SAN ANTONIO, Texas, 16 June 2003 — As the San Antonio Spurs enjoy the thrill of being on the brink of winning the National Basketball Association title, they must deal with the sorrow of saying goodbye to David Robinson.

San Antonio can win the best-of-seven NBA finals by beating New Jersey here. The Spurs own a 3-2 lead on the Nets, who must win to force a seventh game here on Wednesday. No club has won the last two finals games on the road.

Robinson has spent all 14 of his NBA seasons with the Spurs but will retire after the finals. The 37-year-old center was the 1995 NBA Most Valuable Player and helped the Spurs win the 1999 NBA title.

“To win this championship would be phenomenal,” Robinson said. “Who could write a script like this? This is awesome.

“I’m just so happy to be in this spot, with a team that can win a championship. We’re one game away from winning everything. You couldn’t script it any better.”

The seven-foot All-Star, nicknamed “Admiral” from his college days at the US Naval Academy, hopes to ship out a champion again as he sails into the sunset.

“I have just enjoyed it. It has all been fun to me,” Robinson said. “I don’t really think about what it’s going to be like after not having the games to play anymore.

“I guess I probably won’t miss it until it starts happening and I start watching games and realize I don’t get to be out there on the floor anymore. I’ll be out there suffering with the fans.”

Spurs forward Tim Duncan, the reigning NBA MVP, has learned under Robinson and relishes the chance to give his friend a final salute and help him achieve a glorious goodbye.

“To send him out this way, it would mean a lot,” Duncan said. “Getting the ring for Dave ... it’s what makes this season more important. We feel we have the team and the opportunity. You just don’t let it slip by.”

It would be the first NBA title for NBA veterans Kevin Willis, Steve Smith and Danny Ferry as well as newcomers like France’s Tony Parker and Argentina’s Emanuel Ginobili. And ex-Chicago star Steve Kerr seeks his fifth title ring.

“Everyone is talking about Dave. Forget Dave,” Kerr said. “I need one for my thumb.”

Robinson rates this year’s team better than the 1999 championship squad, which roared through the playoffs but was slighted by some for winning the crown in a season abbreviated by a labor dispute.

“This championship is special. It’s a great group,” Robinson said. “In some ways this team is better than that team. That team played well. But I think this team is more talented.”

Of course, the Nets want to extend the Admiral’s tour of duty a few more days by forcing a seventh game. And they did take game two on the Spurs’ home court.

“We’re going to give our best. We’re really not that concerned,” said Nets forward Richard Jefferson. “We won the last time we played in their building so we’re confident.”

“We’ve proven we can win on the road,” added Nets guard Kerry Kittles. “It doesn’t bother us competing in a different environment. We’ve proven it doesn’t matter.”

Nets scoring leader Kenyon Martin was sick for Game Five and scored only four points, but Jefferson is confident he will be on form with elimination possible.

“Kenyon is a solider,” Jefferson said. “He’s going to come back and have an unbelievable game. We’re not worried about Kenyon.”

Both teams will be looking at major changes after the season.

Nets star Jason Kidd will be a free agent after the season and San Antonio is among the clubs looking to sign him. Kidd was happy with the potential farewell he gave home fans, scoring 29 points in a 93-83 loss Friday.

“I played a pretty good game if it is my last game,” Kidd said. “We’ll see.”

Parker, 21, would likely be traded if the Spurs sign Kidd, a fact that has hung over their individual matchup during the finals.

“Whatever happens happens,” Duncan said. “I’m comfortable with Tony. That has never been an issue.”

The issue is not only which club will emerge as this year’s champion, but also how each team will reassemble talent to make another title run in 2004.

“If we can keep these guys together for a long time, we’re going to be pretty good for a while,” Nets coach Byron Scott said.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Spurs guard Malik Rose said.