NBA Champions ·
2005 San Antonio Spurs
The 2004-05 Spurs went 59-23 and beat the defending-champion Pistons in a seven-game Finals for their third title. Tim Duncan took his third Finals MVP. The series turned on Robert Horry, who scored 21 in Game 5, including the overtime-winning three, after being scoreless into the fourth quarter.
San Antonio added Brent Barry and Nazr Mohammed to a core of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili that had matured into the league's steadiest contender. The team won 59 games and ranked first in defensive rating.
The playoff road went through the West's best. The Spurs handled Denver and Seattle, then upset the 62-win Suns of MVP Steve Nash in five to reach the Finals against Detroit.
The series was a defensive grind. Detroit pushed it to a seventh game after Game 5 swung on Horry's 21-point fourth quarter and overtime, including a 25-foot three with 5.8 seconds left. San Antonio closed Game 7 at home, 81-74, behind Duncan's 25 points and 11 rebounds and 23 from Ginobili off the bench.
Duncan won Finals MVP for the third time. Horry, picking up a sixth ring, became the second player after John Salley to win titles with three different franchises.
Championship roster
Featured in Ring Holders Club
| Player | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Parker | PG | 84 |
| Manu Ginobili | SG | 86 |
| Bruce Bowen | SF | 76 |
| Tim Duncan | PF | 95 |
| Nazr Mohammed | C | 72 |
| Brent Barry | 6th man | 75 |
| Gregg Popovich | Coach | 92 |
Ratings are year-specific curated estimates for Ring Holders Club, not official NBA stats.
Rest of the roster
| Player | Pos | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Horry | F | Game 5 overtime three; sixth career ring |
| Beno Udrih | G | |
| Rasho Nesterovic | C | |
| Glenn Robinson | F | |
| Devin Brown | G |