The 1992–93 San Antonio Spurs season was the 17th season for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association, and their 26th season as a franchise.
Season summary
Off-season During the off-season, the Spurs acquired former All-Star guard Dale Ellis from the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade, signed free agents Vinny Del Negro and undrafted rookie shooting guard Lloyd Daniels, and re-signed Avery Johnson after a brief stint with the Houston Rockets. The team also hired former University of Nevada, Las Vegas coach Jerry Tarkanian as their new head coach. However, prior to the start of the regular season, Terry Cummings suffered a serious knee injury during a pick-up game, and would only play in the final eight games of the season.
Regular season Under Tarkanian and with the addition of Ellis, Johnson and Del Negro, the Spurs struggled with a 9–11 start to the regular season. After 20 games into the season, Tarkanian was fired as head coach, then after playing one game under assistant coach Rex Hughes, the team hired John Lucas II as their new coach. In December, the team traded Sidney Green to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for J.R. Reid. Under Lucas, the Spurs played solid basketball posting a 10-game winning streak in January, and then posting an eight-game winning streak between January and February, as the team held a 34–15 record at the All-Star break. However, the Spurs played below .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, finishing in second place in the Midwest Division with a 49–33 record, and earning the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
David Robinson averaged 23.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 3.2 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, while Sean Elliott averaged 17.2 points and 3.8 assists per game, and Ellis provided the team with 16.7 points per game, and also led them with 119 three-point field goals. In addition, Antoine Carr averaged 13.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while Reid provided with 9.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 66 games after the trade, Daniels contributed 9.1 points per game off the bench, Johnson contributed 8.7 points and 7.5 assists per game, and Del Negro averaged 7.4 points and 4.0 assists per game.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Robinson and Elliott were both selected for the 1993 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was Elliott's first ever All-Star appearance. Robinson finished in sixth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and also finished tied in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets, while Lucas finished in sixth place in Coach of the Year voting.
The Spurs finished eleventh in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 658,337 at the HemisFair Arena during the regular season.
NBA playoffs In the Western Conference First Round of the 1993 NBA playoffs, the Spurs faced off against the 4th–seeded Portland Trail Blazers, who were led by the trio of All-Star guard Clyde Drexler, All-Star guard Terry Porter, and Sixth Man of the Year, Clifford Robinson. With the series tied at 1–1, the Spurs won the next two games over the Trail Blazers at home, which included a Game 4 win at the HemisFair Arena in overtime, 100–97 to win the series in four games.
In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the Spurs faced off against the top–seeded, and Pacific Division champion Phoenix Suns, who were led by the All-Star trio of Most Valuable Player of the Year, Charles Barkley, three-point specialist Dan Majerle, and Kevin Johnson. The Spurs lost the first two games to the Suns on the road at the America West Arena, but managed to win the next two games at the HemisFair Arena to even the series. However, the Spurs lost the next two games to the Suns, including a Game 6 loss at the HemisFair Arena, 102–100, in which Barkley hit a game-winning buzzer-beater, as the Spurs lost the series in six games.
The Suns would advance to the 1993 NBA Finals, but would lose to the 2-time defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls in six games.
Aftermath This was also the Spurs' final season in which they played their home games at the HemisFair Arena. Following the season, Elliott was traded to the Detroit Pistons, and Johnson signed as a free agent with the Golden State Warriors.
