1973–74 San Antonio Spurs season

The 1973–74 San Antonio Spurs season was the first season for the newly named San Antonio Spurs, who had spent the past six seasons as the Dallas Chaparrals (and in one season's case, the Texas Chaparrals) in the American Basketball Association. The team initially went by the San Antonio Gunslingers before the season began, but decided to change their name to the Spurs some time before the season officially began either by results of a "Name That Team" contest or by the recommendation of one of the team's new co-owners as a nod to the birth town of Spur, Texas. In any case, the Spurs made their debut on October 10, 1973, against the San Diego Conquistadors in San Antonio, losing 121–106. Afterwards, the Spurs would win just 6 of their next 13 games. By the end of November, they would be back to .500. During this season, the Spurs owners would be able to buyout the previous Dallas Chaparrals owners and permanently own the team after previously being under a lease agreement with them back when they first owned the relocated franchise, which helped secure greater success with a newfound fanbase there. Also during the season, the Spurs would improve their standings with the city of San Antonio even more not just with them promoting both Coca-Cola and Pepsi products in their stadium when most arena venues would usually have one or the other involved, but also by acquiring stars Swen Nater (who would later win the ABA's Rookie of the Year Award this season despite not being drafted in the 1973 ABA draft period and instead previously being drafted in the 1972 ABA draft and later having his draft rights acquired by the Virginia Squires from "The Floridians", but staying in UCLA for his senior year) and George Gervin from the Squires in exchange for cash considerations that would help the Squires survive in the short-term. By February the Spurs were at 34–33, but they would win 11 of their next 16 games to finish the season 3rd in the five team Western Conference, going to the playoffs. In the 1974 ABA Playoffs, the Spurs lost in the first round 4–3 to the Indiana Pacers.