10 Things You Didn't Know About The San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs in San Antonio is the city’s only professional major league sports team, which could partly explain the immense fan devotion. The Spurs are renowned for their NBA track record and their loyal team players. From its roots to its rivals, here are ten facts you may not know about this great San Antonio basketball team.

They Were Once Named The Dallas Chaparrals

The San Antonio Spurs started out as the The Dallas Chaparrals in 1967. After little success, the owners of the team ceased team funds altogether. Then a group of San Antonio businessmen lead by Angelo Drossos, John Schaefer and Red McCombs stepped in. They agreed to lease the team to San Antonio for three years and return the team to Dallas by 1975 if no purchase was made. However there was no need to return the team – The Dallas Chaparrals, later named San Antonio Spurs, thrived in their new home.

George ‘The Iceman’ Gervin

Tim Duncan, Swimmer Turned NBA Player

Tim Duncan, recently retired team captain, is arguably the team’s most beloved player of all time. He’s from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands and at a young age had his heart set on becoming an Olympic swimmer. However, Hurricane Hugo destroyed his town’s only Olympic-sized pool, leaving only the ocean for use. Due to his fear of sharks, however, he gave up on the swimmer’s dream. Duncan retired as one of three players in NBA history holding 1,000 career wins and the only player in NBA history to win 1,000 games with one team.

Tony Parker Turns To Hip-Hop

Player Tony Parker released a hip-hop rap album in 2007 entirely in his native tongue of French. The album was named TP and did moderately well. However it attracted a lot of negative attention, with the media regularly poking fun at the NBA player, and eventually Parker decided to give up on his rapper dreams.

Coach Gregg Popovich

The team’s current coach, Coach Gregg Popovich aka ‘Pop’ graduated from the Air Force Academy – during his senior year he was the basketball team captain and leading scorer – and nearly became a spy. Taking over the Spurs in 1996, he is now the longest tenured active coach in both the NBA and all US major league sports!

Spurs Super Fans

Spurs fans remain some of the most devoted and passionate in the nation. One of the reasons the Spurs did so well in San Antonio rather than Dallas was the locals’ response. San Antonio welcomed the team with open arms, the games drawing over 6,000 fans per game, exceeding the Dallas Chaparrals’ entire attendance. Perhaps unsurprisingly then today their number one rivals are the Dallas Mavericks.

The Coyote Mascot

The Spurs’ Coyote is the only mascot to ever be ejected from a game. One time he apparently got a little too excited and scared the opposing team.

Playoff Attendance

There have only been four times in the Spurs‘ history since they entered the NBA in 1976 that they have missed the playoffs. That’s 40 years with only four missed playoffs!

Charles Barkley’s Distaste Towards the Spurs

Charles Barkley, former NBA basketball player and current NBA TV analyst, holds unusual hatred towards the Spurs. He often repeats offensive statements directed at San Antonio locals and Spurs fans.

George Gervin Youth Center

Former Spurs player George ‘The Iceman’ Gervin created George Gervin Youth Center in San Antonio. The organization offers academic programs and educational opportunities, while it also serves disadvantaged and at-risk communities through programs and support centers.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.