Spurs have history with notable veterans

[alh1020]

While the Spurs may not sign Tracy McGrady or Josh Howard after working them out recently, the team’s history shows a bit of success in adding veterans over the age of 30 into the mix.

Here’s a look at some of the most memorable veteran signings in Spurs history (minimum age 30 at start of season, minimum 8.0 minutes per game during at least one season with Spurs, minimum 7 years prior NBA seasons):

Artis Gilmore
Acquired July 22, 1982
33 years old at start of season
11-year veteran (Career began in 1971 with ABA’s Kentucky Colonels)
With Spurs: 1982-87
Last season: 1987-88
Career highs: NBA – 23.7 pts, 1978-79 and 13.1 reb, 1977-78, both with Chicago. ABA – 24.6 pts, 1975-76 and 18.3 reb, 1973-74, both with Kentucky Colonels.
Best with Spurs: 19.1 pts, 1984-85; 12.0 reb, 1982-83.
Best after Spurs: 3.7 pts, 3.0 reb, 1987-88, with Chicago and Boston.

Paul Pressey
Acquired Aug. 1, 1990
31 years old at start of season
7-year veteran (NBA career began in 1982, Milwaukee)
With Spurs: 1990-92
Last season: 1992-93
Career highs: 16.1 pts, 1984-85, Milwaukee.
Best with Spurs: 7.5 pts, 1990-91.
Best after Spurs: 4.4 pts, 1992-93, Golden State.

Antoine Carr
Acquired Sept. 23, 1991
30 years old at start of season
7-year veteran (NBA career began in 1984 with Atlanta)
With Spurs: 1991-97
Last season: 1999-2000
Career highs: 20.1 pts, 1990-91, Sacramento, and 5.5 reb, 1990-91, Sacramento and 1992-93 Spurs.
Best with Spurs: 13.1 pts, 1991-92 and 5.5 reb, 1992-93.
Best after Spurs: 9.6 pts and 3.4 reb, 1994-95, Utah.

Vinnie Johnson
Acquired Dec. 12, 1991
35 years old when acquired midseason
12-year veteran (NBA career began in 1979 with Seattle)
With Spurs: 1991-92
Last season: 1991-92
Career highs: 15.8 pts, 1982-83, Detroit.
Best with Spurs: 8.0 pts, 1991-92.
Best after Spurs: Did not play.

Dale Ellis
Acquired July 1, 1992
32 years old at start of season
9-year veteran (NBA career began in 1983 with Dallas)
With Spurs: 1992-94
Last season: 1999-2000
Career highs: 27.5 pts, 1988-89, Seattle.
Best with Spurs: 16.7 pts, 1992-93.
Best after Spurs: 16.6 pts, 1996-97, Denver.

Sleepy Floyd
Acquired Aug. 13, 1993
33 years old at start of season
11-year veteran (NBA career began in 1982 with New Jersey)
With Spurs: 1993-94
Last season: 1994-95
Career highs: 19.5 pts, 1984-85, Golden State, and 10.3 ast, 1986-87, Golden State.
Best with Spurs: 3.8 pts and 1.9 ast, 1993-94.
Best after Spurs: 4.1 pts and 2.6 ast, 1994-95, New Jersey.

Dennis Rodman
Acquired Oct. 1, 1993
32 years old at start of season
8-year veteran (NBA career began in 1986 with Detroit)
With Spurs: 1993-95
Last season: 1999-2000
Career highs: 11.6 pts, 1987-88, Detroit, and 18.7 reb, 1990-91, Detroit.
Best with Spurs: 7.1 pts, 1994-95, and 17.3 reb, 1993-94.
Best after Spurs: 5.7 pts, 1996-97, Chicago, and 16.1 reb, 1996-97, Chicago.

Chuck Person
Acquired July 21, 1994
30 years old at start of season
8-year veteran (NBA career began in 1986 with Indiana)
With Spurs: 1994-98
Last season: 1999-2000
Career highs: 21.6 pts, 1988-89, Indiana, and 41.0 3-pt pct, 1995-96, Spurs.
Best with Spurs: 10.9 pts, 1994-95, and 41.0 3-pt pct, 1995-96.
Best after Spurs: 6.1 pts, 1998-99, Charlotte, and 35.0 3-pt pct, 1998-99, Charlotte.

Moses Malone
Acquired Aug. 25, 1994
39 years old at start of season
20-year veteran (Career began in 1974 with ABA’s Utah Stars)
With Spurs: 1994-95
Last season: 1994-95
Career highs: 31.1 pts, 1981-82, Houston, and 17.6 reb, 1978-79, Houston.
Best with Spurs: 2.9 pts and 2.7 reb, 1994-95.
Best after Spurs: Did not play.

Doc Rivers
Acquired Dec. 26, 1994
33 years old when acquired midseason
11-year veteran (NBA career began in 1986 with Atlanta)
With Spurs: 1994-96
Last season: 1995-96
Career highs: 15.2 pts, 1990-91, Atlanta, and 41.7 3-pt pct, 1984-85, Atlanta.
Best with Spurs: 11.5 pts and 34.4 3-pt pct, 1994-95.
Best after Spurs: Did not play.

