[1] The Spurs had the tenth overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, and selected Willie Anderson from the University of Georgia.
[2][3][4][5][6] The team also acquired rookie guard Vernon Maxwell out of the University of Florida from the Denver Nuggets, and hired Larry Brown as their new head coach.
[7][8][9][10] The Spurs struggled all season long, posting an 8-game losing streak in December, a 7-game losing streak in January, holding a 13–33 record at the All-Star break,[11] then posting a 13-game losing streak between February and March, and a 9-game losing streak to end their season, finishing fifth in the Midwest Division with an awful 21–61 record, missing the playoffs.
[12] Anderson averaged 18.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game, was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and finished in second place in Rookie of the Year voting,[13][14][15] while Alvin Robertson averaged 17.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Johnny Dawkins contributed 14.2 points, 7.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game, but only played just 32 games due to a leg injury.
[16][17][18] In addition, second-year center Greg Anderson provided the team with 13.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, while Frank Brickowski provided with 13.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, and Maxwell contributed 11.7 points and 3.8 assists per game.