This guide describes the 1998 San Antonio Spurs 25th Anniversary Team card set.  The Spurs, Diamond Shamrock, Sprite, and the Express-News teamed to release a 27 card set that included the top 25 San Antonio Spurs (as selected by the Express-News) from the franchise's first 25 years. This basketball set was a local (regional) issue, with 4 card packs gummed to the inside of Sprite 12-pack that were sold only at San Antonio area Diamond Shamrock convenience stores.  Complete sets exist and were give-a-ways at the annual Spurs dinner in 1998.  This set is considerably more challenging to complete than other local Spurs sets. The cards slipped under the radar of most Spurs fans,  possibly due to the requirement to purchase large quantites of the official drink of the NBA only at Diamond Shamrock.  The Sprite at area grocery stores (HEB, Albertson's, etc) did not contain the cards.  If you were exceptionally lucky in 1998, you could have completed the set with the purchase of 9 Sprite 12-packs since one of the 4 cards in each pack was ALWAYS checklist.  I suspect short printed cards since I opened over 25 packs and had 7 Sean Elliott and 0 Mark Olberding.

• Highlighted with Tim Duncan (a rookie season team issue), David Robinson, George Gervin and other Spurs greats.
• The core of the first Spurs championship team (1998-1999) is in this set, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson.
• The cards are numbered unconventionally 25-01, 25-02, 25-03, etc.
• Send a comment if you have any additional information on this set.  Was the set sold at the Alamo Dome or in the Spurs Shop???  Were there short printed cards???  Do any uncut sheets of cards exist??? Do any unopened 12-packs of Sprite exist???
• If you auction these cards, include "Spurs" and "Anniversary" in your title or description.

• My wantlist for this set is 25-02 Gervin, 25-18 All-Time Leaders.  I also have a few duplicates for auction.  I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT MORE SPRITE IN 1998!

Set checklist

• 25-01 David Robinson
• 25-02 George Gervin
• 25-03 Tim Duncan
• 25-04 Artis Gilmore
• 25-05 Terry Cummings
• 25-06 James Silas
• 25-07 Johnny Moore
• 25-08 Sean Elliott
• 25-09 Mike Mitchell
• 25-10 Alvin Robertson
• 25-11 Larry Kenon
• 25-12 Dennis Rodman
• 25-13 Mark Olberding
• 25-14 Billy Paultz
• 25-15 Willie Anderson
• 25-16 Gene Banks
• 25-17 Allan Bristow
• 25-18 Spurs All-Time Leaders
• 25-19 George Johnson
• 25-20 Rich Jones
• 25-21 Mike Gale
• 25-22 George Karl
• 25-23 Sven Nater
• 25-24 Vinny Del Negro
• 25-25 Avery Johnson
• 25-26 Rod Strickland
• 25-27 Checklist