Spurs Celebrate 4,000th NBA Game Milestone

Son of former team owner reflects on franchise's growth from humble beginnings to NBA powerhouse

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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John Drossos, the son of former Spurs majority owner and team president Angelo Drossos, attended the Spurs' 4,000th NBA regular season game this week - decades after serving as a ball boy for the team's first ABA outing in 1973. Drossos reflected on his family's role in bringing the Spurs to San Antonio and the franchise's remarkable transformation from a small-market startup to one of the NBA's most successful teams, winning five championships.

Why it matters

The Spurs' 4,000th game milestone is a testament to the franchise's longevity and success, with the team evolving from its humble ABA origins to become one of the NBA's premier organizations. Drossos' personal connection to the team's history provides a unique perspective on the Spurs' journey and the lasting impact of his father's vision in bringing professional basketball to San Antonio.

The details

When the Spurs played their first regular season game as an ABA team in San Antonio on October 10, 1973, the 10-year-old Drossos was there as a ball boy. Now 63, Drossos attended the team's 4,000th NBA regular season game this week, reflecting on his father Angelo's role as majority owner and team president in establishing the franchise. Angelo Drossos, along with co-owner B.J. 'Red' McCombs, brought the Dallas Chaparrals to San Antonio and renamed them the Spurs, overseeing the team's early years and laying the foundation for its future success.

  • The Spurs played their first regular season game as an ABA team on October 10, 1973.
  • The Spurs played their 4,000th regular season NBA game on February 2, 2026.

The players

John Drossos

The son of former Spurs majority owner and team president Angelo Drossos, who attended the team's first ABA game as a ball boy and its 4,000th NBA game as a fan.

Angelo Drossos

The former majority owner and team president of the Spurs, who was instrumental in bringing the team to San Antonio and overseeing its early years in the ABA.

B.J. 'Red' McCombs

The auto magnate who co-owned the Spurs with Angelo Drossos and helped bring the team to San Antonio.

George Gervin

The Hall of Fame player who was acquired by the Spurs and went on to become a four-time NBA scoring champion.

Victor Wembanyama

The French phenom who is the Spurs' current linchpin and a key part of the team's future.

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What they’re saying

“Nobody in their wildest dreams, including my father, had any idea what would happen after the Spurs started in San Antonio in 1973.”

— John Drossos (expressnews.com)

“Everybody that has followed the original group, certainly on the ownership side but also on the team-management side, have all played a part in it. It's been a remarkable story.”

— John Drossos (expressnews.com)

“He's my favorite player, probably my favorite athlete of all time, who still happens to be a very close friend. He's an amazing human being, bigger than life. We love him to death. He'll always be my favorite professional athlete, and I'll even say maybe my favorite entertainer of all time. He's a terrific person.”

— John Drossos (expressnews.com)

What’s next

Drossos will be in Inglewood, California this week rooting for Spurs star Victor Wembanyama at the NBA All-Star Game, which he has attended every year for the past 50 years.

The takeaway

The Spurs' journey from a small-market ABA startup to an NBA powerhouse is a remarkable story of perseverance, vision, and strong leadership. The Drossos family's deep connection to the franchise's history provides a unique perspective on the team's evolution and the lasting impact of the original ownership group's efforts to bring professional basketball to San Antonio.