Open Thread: Recognizing the achievement of Derrick White’s first 100 games

Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

The impressive Colorado Buffalo reaches the milestone in style.

Last night was Derrick White’s 100th game with the only NBA team he has ever known.

For the old school Pounders who know more than one Spurs head coach, the Alamodome and HemisFair, and lived through a (chokes back tears) losing season, these names may need no explanation.

But for you millennial fans, those names may not sound familiar. Willie Anderson joined the Spurs in 1988 as the 10th pick in the draft and played with the Silver & Black until the Toronto Raptors nabbed him as part of the expansion.

And if you don’t know Alvin Robertson, then it is definitely time to brush up on your Spurs history.

Alvin Robertson was #21 before there was a Tim Duncan to own it. An argument could be made that had the Spurs been a more defensive-minded team in the 80s, Alvin Robertson might have had the number 21 retired in his honor.

A few Alvin Robertson highlights:

• made the All-Stars four times.
• was awarded the first ever Most Improved Player Award in 1986.
• named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1986.
• led the league in steals in 1986,
• from 1986-91, Robertson garnered All-Defensive First or Second Team honors.
• NBA steals leader in 1986, 1987, and 1991.
• tallied 105 consecutive games with a steal (a stat only bested by Chris Paul).
• Robertson’s steals per game average of 2.71 is the best in NBA history.
• ranks 10th all time in steals with 2,112.
• only player in NBA history to record 10 steals in 4 different games.

Alvin Robertson is in an elite group of four: Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Nate Thurmond and Robertson are the only NBA players to record a quadruple-double. Additionally, he is the only player to do so with steals as one of the four categories and the first to record a quadruple-double in a regulation game.

Thus far in his career, Derrick White has shown flashes of the type of leadership and greatness that could have us focusing on him down the road when the next great up-and-coming member of the Spurs starts to shine.

Root on the Spurs as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight in what hopefully will take the appearance of a redemption game.

And for those going, arrive early as the first 10,000 patrons in the door get a DeMar DeRozan bobblehead.

Welcome to The Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, do not troll and watch the language.

Open Thread: Recognizing the achievement of Derrick White’s first 100 games
Open Thread: Recognizing the achievement of Derrick White’s first 100 games