Bruise Brothers (San Antonio Spurs)
Encyclopedia
Bruise Brothers was a nickname given to a group of six big men who played for the San Antonio Spurs
in the early 1980's: Dave Corzine
, Reggie Johnson
, Paul Griffin
, Mark Olberding
, Kevin Restani
and George T. Johnson.
In the 1980-1981 season, they led the NBA in rebounds, blocked shots (3rd in fouls) and led the Spurs to a 52-30 record and a division title, while showing San Antonio a new brand of basketball built on hustle, physical play and a blue collar work ethic. In December of 1980, the team recognized the "Bruise Brothers" nickname when it gave away 10,000 free posters using it to identify their front line. The name evoked the recently released hit film, The Blues Brothers
.
The group was broken up in the fall of 1982, when Olberding and Corzine were traded to the Chicago Bulls
for Artis Gilmore
.
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
in the early 1980's: Dave Corzine
Dave Corzine
David John Corzine is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association.-Biography:...
, Reggie Johnson
Reggie Johnson (basketball)
Reginald "Reggie" Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'9" forward/center from the University of Tennessee, Johnson played four seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers, Kansas City Kings, Philadelphia...
, Paul Griffin
Paul Griffin (basketball)
Paul Arthur Griffin is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association ....
, Mark Olberding
Mark Olberding
Mark Allen Olberding is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'8" forward from the University of Minnesota, Olberding played 12 seasons in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association as a member of the San Diego Sails , San Antonio Spurs , Chicago Bulls ,...
, Kevin Restani
Kevin Restani
Kevin Gilbert "Big Bird" Restani was an American professional basketball player from San Francisco, California....
and George T. Johnson.
In the 1980-1981 season, they led the NBA in rebounds, blocked shots (3rd in fouls) and led the Spurs to a 52-30 record and a division title, while showing San Antonio a new brand of basketball built on hustle, physical play and a blue collar work ethic. In December of 1980, the team recognized the "Bruise Brothers" nickname when it gave away 10,000 free posters using it to identify their front line. The name evoked the recently released hit film, The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers (film)
The Blues Brothers is a 1980 musical comedy film directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from a musical sketch on the NBC variety series Saturday Night Live. It features musical numbers by R&B and soul singers James...
.
The group was broken up in the fall of 1982, when Olberding and Corzine were traded to the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
for Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association...
.