Spurs Championships Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tim Duncan

During the 2003 Finals, Duncan averaged 24.4 points per game, 17.5 rebounds per game, and 5.2 blocks per game. He lead his team in all three categories. Tim's first dream was to be an Olympic swimmer, but that had to change when a hurricane wiped out the only swimming pool in his home town on the island of St. Croix when he was a teen. Only then did he turn to basketball. Because of his height at the time he figured that he would play guard or small forward and developed such skills as ball handling, passing, and perimeter shooting.

Answer: Minnesota Timberwolves, L. A. Lakers, Portland Trailblazers, N. Y. Knicks

During this phenomenal run the Spurs went 15-2, losing only one game in the Minnesota series, then sweeping the Lakers and Trailblazers, and losing one more in the finals with the Knicks.

Answer: Memorial Day Miracle

The Trailblazers tried to intercept the inbound pass. Elliot made an athletic move to beat them to the pass and catches the ball while balancing on one foot. He spins and, upon finding himself wide open, fires the game winning shot.

Answer: The Little General

This nickname came as a counterpart to "The Admiral" David Robinson. Both shared the duties as co-captains and locker room leaders, so a military theme seemed appropriate. During his nearly fifteen years in the league, Johnson played for Denver, Golden State, Houston, and Seattle, before finally finding a long term home in San Antonio in his third stint with the Spurs.

Answer: Sean Elliot

Sean Elliot was going through dialysis treatments for his failing kidneys. Elliot didn't break the news until after the playoffs because he didn't want the team's focus to be on anything but winning. A few months after the finals he received a kidney from his brother, Noel, and returned a year later.

Answer: France

Though Tony Parker grew up in France and started his basketball career there, he was actually born in Belgium. Manu Ginobili is from Argentina, and backup center Menge Bateer is from Mongolia.

Answer: Kevin Willis

Kevin Willis was 42 during the Spurs second championship run. He's been able to stay competitive for this long by being able to avoid major injuries and keeping himself in terrific physical condition. He sports one of the more muscular physiques of anyone in the NBA regardless of age.

Answer: Steve Kerr

Kerr was shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers along with Antonio Daniels, for Derek Anderson during the 2000 season. When his contract was up in Portland the Spurs signed him as a free agent. It would prove to be a key pickup for the 2003 season. During games in both the Western Conference Finals and the NBA Finals, Kerr came in during the second half and put on incredible 3-point shooting performances.

Answer: Bruce Bowen

Following in the footsteps of "Hack-a-Shaq", the "Bump-a-Bruce" or "Bruise-a-Bruce" strategy worked fairly well early in the series. Eventually Bowen settled in and finally started hitting his foul shots and the Mavericks had to try something else.

Answer: David Robinson

Generally considered not only one of the greatest centers to play the game, but one of the kindest, most generous, and respectable pro athletes ever, David Robinson was both a pillar of the Spurs and the city of San Antonio. In addition to racking up Rookie of the Year, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and numerous All-Star Honors, Robinson was also named Sportman of the Year on several occasions.