Greg Anderson
Acquired Sept. 29, 1995 (second stint with Spurs)
31 years old at start of season
7-year veteran (NBA career began in 1987 with Spurs; not on NBA team 1992-93)
With Spurs: 1995-97 (second time)
Last season: 1997-98
Career highs: 13.7 pts, 1988-89, Spurs (first stint), and 11.5 reb, 1991-92, Denver.
Best with Spurs (second stint): 3.9 pts and 5.5 reb, 1996-97.
Best after Spurs: 1.8 pts and 2.4 reb, 1997-98, Atlanta.

Will Perdue
Acquired Oct. 2, 1995
30 years old at start of season
7-year veteran (NBA career began in 1988 with Chicago)
With Spurs: 1995-99
Last season: 2000-01
Career highs: 8.7 pts and 9.8 reb, 1996-97, Spurs.
Best with Spurs: 8.7 pts and 9.8 reb, 1996-97.
Best after Spurs: 2.5 pts and 3.9 reb, 1999-2000, Chicago.

Charles Smith
Acquired Feb. 8, 1996
30 years old when acquired midseason
7-year veteran (NBA career began in 1988 with LA Clippers)
With Spurs: 1995-97
Last season: 1996-97
Career highs: 21.1 pts, 1989-90, LA Clippers.
Best with Spurs: 9.6 pts, 1995-96.
Best after Spurs: Did not play.

Vernon Maxwell
Acquired Aug. 29, 1996 (second stint with Spurs)
31 years old at start of season
8-year veteran (NBA career began in 1988 with Spurs)
With Spurs: 1996-97 (second time)
Last season: 2000-01
Career highs: 17.2 pts, 1991-92, Houston.
Best with Spurs (second stint): 12.9 pts, 1996-97.
Best after Spurs: 10.9 pts, 1999-2000, Seattle.

Dominique Wilkins
Acquired Oct. 4, 1996
36 years old at start of season
13-year veteran (NBA career began in 1982 with Atlanta)
With Spurs: 1996-97
Last season: 1998-99 (not in NBA in 1997-98)
Career highs: 30.7 pts, 1987-88, Atlanta.
Best with Spurs: 18.2 pts, 1996-97.
Best after Spurs: 5.0 pts, 1998-99, Orlando.

Mario Elie
Acquired Jan. 21, 1999
35 years old when acquired midseason
8-year veteran (NBA career began in 1990 with Philadelphia)
With Spurs: 1999 shortened season and 1999-2000
Last season: 2000-01
Career highs: 11.7 pts, 4.0 ast and 42.0 3-pt pct, 1996-97, Houston.
Best with Spurs: 9.7 pts, 1998-99; 2.4 ast and 39.8 3-pt pct, 1999-2000.
Best after Spurs: 4.4 pts, 1.9 ast and 36.0 3-pt pct, 2000-01, Phoenix.

Jerome Kersey
Acquired Jan. 21, 1999
36 years old when acquired midseason
14-year veteran (NBA career began in 1984 with Portland)
With Spurs: 1999 shortened season and 1999-2000
Last season: 2000-01
Career highs: 17.5 pts, 1988-89, Portland, and 8.4 reb, 1989-90, Portland.
Best with Spurs: 4.5 pts and 3.1 reb, 1999-2000.
Best after Spurs: 3.3 pts and 2.0 reb, 2000-01, Milwaukee.

Steve Kerr
Acquired Jan. 21, 1999 and Aug. 5, 2002
33 and 37 years old at start of each season
10-year veteran first time, 14 second (NBA career began in 1988 with Phoenix)
With Spurs 1999 shortened season, 1999-2001 and 2002-03
Last season: 2002-03
Career highs: 8.6 pts, 1993-94, Chicago, and 52.43-pt pct, 1994-95, Chicago.
Best with Spurs: 4.4 pts, 1999, and 3-pt pct 51.6, 1999-2000.
Best between Spurs stints: 4.1 pts and 39.4 3-pt pct, 2001-02, Portland.

Terry Porter
Acquired Aug. 5, 1999
36 years old at start at season
14-year veteran (NBA career began in 1985 with Portland)
With Spurs: 1999-2002
Last season: 2001-02
Career highs: 18.2 pts, 1992-93, Portland, and 10.1 ast, 1987-88, Portland.
Best with Spurs: 9.4 pts and 3.3 ast, 1999-2000.
Best after Spurs: Did not play.

Danny Ferry
Acquired Aug. 10, 2000
35 years old at start of season
10-year veteran (NBA career began in 1990 with Cleveland)
With Spurs: 2000-03
Last season: 2002-03
Career highs: 13.3 pts, 1995-96, Cleveland, and 44.9 3-pt pct, 2000-01, Spurs.
Best with Spurs: 5.6 pts and 44.9 3-pt pct, 2000-01.
Best after Spurs: Did not play.

