Austin Spurs
{{short description|American professional basketball team of the NBA G League}}
{{redirect|Columbus Riverdragons|the ice hockey team|Columbus River Dragons}}
{{Infobox basketball club
| name = Austin Spurs
| logo = Austin Spurs logo.svg
| imagesize = 200px
| conference = Western
| league = NBA G League
| founded = 2001
| history = Columbus Riverdragons
2001–2005
Austin Toros
2005–2014
Austin Spurs
2014–present
| arena = H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
| location = Cedar Park, Texas
| colors = Black, silver, white{{cite press release|last=Chandler|first=James|title=Spurs Sports & Entertainment Austin-based NBA Development League team has been renamed the Austin Spurs|url=http://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-sports-entertainment-austin-based-nba-development-league-team-has-been-renamed-austin-spurs|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Spurs.com|date=October 15, 2014|access-date=July 4, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Austin Spurs Reproduction Guideline Sheet|url=https://cdn-assets-us.frontify.com/s3/frontify-enterprise-files-us/eyJwYXRoIjoibmJhXC9maWxlXC9ua0oxam5KNWZzQWNzNk40dTJGcS5wZGYifQ:nba:bgj-nX7Gt9PKb809YciIHHLPeEEaFBSEK4_cSCedI1M?width=2400|publisher=NBA Properties, Inc.|access-date=August 30, 2017}}
{{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#C4CED4}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| owner = Spurs Sports & Entertainment
| gm = Josh Larson
| coach = Scott King
| league_champs = 2 (2012, 2018)
| conf_champs = 4 (2005, 2008, 2012, 2018)
| div_champs = 5 (2005, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2018)
| affiliations = San Antonio Spurs
| website = {{URL|austin.gleague.nba.com}}
}}
The Austin Spurs are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Cedar Park, Texas, and are affiliated with the San Antonio Spurs. The team plays their home games at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. The team has made the postseason in 8 out of 14 seasons in the NBA Development League.
On October 15, 2014, after the San Antonio Spurs purchased the franchise, the team colors and logo were changed to reflect the silver and black motif used by the Spurs.
The Spurs are coached by Scott King. Their general manager is Josh Larson.
Franchise history
The Austin Spurs were established in Columbus, Georgia, as the Columbus Riverdragons. The franchise in 2005 was sold to Southwest Basketball, LLC, and were relocated to the city of Austin, Texas. Following the relocation, the franchise changed their name and logo becoming the Austin Toros, which was unveiled on August 10, 2005. The Toros name was the only NBA-associated team and first D-League team to possess a nickname of Spanish origin. The Toros began play during the 2005–06 season.
On June 28, 2007, the Toros were acquired by the San Antonio Spurs, becoming the second D-League team to be owned by an NBA team, after the Los Angeles D-Fenders were purchased by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2006.{{cite web|url= http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/spurs_toros_070628.html|title= Spurs Purchase Austin Toros of NBA Developmental League}}
On August 9, 2010, the Toros announced they would move to the Cedar Park Center from the Austin Convention Center and for the 2010–11 season.
On April 28, 2012, the Toros defeated the Los Angeles D-Fenders in Game 3 of the NBA D-League Finals to capture their first championship in franchise history.{{cite web|url= http://www.nba.com/dleague/austin/austin_toros_win_2012_nba_dleague_championship_2012_04_28.html|title= Austin Toros Win 2012 NBA Development League Championship|access-date= 2013-09-18|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140817182437/http://www.nba.com/dleague/austin/austin_toros_win_2012_nba_dleague_championship_2012_04_28.html|archive-date= 2014-08-17|url-status= dead}}
On October 15, 2014, the team announced that they would be changing their name to the Austin Spurs, in reference to their parent team.
On April 10, 2018, the Spurs defeated Raptors 905 to secure their second G League championship.{{cite web|url=http://gleague.nba.com/games/20180410/AUSRAP/ |title=Spurs Win NBA G League Championship |publisher=NBA G League |date=April 10, 2018}}
In 2019, the Spurs played in the 2019 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Rio de Janeiro, as the first G League team to play in the tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.fiba.basketball/en/intercontinentalcup/2019/news/nba-g-league-champions-austin-spurs-highlight-revamped-four-team-fiba-intercontinental-cup|publisher=FIBA|date=17 January 2019|access-date=18 January 2019|title=NBA G League champions Austin Spurs highlight revamped four-team FIBA Intercontinental Cup}} Austin lost in the semi-final to Flamengo.
In 2020, the Spurs named Tyler Self, son of Hall of Fame coach Bill Self, as the Austin Spurs' general manager and Matt Nielsen as the head coach.{{cite web |url=https://austin.gleague.nba.com/news/austin-spurs-name-matt-nielsen-head-coach-and-tyler-self-general-manager/ |title=AUSTIN SPURS NAME MATT NIELSEN HEAD COACH AND TYLER SELF GENERAL MANAGER |website=Austin Spurs |date=November 10, 2020}} Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team played an abbreviated 2020–21 bubble season in Orlando.
