The San Antonio Spurs found a treasure in the 1997 NBA draft.
The 1996-97 season was marred by injuries to crucial players, most notably 1994-95 MVP David Robinson, who suffered back and foot injuries. This led to a dismal 20-62 record for San Antonio, the worst in their franchise history. However, this difficult season had a silver lining, as the Spurs won the draft lottery in 1997 and secured the first overall pick, which they used to select Tim Duncan from Wake Forest.
Pairing Duncan with Robinson created a formidable duo that cemented the franchise`s success for years to come. With Duncan as a cornerstone, the Spurs clinched NBA championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. Their consistent excellence led them to the playoffs every year from 1998 to 2019.
San Antonio`s remarkable streak of 22 consecutive postseason appearances stands as an NBA record, sharing the honor with the Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers franchise.
Here are the NBA teams that have achieved the longest consecutive playoff appearances:
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San Antonio Spurs: 22 (1998-2019)
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Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers: 22 (1950-1971)
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Portland Trail Blazers: 21 (1983-2003)
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Utah Jazz: 20 (1984-2003)
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Boston Celtics: 19 (1951-1969)
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Los Angeles Lakers: 17 (1977-1993)
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Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers: 16 (1959-1974)
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New York Knicks: 14 (1988-2001)
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Chicago Bulls: 14 (1985-1998)
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Boston Celtics: 14 (1980-1993)
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Fort Wayne Pistons/Detroit Pistons: 14 (1950-1963)
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Phoenix Suns: 13 (1989-2001)
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Dallas Mavericks: 12 (2001-2012)
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Milwaukee Bucks: 12 (1980-1991)
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Philadelphia 76ers: 12 (1976-1987)
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St. Louis Hawks/Atlanta Hawks: 11 (1963-1973)
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Boston Celtics: 11 (2015-2025)*
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Atlanta Hawks: 10 (2008-2017)
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Denver Nuggets: 10 (2004-2013)
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Los Angeles Lakers: 10 (1995-2004)
*Active streak
