The Top 30 NBA Spurs: 26. Chuck Person; 25. Mike Gale

San Antonio Express-News

Thirty years ago the Spurs played their first NBA season after being one of four teams from the American Basketball Association to join the older league. To commemorate this anniversary, on Sundays the Express-News will recognize our selections as the 30 greatest NBA Spurs. Here are Nos. 26 and 25:

26. Chuck Person, 1995-98: "The Rifleman" was a key contributor off the bench on the Spurs' back-to-back division champions in 1995 and 1996, including the 1994-95 team that established a club record for victories (since eclipsed) with 62. One of the most feared 3-point shooters in league history, Person led the team in 3-pointers made in both those seasons, hitting 172 in 1994-95, 190 in 1995-96. He made the 1,000th 3-pointer of his career in a March 14, 1996 game against the Heat. He also was part of a trade in 1999 that brought Steve Kerr, higher on our list of Top 30 NBA Spurs.

25. Mike Gale, 1976-81: With James Silas battling injuries when the Spurs entered the NBA in 1976, Gale assumed a key role as an outstanding point guard and led the club in assists in its first three NBA seasons and was eighth in the league, at 5.8 per game, in 1976-77. An outstanding defender and free-throw shooter, he also led the club in steals for three seasons. He was fourth in the league in 1977-78, with 2.27 per game. He ranks sixth on the all-time Spurs steals list (680) and 10th on the all-time assists list (1,634). He is fifth on the all-time free throw percentage list (82.7 percent).

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26. Chuck Person, 1995-98: "The Rifleman" was a key contributor off the bench on the Spurs' back-to-back division champions in 1995 and 1996, including the 1994-95 team that established a club record for victories (since eclipsed) with 62. One of the most feared 3-point shooters in league history, Person led the team in 3-pointers made in both those seasons, hitting 172 in 1994-95, 190 in 1995-96. He made the 1,000th 3-pointer of his career in a March 14, 1996 game against the Heat. He also was part of a trade in 1999 that brought Steve Kerr, higher on our list of Top 30 NBA Spurs.

My Fav player!

I used to love watching "The Rifleman" !!!!!

ah memories......

Good to see Mike Gale on there. He and Louie Dampier taught free throw shooting techniques at a basketball camp I went to at the downtown YMCA back in the day. Just another example of how the Spurs organization has always been involved the community.

Chuck was really a nice player for the Spurs.I even have his card in his seasons with the Spurs.

I wonder if Rodman will be on that list as well?

I was statistician for my high school team when we took Chuck's HS team to a state record six overtimes his senior year. Good times...