Photograph by Concentrate on Sport through Getty Photographs
Private accolades: 9-time All-Star, five-time 1st Workforce All-NBA, two-time 2nd Workforce All-NBA, All-Star Recreation MVP
Profession averages: 26.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.8 bpg on 51.1 FG%
Closest he got here to profitable: Two Western Convention Finals appearances, one Japanese Convention Finals look
The Iceman George Gervin completed Prime 3 within the MVP vote three straight seasons from 1977 and 1980, main the league in scoring in all three of these campaigns. He didn’t expertise that a lot playoff success in these years, although, as his San Antonio Spurs solely gained one playoff sequence in that stretch. To this present day, Gervin is remembered way more for his scoring prowess than for his crew success.
That could be a bit unfair, nevertheless, as Gervin did make two Western Convention Finals appearances and one Japanese Convention Finals look in his profession, all as a member of the Spurs (they moved to the Western Convention in 1980-81).
Gervin’s finest likelihood to a minimum of make a Finals look in his profession got here in 1978-79, when he and Spurs took the reigning champion Washington Bullets to Recreation 7 of the Japanese Convention Finals, a sequence during which Gervin was magnificent, averaging 31.0 factors and 6.3 rebounds on 52.4 p.c taking pictures.
Recreation 7 was a traditional, too, with Gervin going off for 42 factors on 16-of-31 taking pictures to go along with six rebounds and three steals nevertheless it wouldn’t be sufficient, as Washington took house the victory 107-105 to seal one other journey to the NBA Finals.
Corridor-of-Famer Bob Dandridge hit a late game-winner in that recreation and Gervin wasn’t in a position to get the ball to get a remaining shot up for San Antonio, as Washington sealed the victory and the sequence.
Gervin was definitely a greater playoff performer than he could be remembered for at present (not profitable a title will try this), contemplating he made eight straight playoff appearances with the Spurs upon the franchise becoming a member of the NBA in 1976-77 – and averaged 27.9 factors on 50.8 p.c taking pictures within the postseason NBA appearances.
He simply didn’t have sufficient assist to get him over that hump to win a championship in his NBA profession.
Had NBA gamers been allowed to play for Workforce USA within the Olympics throughout his prime, Gervin won’t be on this record. Sadly, that simply wasn’t the case but. He additionally didn’t have any luck profitable any crew accolade throughout his time within the ABA, reaching one semifinal in 1976, falling in seven video games to Julius Erving and the New Jersey Nets. The 2 eventual NBA legends had one heck of a back-and-forth in that sequence, with the Iceman averaging 27 and 9 and Dr. J placing up 32, 11 and 5 to take the victory.
