San Antonio Spurs

The quiet dynasty and the beautiful game

The Spurs joined from the ABA in 1976 and became the model franchise. Built around David Robinson and then Tim Duncan, the most reliable big man ever, they won five titles between 1999 and 2014 under Gregg Popovich.

With Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, San Antonio played the beautiful game, all passing and unselfishness. The 2013 Finals slipped away on Ray Allen's miracle three; the 2014 team answered with one of the great team performances in history.

Now Victor Wembanyama, a seven-foot-four talent unlike anything the sport has seen, has made the Spurs must-watch again.

The franchise also had George Gervin, the Iceman, whose finger-roll and scoring titles lit up the 1970s and 80s long before the dynasty, giving San Antonio star power from the start.