Prior to the 2021–22 season, Petar Božić was named Austin's head coach after Nielsen was moved over to San Antonio as an assistant coach.{{Cite web |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/austin-spurs-name-petar-box9eix107-head-coach/n-5747079 |title=Austin Spurs Name Petar Božić Head Coach |website=OurSports Central |date=September 17, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-name-matt-nielsen-assistant-coach |title=Spurs name Matt Nielsen assistant coach |date=September 8, 2021 |website=NBA.com |access-date=September 8, 2021}}
Prior to the 2022–23 season, Brent Barry was named Austin Spurs' general manager.{{Cite web|url=https://austin.gleague.nba.com/news/brent-barry-named-austin-spurs-general-manager |title=Brent Barry Named Austin Spurs General Manager |website=austin.gleague.nba.com |date=September 23, 2022}}
Prior to the 2024–25 season Josh Larson was named Austin Spurs' general manager.
Home arenas
- Columbus Civic Center (2001–2005)
- Austin Convention Center (2005–2010)
- H-E-B Center at Cedar Park (2010–present)
Season-by-season
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center" | ||||||
| Season | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Pct. | Postseason results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colspan=7 bgcolor="#DD4814" | Columbus Riverdragons | ||||||
| 2001–02 | 3rd | 31 | 25 | .554 | align=left| Lost Semifinals (Greenville) 1–2 | |
| 2002–03 | 6th | 23 | 27 | .460 | ||
| 2003–04 | 6th | 18 | 28 | .391 | ||
| 2004–05 | 1st | 30 | 18 | .625 | align=left| Won Semifinals (Roanoke) 96–89 Lost NBDL Finals (Asheville) 67–90 | |
| colspan=7 bgcolor="#005695" | Austin Toros | ||||||
| 2005–06 | 6th | 24 | 24 | .500 | ||
| 2006–07 | Eastern | 5th | 21 | 29 | .420 | |
| colspan=7 style="{{NBA color cell|Austin Spurs|border=2}}"|Austin Toros | ||||||
| 2007–08 | Southwestern | 1st | 30 | 20 | .600 | align=left| Won Semifinals (Sioux Falls) 99–93 Lost D-League Finals (Idaho) 1–2 |
| 2008–09 | Southwestern | 2nd | 32 | 18 | .640 | align=left| Won First Round (Idaho) 119–116 (OT) Lost Semifinals (Colorado) 111–114 |
| 2009–10 | Western | 2nd | 32 | 18 | .640 | align=left| Won First Round (Dakota) 2–1 Lost Semifinals (Rio Grande Valley) 1–2 |
| 2010–11 | Western | 8th | 22 | 28 | .440 | |
| 2011–12 | Western | 2nd | 33 | 17 | .660 | align=left| Won First Round (Erie) 2–1 Won Semifinals (Canton) 2–1 Won League Finals (Los Angeles) 2–1 |
| 2012–13 | Central | 2nd | 27 | 23 | .700 | align=left| Won First Round (Bakersfield) 2–0 Lost Semifinals (Santa Cruz) 0–2 |
| 2013–14 | Central | 6th | 19 | 31 | .380 | |
| colspan=7 style="{{NBA color cell|Austin Spurs|border=2}}"|Austin Spurs | ||||||
| 2014–15 | Southwest | 1st | 32 | 18 | .640 | align=left| Won Conf. Semifinal (Bakersfield) 2–1 Lost Conf. Final (Santa Cruz) 1–2 |
| 2015–16 | Southwest | 1st | 30 | 20 | .600 | align=left| Won Conf. Semifinal (Rio Grande Valley) 2–1 Lost Conf. Final (Los Angeles) 1–2 |
| 2016–17 | Southwest | 4th | 25 | 25 | .500 | |
| 2017–18 | Southwest | 1st | 32 | 18 | {{winpct|32|18}} | align=left| Won Conf. Semifinal (Rio Grande Valley) 117–91 Won Conf. Final (South Bay) 104–93 Won League Finals (Raptors) 2–0 |
| 2018–19 | Southwest | 3rd | 20 | 30 | {{winpct|20|30}} | |
| 2019–20 | Southwest | 2nd | 24 | 18 | {{winpct|24|18}} | align=left|Season cancelled by COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020–21 | — | 5th | 10 | 5 | {{winpct|10|5}} | align=left|Lost Quarterfinal (Delaware) 103–124 |
| 2021–22 | Western | 11th | 13 | 19 | {{winpct|13|19}} | align=left| |
| 2022–23 | Western | 14th | 8 | 24 | {{winpct|8|24}} | |
| 2023–24 | Western | 7th | 20 | 14 | {{winpct|20|14}} | |
| 2024–25 | Western | 2nd | 22 | 12 | {{winpct|22|12}} | Won Conf. Semifinals (Salt Lake City) 123–113 Lost Conf. Final (Stockton) 112–118 |
| colspan=3|Regular season || 578 || 509 || {{winpct|578|509}} || | ||||||