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 18 Tracy Murray SF UCLA 2 44 Henry Williams G UNC-Charlotte
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot
z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot
Game log
| 1 | November 6, 1992 | @ Sacramento | L 106–114
| ARCO Arena | 0–1 |- | 2 | November 7, 1992 | @ Denver | L 121–125 (2OT)
| McNichols Sports Arena | 0–2 |- | 3 | November 10, 1992 | Milwaukee | W 104–98
| HemisFair Arena | 1–2 |- | 4 | November 12, 1992 | Atlanta | L 97–104
| HemisFair Arena | 1–3 |- | 5 | November 14, 1992 | Houston | L 87–93
| HemisFair Arena | 1–4 |- | 6 | November 17, 1992 | Cleveland | W 106–95
| HemisFair Arena | 2–4 |- | 7 | November 19, 1992 | Dallas | W 123–95
| HemisFair Arena | 3–4 |- | 8 | November 21, 1992 | @ Houston | L 100–103
| The Summit | 3–5 |- | 9 | November 24, 1992 | @ Portland | L 91–95
| Memorial Coliseum | 3–6 |- | 10 | November 25, 1992 | @ Utah | W 128–102
| Delta Center | 4–6 |- | 11 | November 28, 1992 | Seattle | W 104–97
| HemisFair Arena | 5–6
| 12 | December 1, 1992 | @ Washington | L 106–119
| Capital Centre | 5–7 |- | 13 | December 2, 1992 | @ Philadelphia | W 98–82
| The Spectrum | 6–7 |- | 14 | December 4, 1992 | @ New Jersey | L 103–108 (OT)
| Brendan Byrne Arena | 6–8 |- | 15 | December 5, 1992 | @ Atlanta | L 105–113
| The Omni | 6–9 |- | 16 | December 8, 1992 | Utah | W 121–103
| HemisFair Arena | 7–9 |- | 17 | December 10, 1992 | Miami | W 101–91
| HemisFair Arena | 8–9 |- | 18 | December 12, 1992 | @ Dallas | W 113–91
| Reunion Arena | 9–9 |- | 19 | December 15, 1992 | L.A. Lakers | L 101–107
| HemisFair Arena | 9–10 |- | 20 | December 17, 1992 | @ Houston | L 109–121
| The Summit | 9–11 |- | 21 | December 18, 1992 | Dallas | W 122–101
| HemisFair Arena | 10–11 |- | 22 | December 22, 1992 | Denver | W 113–108
| HemisFair Arena | 11–11 |- | 23 | December 25, 1992 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 103–94
| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 12–11 |- | 24 | December 26, 1992 | @ L.A. Lakers | W 104–92
| Great Western Forum | 13–11 |- | 25 | December 28, 1992 | Golden State | L 105–106
| HemisFair Arena | 14–11 |- | 26 | December 30, 1992 | @ Denver | W 114–94
| McNichols Sports Arena | 14–12
| 27 | January 3, 19937:00p.m. CST | Phoenix | W 114–113 (OT) | Robinson (33) | Robinson (11) | Del Negro (9) | HemisFair Arena16,057 | 15–12 |- | 28 | January 5, 1993 | @ Utah | L 87–113
| Delta Center | 15–13 |- | 29 | January 7, 1993 | Utah | W 109–99
| HemisFair Arena | 16–13 |- | 30 | January 9, 1993 | Portland | W 109–93
| HemisFair Arena | 17–13 |- | 31 | January 11, 1993 | @ Detroit | W 109–91
| The Palace of Auburn Hills | 18–13 |- | 32 | January 13, 1993 | @ Minnesota | W 89–81
| Target Center | 19–13 |- | 33 | January 14, 1993 | @ Milwaukee | W 108–93
| Bradley Center | 20–13 |- | 34 | January 16, 1993 | Charlotte | W 124–111
| HemisFair Arena | 21–13 |- | 35 | January 19, 1993 | Denver | W 121–110
| HemisFair Arena | 22–13 |- | 36 | January 22, 1993 | Detroit | W 123–109
| HemisFair Arena | 23–13 |- | 37 | January 24, 199312Noon CST | Chicago | W 103–99 | Robinson (24) | Robinson (13) | Johnson (15) | HemisFair Arena16,057 | 24–13 |- | 38 | January 27, 1993 | @ Seattle | W 119–99
| Seattle Center Coliseum | 25–13 |- | 39 | January 29, 19938:30p.m. CST | @ Phoenix | L 110–125 | Elliott,Ellis (19) | Robinson (10) | Johnson (9) | America West Arena19,023 | 25–14 |- | 40 | January 30, 1993 | Sacramento | W 129–124
| HemisFair Arena | 26–14
| 41 | February 2, 1993 | New Jersey | W 111–93
| HemisFair Arena | 27–14 |- | 42 | February 4, 1993 | Indiana | W 133–115
| HemisFair Arena | 28–14 |- | 43 | February 6, 1993 | Minnesota | W 104–95
