Top 5 single season turnarounds in NBA History

The New Jersey Nets (2001-2002)

#3 San Antonio Spurs (1989-1990)

David Robinson

1988-1989: 21-61

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1989-1990: 56-26

The credit for the then best single season turnaround goes to David Robinson. He signed with the Spurs after tour of duty with the Navy was done. He was unanimously named Rookie of the Year with season averages of 24.3 points, 12 rebounds and 3.9 blocked shots.

Back then these sort of single season turnarounds were not so common so to see a team led by rookie improve their regular season record by 35 games took the league and media’s attention. Soon Robinson became the center of a system which steamrolled Denver Nuggets in the first round of the Playoffs but then lost to eventual Conference Champions Portland Trailblazers in seven games of the Conference semifinals.

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