They were plain lucky with David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Kawhi.
Give them credit for Parker and Ginobili but the main reasons for why they had long success is pure luck. They had 2 #1 picks and got 2 all-time greats.
We on the other hand have never even had a #1 pick.
There was luck involved in getting Duncan but Robinson was a calculated risk. To spend the #1 overall pick on someone who no one was sure when they'd join the NBA was a big risk on their part but it panned out. Also getting Duncan was another calculated risk that could have backfired. Drafting him and pairing him with David Robinson could have been a mess but it worked really well. Robinson was also returning from a major knee injury so Duncan could have been his replacement had Robinson not recovered. They brought in Pop the year that Robinson went down.
Kawhi was selected #15th overall and was traded to the Spurs. He fits the Spurs mold to a T, he's doesn't play with an ego, doesn't quit on plays, plays hard on both sides of the court the entire time he's on the floor, and is very coachable. If he stayed in Indiana or was picked by another team who didn't focus on defense, I don't think he becomes as good as he is and that credit goes to the Spurs and Pop. I don't think you can call that luck, they scouted a player who would excel in their system and went out and got him.
