and teammate Stephon Castle both took home Rookie of the Year honors, and it looks as though another contender has once again been built in San Antonio. 

Coveted dual cards featuring Wemby with San Antonio and former legends are a great way to show that the torch has been passed and remains bright.

Capturing History Your Way

San Antonio’s consistency is something to be marveled at. The team’s greatest achievements are up there with any in modern basketball history.

At the Spurs’ peak, they created a brand of basketball that was feared and respected, with the unselfishness of the organization’s superstars creating a sense of team and togetherness that carried through the years. With an exciting future ahead, now is a great time to capture the past of one of basketball’s model franchises.

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