In the NBA, dynasties are often short-lived. Whether it was the Chicago Bulls that won six championships in eight years, or the Los Angeles Lakers, who were the last team to secure a three-peat, such dominant runs frequently share a common thread: internal controversies between players or against the front office.
However, the San Antonio Spurs stood out as a remarkable exception. Over the course of their five championship triumphs, they managed to avoid public disputes and ego-driven controversies. With the environment always being positive, even two-time All-Star Manu Ginobili also acknowledged and praised the franchise for always competing with dignity.
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Ginobili on how the Spurs were one of a kind
The most successful teams in history were not immune to friction.
Despite the unmatched dominance of the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, Michael Jordan frequently had issues with his teammates due to his instigator-like leadership or with Jerry Krause letting him be the unquestioned “alpha.” Similarly, even though Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant won three championships together, their partnership came to an end in the ugliest manner, as both players wanted to top the other for power.
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The Spurs, however, charted a different path. For instance, despite Ginobili recognizing that he had more potential than the time he spent on the court, the Argentinian embraced a role off the bench.
Moreover, even after the team suffered excruciating losses in the 2004 and 2006 Western Conference Finals (at the hands of the Lakers and the Mavs, respectively), the franchise resisted the urge to dismantle its core or blame its coach. Instead, they showed faith in the group. As a result, the team bounced back to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy the very next season.
Unsurprisingly, according to Manu, this steadfast belief in the system and personnel made San Antonio such a unique organization: there was no finger-pointing, no lapses in professionalism, even at their worst.
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“It seems like everybody always calls us, ‘Vets!’ But I think we always competed with class. It’s hard to tell what I’ll remember besides the situation so unique,” Ginobili said in a sitdown with the Spurs’ greats. “So many years with the same coach and all that, and that togetherness is what I’ll remember.”
One of the most underrated dynasties in the NBA
Although the Spurs never won back-to-back titles, their unwavering trust in their core was a key factor in their triumphs, such as their 2007 championship and their emphatic return to glory in 2014. The organization adapted to the circumstances by assigning defined roles to its stars, allowing them to elevate the team’s performance without ego or internal discord interfering.
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Eventually, it was because of such an environment that players like Ginobili and Tony Parker truly thrived. They understood there was no use in chasing the limelight for individual glory — rather, they worked wholeheartedly to make Spurs a winning franchise.
Perhaps this is precisely why almost every player in the league respects the Spurs as one of the most professional organizations, even to this day.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.