You’ve been headlining a black-tie event? Well, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023 turned into a black and silver gala as it was filled with people associated with the San Antonio Spurs.
But it all came down to one person, the man at the top. NBA.com reported that the selection committee tried multiple times to convince Gregg Popovich to accept the induction and was always turned down. Instead, Tim Duncan was inducted in 2021 and Manu Ginobili in 2022.
“He wanted to make sure his guys were first,” Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo said. “He didn’t want to rush it. It was totally selfless of him, but I’m glad he decided that was the end of it.”
Popovich was inducted alongside Tony Parker, Pau Gasol and former assistant coach Becky Hammon. Along with Parker alone, it was the first time a head coach and one of his players were inducted together.
Maybe that’s why the coach called his selection “unimaginable, and that’s not an attempt at humility. It’s not something you think about growing up. It’s hard to describe.” Meanwhile, there was no mention of Popovich in the Hall of Fame section of the Spurs’ media guide, just key players.
While Parker was mentioned, Gasol (who played just three seasons in San Antonio) and Hammon, who is best known as a WNBA legend, were not. That would be like the Boston Red Sox arguing that Babe Ruth should represent the organization in the National Baseball Hall of Fame when most of his career and success came with the New York Yankees.
Here are the names of the players inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame by the Spurs (capsules courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs):
Georges Gervin
He spent 12 of his 14 professional basketball seasons with the Spurs… won four NBA scoring titles (only two players in history have more: Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain)… appeared in 12 All-Star Games (named MVP of the 1980 game)… held the NBA record for most points in a quarter, exploding for 33 in the second quarter on April 9, 1978 in New Orleans until Klay Thompson scored 37 points in a quarter on January 23, 2015… was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on May 6, 1996… a member of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players and the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team… during his 14-year professional career, he appeared in a total of 1,060 regular season games, averaging 25.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting .504 from the field and .841 from the line…scored a total of 26,595 points (which is the 18th highest combined ABA/NBA total in history)…his number 44 was retired on December 5, 1987.
David Robinson
He finished his 14-year career on June 15, 2003 with his second NBA title… averaged 21.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.00 blocks in 987 regular season games… was voted NBA MVP in 1995, NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 and NBA Rookie of the Year in 1990… won the NBA’s leading rebounder (1991), leading blocker (1992) and leading scorer (1994)… is one of 25 players to have been named to 10 All-NBA teams… is a member of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players and the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team… is one of four men’s basketball players in U.S. history to appear in three or more Olympic Games: Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996)…is a gentleman on the court and an All-Star in the community, he was honored with the 2001 NBA Sportsmanship Award and the 2003 J. Walter Kennedy Award…his number 50 was retired on November 10, 2003…was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame on September 11, 2009.
Tim Duncan
The Spurs’ all-time leading player in points, rebounds, blocks, games played and minutes… he is the only player in Spurs franchise history to win five NBA championships and the Silver and Black reached the playoffs in each of his 19 seasons… during his 19-year career, the Spurs posted the best winning percentage over a 19-year span in NBA history… was named NBA MVP twice (2002, 2003) and NBA Finals MVP three times (1999, 2003 and 2005) as well as Rookie of the Year in 1998… earned 15 All-NBA Team selections and 15 NBA All-Defensive Team honors (the most of all time), winning both honors in the same season 15 times, the most number in league history… a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team… the 15-time All-Star appeared in a total of 1,392 games and averaged 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.17 blocks… one of three players in NBA history to reach 1,000 career wins… the Spurs retired Duncan’s No. 21 jersey on Dec. 18, 2016… inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on May 15, 2021.
Manu Ginobili
The four-time NBA champion played all 16 of his NBA seasons with the Spurs, posting a career winning percentage of .721 (762-295), which is the best winning percentage in NBA history among players who have appeared in at least 1,000 games. … one of two players in NBA history, along with Bill Bradley, to win a Euroleague title, an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal … selected by San Antonio with the 57th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft … played in 1,057 career games, averaging 13.3 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.32 steals in 25.4 minutes … the Spurs’ all-time leader in three-pointers and steals … was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2008 and 2011 and was a two-time All-Star (2005 and 2011) … the 2008 NBA Sixth Man of the Year is the first sixth man, as well as the first South American, to earn All-NBA honors … reached the playoffs in all 16 of his NBA seasons … played for the team Argentina national team from 1998 to 2016, leading his home country to a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics, a silver medal at the 2002 FIBA World Championship and a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics…his number 20 was raised to the rafters on May 28, 2019…inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 10, 2022.
Tony Parker
He spent 17 seasons in San Antonio, helping the Silver and Black win four NBA championships… was named the 2007 NBA Finals MVP, becoming the first European Finals MVP in history… four-time All-NBA selection (2009, 2012, 2013, 2014) and six-time NBA All-Star (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014)… is the Spurs’ NBA leader in assists, while ranking second in games played, fourth in points and steals, fifth in free throws made and sixth in rebounds… one of five players in NBA history to record at least 19,000 points and 7,000 assists, joining Oscar Robertson, John Stockton, Gary Payton and LeBron James… has played a total of 1,254 career games in 18 seasons with the Spurs and Charlotte Hornets, averaging 15.5 points, 5.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 30.5 minutes… played in a total of 226 postseason games with the Spurs, sixth most all-time… and fellow Spurs retirees Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili recorded 126 playoff wins together, the most by a trio in NBA history… his No. 9 was retired on November 10, 2019… inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 12, 2023.
Coach Gregg Popovich
Gregg Popovich has been the head coach since 1996, making him the . He is currently the longest-tenured active coach in the four major American sports leagues. Popovich led the Silver and Black to five NBA championships (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014) and is only one of five coaches in history to win five or more NBA championships (along with Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach, John Kundla, and Pat Riley). A three-time NBA Coach of the Year (2003, 2012, and 2014), Popovich was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 12, 2023. … On March 11, 2022, Popovich became the NBA’s all-time leader in regular season wins with his 1,336th career victory. He also became the NBA’s all-time leading coach in combined wins (regular season and playoffs). Popovich is the NBA’s all-time leading coach with 23 consecutive regular season wins. He led San Antonio to the NBA’s best regular season record five times (1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2011–12, and 2013–14). On February 4, 2017, Popovich earned his 1,128th win as the Spurs’ head coach, surpassing Jerry Sloan for the most wins by a single franchise in NBA history. His 170 playoff wins rank third in NBA history (behind Jackson and Riley).
So who else in the Hall of Fame spent time with the Spurs, like Gasol and Hammon?
Players
Mo Cheeks: One season (50 games)
Louie Dampier: Three seasons (232 games)
Pau Gasol: Three seasons (168 games)
Artis Gilmore: Five seasons, including two as an All-Star (380 games)
Moses Malone: One season (17 games)
Dennis Rodman: Two seasons (128 games)
Dominique Wilkins: One season (63 games)
Coaches
Larry Brown: Head Coach (1988-89 to 1991-92)
Cotton Fitzsimmons: Head Coach (1984-85 to 1985-86)
Becky Hammon: Assistant Coach (2014-2021)
George Karl: Assistant Coach (1978-79 to 1979-80)
Jerry Tarkanian: Head Coach (1992-93)
See also: Did a rule change cost Victor Wembanyama an All-NBA rookie selection?
