<P> The Spurs finished the 1995 -- 96 season under Hill at 59 -- 23 and lost in the Western Conference semi-finals . Few observers could have predicted how far the Spurs would fall during the 1996 -- 97 season , especially with the signing of Dominique Wilkins . Robinson missed the first month of the season due to a back injury . He returned in December , but played only six games before a broken foot sidelined him for the rest of the season . Elliott also missed more than half the season due to injury . Without Robinson and Elliott , the Spurs were a rudderless team . The lone bright spot was Wilkins , leading the team in scoring with an average of 18.2 ppg . The Spurs ended the season with a 20 -- 62 record , the worst in franchise history -- and to date , the last time they have missed the playoffs . Hill only lasted 18 games as coach that season , eventually being fired and replaced by general manager Gregg Popovich , who had also served a stint under Brown as an assistant coach . Wilkins would play his lone season in 1996 -- 97 for San Antonio , knowing his minutes and playing time would greatly diminish next season . </P>
<P> The Spurs finished the 1995 -- 96 season under Hill at 59 -- 23 and lost in the Western Conference semi-finals . Few observers could have predicted how far the Spurs would fall during the 1996 -- 97 season , especially with the signing of Dominique Wilkins . Robinson missed the first month of the season due to a back injury . He returned in December , but played only six games before a broken foot sidelined him for the rest of the season . Elliott also missed more than half the season due to injury . Without Robinson and Elliott , the Spurs were a rudderless team . The lone bright spot was Wilkins , leading the team in scoring with an average of 18.2 ppg . The Spurs ended the season with a 20 -- 62 record , the worst in franchise history -- and to date , the last time they have missed the playoffs . Hill only lasted 18 games as coach that season , eventually being fired and replaced by general manager Gregg Popovich , who had also served a stint under Brown as an assistant coach . Wilkins would play his lone season in 1996 -- 97 for San Antonio , knowing his minutes and playing time would greatly diminish next season . </P>
when is the last time the spurs missed the playoffs
when is the last time the spurs missed the playoffs
1996 -- 97
1996 -- 97