| colspan=3|Playoffs || 28 || 22 || {{winpct|28|22}} || |
Current roster
{{Austin Spurs roster}}
Head coaches
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center"
!scope="col" rowspan="2"| # !scope="col" rowspan="2"| Head coach !scope="col" rowspan="2"| Term !scope="col" colspan="4"| Regular season !scope="col" colspan="4"| Playoffs !scope="col" rowspan="2"| Achievements | |||||||||||
| G | W | L | Win% | G | W | L | Win% | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | 1 | align=left | {{sortname|Jeff|Malone}} | align=left | 2001–2005 | 200 | 102 | 98 | {{winpct|102|98}} | 5 | 2 | 3 | {{winpct|2|3}} | align=left | |
| align=left | 2 | align=left | {{sortname|Dennis|Johnson}} | align=left | 2005–2007 | 98 | 45 | 53 | {{winpct|45|53}} | — | — | — | — | align=left | |
| align=left | 3 | align=left | {{sortname|Quin|Snyder}} | align=left | 2007–2010 | 150 | 94 | 56 | {{winpct|94|56}} | 12 | 6 | 6 | {{winpct|6|6}} | align=left | |
| align=left | 4 | align=left | {{sortname|Brad|Jones|Brad Jones (basketball)}} | align=left | 2010–2012 | 100 | 55 | 45 | {{winpct|55|45}} | 9 | 6 | 3 | {{winpct|6|3}} | align=left | D-League Champion (2011–12) |
| align=left | 5 | align=left | {{sortname|Taylor|Jenkins}} | align=left | 2012–2013 | 50 | 27 | 23 | {{winpct|27|23}} | 4 | 2 | 2 | {{winpct|4|4}} | align=left | |
| align=left | 6 | align=left | {{sortname|Ken|McDonald|dab=basketball}} | align=left | 2013–2017 | 200 | 106 | 94 | {{winpct|81|69}} | 12 | 6 | 6 | {{winpct|6|6}} | align=left | |
| align=left | 7 | align=left | {{sortname|Blake|Ahearn}} | align=left | 2017–2020 | 100 | 52 | 48 | {{winpct|52|48}} | 4 | 4 | 0 | {{winpct|4|0}} | align=left |G League Champion (2017–18) |
| align=left | 8 | align=left | {{sortname|Matt|Nielsen}} | align=left | {{nowrap|2020–2021}} | 15 | 10 | 5 | {{winpct|10|5}} | 1 | 0 | 1 | {{winpct|0|1}} | align=left | |
| align=left | 9 | align=left | {{sortname|Petar|Božić}} | align=left | {{nowrap|2021–2023}} | 64 | 21 | 43 | {{winpct|21|43}} | – | – | – | {{winpct|0|0}} | align=left | |
| align=left | 10 | align=left | {{sortname|Will|Voigt}} | align=left | {{nowrap|2023–2024}} | 34 | 20 | 14 | {{winpct|20|14}} | – | – | – | {{winpct|0|0}} | align=left | |
| align=left | 11 | align=left | {{sortname|Scott|King|dab=basketball}} | align=left | {{nowrap|2024–present}} | 34 | 22 | 12 | {{winpct|22|12}} | 2 | 1 | 1 | {{winpct|1|1}} | align=left | |
NBA affiliates
=Columbus Riverdragons=
- None
=Austin Toros=
- Boston Celtics (2006–2007)
- Denver Nuggets (2005–2006)
- Houston Rockets (2005–2007)
- Los Angeles Clippers (2005–2006)
- San Antonio Spurs (2005–2014)
=Austin Spurs=
- San Antonio Spurs (2014–present)
In international competitions
=FIBA Intercontinental Cup=
{{Main|FIBA Intercontinental Cup}}
{{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} Champions {{Color box|silver|border=darkgray}} Runners-up {{Color box|#cc9966|border=darkgray}} Third place {{Color box|#9acdff|border=darkgray}} Fourth place
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||
| Year
! Round ! {{Tooltip|W|Wins}} ! {{Tooltip|L|Losses}} ! {{Tooltip|W%|Winning percentage}} | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=#9acdff
| {{flagicon|BRA}} 2019 | Fourth place | 0 | 2 | {{Winning percentage|0|2}} |
| style="color:white;"
! style="background:black;"|Total ! style="background:black;"| ! style="background:black;"|0 ! style="background:black;"|2 ! style="background:black;"| {{Winning percentage|0|2}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Texas}}
- [https://austin.gleague.nba.com/ Official Austin Spurs website]
{{San Antonio Spurs}}
{{NBA G League}}
{{NBA D-League Champions}}
{{Spurs Sports & Entertainment}}
{{Texas sports}}
{{Austin}}
Category:Basketball teams in Texas
Category:Basketball teams established in 2005
Category:Spurs Sports & Entertainment