We are April 24, 1994, 29 years ago, to the day. For the second time in 16 years, the title of top scorer is played in the last game of the regular season. The first time, in 1978, David Thompson scored 73 points to take the lead in the standings. His opponent, George Gervin, had to plant 58 points to retain his title as the season’s top scorer. He will register 63.
Sixteen years later, not George Gervin or David Thompson, but two dominant pivots: the sophomore Shaquille O’Neal and the future 1995 MVP, David Robinson. The Spurs center is behind the Shaq by 0.06 points going into this game against the Clippers.
His teammates therefore decide to serve him as much as possible. The Admiral starts very strong with the first 18 points of the Spurs! The second quarter will be more modest with only 6 units, but it will pick up its pace with 19 points in the third. He was then at 43 points, then quickly his career record of 52 points fell, and that of George Gervin’s franchise (63 points on that famous evening in 1978) too.
Seven points in one minute
David Robinson finishes even stronger with 7 points in the last minute to finish with a staggering total of 71 points at 26/41 in shooting, with 14 rebounds and 5 assists, which places him in the closed circle of players at more than 70 points with Wilt Chamberlain (6 times!), David Thompson and Elgin Baylor. Then will come 12 years later the 81 points of Kobe Bryant, Devin Booker (70 points) and finally Donovan Mitchell and Damian Lillard, authors of 71 points this season.
“It was amazing”says David Robinson. “The whole team has been behind me this season, they pushed me to do an individual performance. They wanted to see me shoot tonight, and as soon as the game started, they looked for me every time. »
Faced with such a total, Shaquille O’Neal, with his 32 points, will not be able to fight and will finish second best scorer of the season with 29,346 points against 29,787 for the future double NBA champion.
