NBA All-Time Rank No. 39: George Gervin
Ranking the top 50 players in NBA history…
39. George Gervin
“The Iceman” began his professional career in the ABA with the Pontiac Chaparrals in 1972-73 before joining the Virginia Squires in 1973, where he averaged 25.4 points per game in the 1973-74 season.
Gervin then played for the San Antonio Spurs from 1974 to 1985, becoming a key figure in their transition to the NBA during the 1976 ABA-NBA merger.
He led the NBA in scoring four times, with a career-high average of 33.1 points per game in the 1979-80 season.
Gervin never won an MVP, but he finished in the top 10 in voting for the award in six consecutive seasons, including two consecutive No. 2 finishes (1977, 1978).
His career statistics across both the ABA and NBA include 26,595 points (25.1 PPG), 5,602 rebounds (5.3 RPG) and 2,798 assists (2.6 APG) across 1,060 games played.
Known for his finger roll and cool demeanor, Gervin was named to the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. He also earned induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996.
After the NBA, Gervin played in Europe, including for Banco di Roma (1986-87) and TDK Manresa (1989-90). He held numerous Spurs scoring records at the time of his trade to the Chicago Bulls in 1985.