| HemisFair Arena | 29–14 |- | 44 | February 9, 1993 | L.A. Clippers | W 112–97
| HemisFair Arena | 30–14 |- | 45 | February 11, 1993 | Washington | W 105–95
| HemisFair Arena | 31–14 |- | 46 | February 13, 1993 | Boston | W 90–85
| HemisFair Arena | 32–14 |- | 47 | February 15, 1993 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 102–99
| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 33–14 |- | 48 | February 16, 1993 | @ Golden State | L 112–133
| Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 33–15 |- | 49 | February 18, 1993 | Philadelphia | W 103–98
| HemisFair Arena | 34–15 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- | 50 | February 23, 19938:30p.m. CST | Phoenix | L 103–105 | Robinson (35) | Robinson (11) | Johnson (12) | HemisFair Arena16,057 | 34–16 |- | 51 | February 25, 1993 | @ Charlotte | L 104–111
| Charlotte Coliseum | 34–17 |- | 52 | February 26, 1993 | @ Miami | L 86–93
| Miami Arena | 34–18 |- | 53 | February 28, 1993 | @ Orlando | W 94–90
| Orlando Arena | 35–17
| 54 | March 2, 1993 | @ Indiana | L 95–109
| Market Square Arena | 35–19 |- | 55 | March 3, 1993 | @ Boston | L 91–132
| Boston Garden | 35–20 |- | 56 | March 5, 19937:00p.m. CST | @ Chicago | W 107–102 (OT) | Ellis (29) | Robinson (11) | Johnson (7) | Chicago Stadium18,676 | 36–20 |- | 57 | March 6, 1993 | @ Minnesota | L 105–106
| Target Center | 36–21 |- | 58 | March 9, 1993 | Dallas | W 119–84
| HemisFair Arena | 37–21 |- | 59 | March 13, 1993 | Portland | W 108–99
| HemisFair Arena | 38–21 |- | 60 | March 15, 1993 | L.A. Lakers | L 87–92
| HemisFair Arena | 38–22 |- | 61 | March 17, 1993 | @ L.A. Lakers | W 101–100
| Great Western Forum | 39–22 |- | 62 | March 19, 1993 | Orlando | W 96–93
| HemisFair Arena | 40–22 |- | 63 | March 21, 1993 | @ New York | L 96–115
| Madison Square Garden | 40–23 |- | 64 | March 23, 1993 | @ Cleveland | L 90–127
| Richfield Coliseum | 40–24 |- | 65 | March 24, 1993 | @ Minnesota | W 105–92
| Target Center | 41–24 |- | 66 | March 26, 1993 | Utah | L 98–104
| HemisFair Arena | 41–25 |- | 67 | March 28, 1993 | @ Dallas | W 114–107
| Reunion Arena | 42–25 |- | 68 | March 30, 1993 | Seattle | W 99–97
| HemisFair Arena | 43–25 |- | 69 | March 31, 1993 | @ Utah | L 85–93
| Delta Center | 43–26
| 70 | April 2, 1993 | Minnesota | W 108–101
| HemisFair Arena | 43–27 |- | 71 | April 4, 1993 | New York | L 103–108 (OT)
| HemisFair Arena | 44–27 |- | 72 | April 6, 1993 | Golden State | L 111–125
| HemisFair Arena | 44–28 |- | 73 | April 8, 1993 | L.A. Clippers | W 112–108
| HemisFair Arena | 45–28 |- | 74 | April 10, 1993 | @ Houston | L 88–98
| The Summit | 45–29 |- | 75 | April 13, 1993 | @ Sacramento | W 110–100
| ARCO Arena | 46–29 |- | 76 | April 14, 1993 | @ Golden State | W 96–93
| Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 47–29 |- | 77 | April 16, 1993 | Sacramento | L 93–100
| HemisFair Arena | 47–30 |- | 78 | April 18, 1993 | @ Portland | L 101–105
| Memorial Coliseum | 47–31 |- | 79 | April 19, 1993 | @ Seattle | L 89–96
| Seattle Center Coliseum | 47–32 |- | 80 | April 22, 1993 | Denver | W 131–111
| HemisFair Arena | 48–32 |- | 81 | April 24, 19932:30p.m. CST | @ Phoenix | L 97–99 | Ellis,Robinson (20) | Robinson (19) | Johnson (9) | America West Arena19,023 | 48–33 |- | 82 | April 25, 1993 | Houston | W 119–117 (OT)
| HemisFair Arena | 49–33
Playoffs
| 1 | April 29, 1993 | @ Portland | W 87–86 | Sean Elliott (18) | David Robinson (15) | Elliott, Johnson (7) | Memorial Coliseum12,888 | 1–0 |- | 2 | May 1, 1993 | @ Portland | L 96–105 | Robinson, Cummings (15) | David Robinson (14) | Avery Johnson (6) | Memorial Coliseum12,888 | 1–1 |- | 3 | May 5, 1993 | Portland | W 107–101