Steve Smith
Acquired July 25, 2001
32 years old at start of season
10-year veteran (NBA career began in 1991 with Miami)
With Spurs: 2001-03
Last season: 2004-05
Career highs: 20.1 pts, 1996-97 and 1997-98, Atlanta, and 47.2 3-pt pct, 2001-02, Spurs.
Best with Spurs: 11.6 pts and 47.2 3-pt pct, 2001-02.
Best after Spurs: 6.3 pts, 2004-05, Charlotte and Miami, and 50.2 3-pt pct, 2003-04, New Orleans.

Kevin Willis
Acquired Aug. 26, 2002
40 years old at start of season
17-year veteran (NBA career began in 1984 with Atlanta; did not play in NBA in 1988-89)
With Spurs: 2002-04
Last season: 2006-07
Career highs: 19.1 pts, 1993-94, Atlanta, and 15.5 reb, 1991-92, Atlanta.
Best with Spurs: 4.2 pts and 3.2 reb, 2002-03.
Best after Spurs: 3.0 pts and 2.6 reb, 2004-05, Atlanta.

Robert Horry
Acquired July 24, 2003
33 years old at start of season
11-year veteran (NBA career began in 1992 with Houston)
With Spurs: 2003-08
Last season: 2007-08
Career highs: 12.4 pts, 1992-93, Houston; 8.9 reb, 1997-98, LA Lakers; and 44.4 3-pt pct, 1998-99, LA Lakers.
Best with Spurs: 11.6 pts, 2004-05; 7.6 reb, 2003-04; and 38.0 3-pt pct, 2003-04.
Best after Spurs: Did not play.

Nick Van Exel
Acquired Aug. 29, 2005
33 years old at start of season
12-year veteran (NBA career began in 1993 with LA Lakers)
With Spurs: 2005-06
Last season: 2005-06
Career highs: 18.4 pts, 2001-02, Denver and Dallas, and 9-0 ast, 1999-2000, Denver.
Best with Spurs: 5.5 pts and 1.9 ast, 2005-06.
Best after Spurs: Did not play.

Michael Finley
Acquired Sept. 2, 2005
32 years old at start of season
10-year veteran (NBA career began in 1995 with Phoenix)
With Spurs: 2005-10 (finished 2010 with Boston)
Last season: 2009-10
Career highs: 22.6 pts, 1999-2000, Dallas, and 41.1 3-pt pct, 2008-09, Spurs.
Best with Spurs: 10.1, 2005-06 and 2007-08, and 41.1 3-pt pct, 2008-09.
Best after Spurs: In 21 games with Boston – 5.2 pts and 46.3 3-pt pct, 2010.

Jacque Vaughn
Acquired July12, 2006
31 years old at start of season
9-year veteran (NBA career began in 1997 with Utah)
With Spurs: 2006-09
Last season: 2008-09
Career highs: 6.6 pts and 4.3 ast, 2001-02, Atlanta.
Best with Spurs: 4.1 pts and 2.1 ast, 2007-08.
Best after Spurs: Did not play.

Kurt Thomas
Acquired Feb. 20, 2008
35 years old when acquired midseason
12-year veteran (NBA career began in 1995 with Miami)
With Spurs: 2008-09
Last season: 2011-12*
Career highs: 14.0 pts, 2002-03, New York, and 10.4 reb, 2004-05, New York.
Best with Spurs: 4.5 pts, 2007-08 (in 28 games), and 5.1 rebs, 2008-09.
Best after Spurs: 4.1 pts and 5.8 rebs, 2010-11, Chicago.

Antonio McDyess
Acquired July 10, 2009
35 years old at start of season
13-year veteran (NBA career began in 1995 with Denver; did not play in NBA 2002-03)
With Spurs: 2009-11
Last season: 2010-11
Career highs: 21.1 pts, 1998-99, Denver, and 12.1 reb, 2000-01, Denver.
Best with Spurs: 5.8 pts and 5.9 reb, 2009-10.
Best after Spurs: Did not play.

Stephen Jackson
Acquired March 15, 2012 (second stint with Spurs)
33 years old when acquired midseason
11-year veteran (NBA career began in 2000 with NJ Nets)
With Spurs: 2001-03 (first stint); 2001-12* (second stint)
Last season: 2011-12*
Career highs: 20.7 pts, 2008-09, Golden State.
Best with Spurs: 11.8 pts, 2002-03; 8.9 pts, 2011-12 (in 21 games)
Best after Spurs: Still playing.

Spurs Nation

[SilverSpur]

[choppsboy]

Dennis Rodman, Dale Ellis, Antone Carr, Robert Horry, and Stephen Jackson do not belong on this list.

They were all major contributors and weren't in the same class as Steve Smith, Kevin Willis, and others that came with only 1 or 2 years left in their careers. (Jackson's 2nd term with the team may fit.)

[Jose_TheGenius]

i agree with Spurs Nation that we've had success with veterans, but that's when our Big 3 were in their prime. now we need guys who can take over a guy or take the load off our main players.