Top 10 Plays and Moments from San Antonio Spurs' 2014-15 Season

The San Antonio Spurs 2014-15 season didn't end in a league championship, but it's certainly not wrong to reminisce on the top 10 highlights, plays and memorable moments from the year.

Kawhi Leonard shined on both ends of the floor, and his fourth NBA campaign culminated in his first-ever Defensive Player of the Year honor. Veteran Tim Duncan added a couple game-saving defensive plays, both in the regular season and playoffs.

Manu Ginobili whipped a handful of absurd passes, and a role player provided a pair of top highlights. Plus, San Antonio opened the year in style—quite literally.

Since the list is subjectively organized, feel free to utilize the comments section and mention your favorite plays and moments of the season.

10. Team Receives Rings, Wins Late on Opening Night

D. Clarke Evans/Getty Images

The Spurs kicked off the season by receiving their championship rings, commemorating the 2014 NBA Finals victory over LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

It was Duncan and Gregg Popovich's fifth time receiving the hardware, while Tony Parker and Ginobili added ring No. 4 to their respective collections. But the noteworthy night didn't end there.

Parker buried a go-ahead triple with 1:07 remaining in the contest that gave San Antonio a 101-100 edge over the retooled Dallas Mavericks. The Spurs held Dallas to a single shot in the final seconds and earned a hard-fought victory.

9. Marco Belinelli Did What?!

Marco Belinelli's—err—high-flying dunk makes the list if, for no other reason, than the pure what-in-the-heck just happened shock value of the situation.

The GQ cover boy (search at your own peril) launched himself over Philadelphia 76ers center Henry Sims, throwing down an emphatic slam that furrowed more than a few eyebrows.

For someone who has recorded just 36 career dunks in eight NBA seasons, per Basketball-Reference.com, Belinelli wasn't the likeliest candidate for such a highlight. But here we are.

San Antonio eventually toppled Philly 109-103, dropping the Sixers to an 0-17 record.

8. Manu Ginobili Flips the Ball over His Head to Danny Green

He's a master of his craft, that Ginobili character.

San Antonio held a six-point advantage on the Los Angeles Clippers as the clock ticked below four minutes to go. Ginobili started to drive but found 7-foot blocking machine DeAndre Jordan lurking in the lane, so the Argentine made the smart decision: get rid of the ball.

He spotted Danny Green, who had just passed Ginobili the rock and was finishing his run along the baseline toward the corner. Ginobili flipped it over his head, and Green knocked down a patented Tar Heel Triple.

Ginobili registered 19 points and 10 assists, helping the Spurs hold off Los Angeles for a 125-118 win.

7. Belinelli's Jumper Seals Popovich's 1,000th Win

San Antonio had an opportunity to give Popovich his 1,000th career coaching victory the previous night, but the team's worst shooting performance of the season delayed the feat.

Belinelli made sure to steal that needed win on Feb. 9 opposite the Indiana Pacers.

The Spurs trailed by 14 points entering the fourth quarter but staged a furious comeback to upend the Pacers. Belinelli received a pass from Leonard, threw a pump-fake that send Rodney Stuckey flying by, then calmly nailed a jumper as the shot-clock buzzer sounded.

San Antonio managed a 95-93 triumph, and Pop became the ninth coach in league history to eclipse the century mark.

6. Tim Duncan Blocks Blake Griffin While Holding onto DeAndre Jordan

The 2014-15 campaign was yet another sterling season in Duncan's illustrious career. One of the more impressive parts of the year was his constant displays of veteran savvy, since Duncan isn't physically able to dominate everyone athletically.

In Game 5 of the first-round matchup against Los Angeles, San Antonio clung to a 107-105 lead with about one minute on the clock.

Duncan was defending DeAndre Jordan, but when a switch left Green on Blake Griffin, Duncan stepped up to block the Clippers forward—while still holding onto Jordan. 

Though San Antonio would eventually lose the series, Duncan's block keyed a pivotal victory.

5. Ginobili's Slick Behind-the-Back Pass

That Ginobili even considered or completed this pass isn't surprising, stunning or shocking. What makes this assist memorable is its fluidity.

Patty Mills directed a simple pass to Ginobili on the wing and cut to the basket, which cleared space for Boris Diaw above the break. Ginobili gained control of the ball, then perfectly bounced a pass to Mills, who netted a high-banking layup over Nazr Mohammed.

Granted, the first-quarter highlight was basically the only thing the Spurs did well that night, considering the Chicago Bulls hammered them 104-81.

4. Kawhi Leonard Wins Defensive Player of the Year

Despite missing 18 regular-season games, Leonard earned 2014-15 Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Yes, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green received more first-place votes, but Leonard collected enough second- and third-place tallies to overtake the versatile defender.

Per Basketball-Reference.com, Leonard sported NBA-bests with a 96.4 defensive rating and 2.3 steals per appearance. San Antonio was five points worse defensively when Leonard exited the floor.

Additionally, the team recorded a 47-17 record when Leonard was healthy compared to a 9-9 mark when he was sidelined. Long story short, behind offensive progression and a sustained elite defensive prowess, "The Claw" proved he's worth a max contract.

3. Leonard's One-Handed Alley-Oop

It wasn't head-at-the-rim-watch-out-for-a-concussion material, but the alley-oop Leonard finished in Game 3 of the first-round series versus Los Angeles was a dandy.

Duncan blocked a Matt Barnes shot, then Parker grabbed the rebound and kept the ball moving up the floor to Green. Leonard sprinted down the right wing, soared for Green's slightly overthrown pass and smashed home a thunderous dunk.

Leonard had thrown down some powerful slams in his career, but he'd never done something like this.

The small forward racked up a career-best 32 points on a 13-of-18 clip from the field, and the Spurs thrashed the Clippers 100-73.

2. Duncan Blocks James Harden at the Buzzer

As mentioned earlier, Duncan is no longer the athletic specimen he once was. "Well, duh, dude, he's 39 years old." Point taken.

However, when James Harden attempted a game-winning layup, Duncan had enough left in his old bones to alter the shot. Sorry, Rockets announcers; Duncan didn't hammer Harden. The 7-footer managed to tip the ball with his fingertips first, then continued to graze Harden's wrist.

Had Duncan actually fouled the Rockets guard, Harden—the league-leader in free throws—surely would've immediately pleaded for a foul.

But that's neither here nor there. Thanks to Duncan, San Antonio escaped Houston with a 104-103 win.

1. Leonard Takes over Against Memphis

Although defense is Leonard's proverbial calling card, he's nearly developed into San Antonio's go-to option. Scoring 15 consecutive points in the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies epitomized his progression as a scorer.

Leonard drilled two free throws, a right-handed hook over his left shoulder, a turnaround jumper over his right and a trio of jumpers off the dribble and a corner-three.

The Spurs used Leonard's performance to pull away from Memphis and register a much-needed 103-89 victory over the Southwest Division foes.

But most importantly for San Antonio, it was Kawhi's version of quietly saying something extremely important for the franchise: The future has arrived.

Unless otherwise noted, stats are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and are accurate as of May 13.

Follow Bleacher Report NBA writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.