2015–16 San Antonio Spurs season
The 2015–16 San Antonio Spurs season was the 49th season of the franchise, 40th in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 43rd in the San Antonio area.
| 2015–16 San Antonio Spurs season | |
|---|---|
Division champions | |
| Head coach | Gregg Popovich |
| General manager | R. C. Buford |
| President | Gregg Popovich |
| Owner(s) | Peter Holt |
| Arena | AT&T Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 67–15 (.817) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Southwest) Conference: 2nd (Western) |
| Playoff finish | Conference Semifinals (lost to Thunder 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | |
| Radio | 1200 WOAI |
Kawhi Leonard was selected to play in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game as a starter. This marked the first All-Star appearance for Leonard. With the acquisitions of David West and LaMarcus Aldridge, the Spurs finished with a 67–15 record, their best winning percentage in franchise history, earning them the Southwest Division title. The Spurs also set a franchise record for most wins in a season with 67 and tied the NBA record for most home wins in a season with 40 (tying the 1985–86 Boston Celtics 40–1 home record). On April 10, the Spurs' home winning streak came to an end with a loss to the defending NBA champion and eventual Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors.
In the first round of the 2016 NBA playoffs, the Spurs faced the injury depleted Memphis Grizzlies, and swept them in four games. However, in the Conference semifinals, the team was defeated 4–2 by the Oklahoma City Thunder. They would become the first team since the 2007 Dallas Mavericks to finish with 67 wins and be eliminated before the conference finals.
After 19 years, this season marked the end of the Tim Duncan era as he retired from the NBA following this season. Believed by many as the greatest Spur of all time, Duncan led the Spurs to 5 championships, a playoff appearance in every season of his 19 years in the league, and after winning their 5th ring in 2014, became the second player, after John Salley, to win championships in 3 different decades. Duncan was also the last remaining active player to win a championship in the 1990s, as he led the Spurs to their first-ever championship title in 1999.