Happy birthday, George Gervin

There is a distinctive family line to the San Antonio Spurs. It’s more than a team by the standards of some NBA cities. The strongest of bonds are created on the hardwood, but the the roots run deep outside the arena. Some of the most influential players in NBA history called the Spurs their team and then made permanent homes in the Alamo City after retiring. There’s a reason that the term “Spurs Culture” strikes a chord and sense of pride.

That all started with “The Iceman,” George Gervin.

By 1974, Gervin was a formidable player in the ABA. Instead of heading to the NBA to join the Phoenix Suns in their ‘74 draft, he stayed with the ABA and joined the San Antonio Spurs. His transition to the…