1999 NBA Finals
The 1998, 99 NBA season began on the 5th of February 1999. This start date came two months after owners and the National Basketball Players Association reached an agreement to end a labor dispute that led to a lockout. The usual 82-game schedule was cut short to just 50 games per team. This shortened calendar created a unique environment for the championship race. Teams had less time to build rhythm or recover from injuries. The league operated under constant uncertainty during those early weeks of play.
David Robinson and Tim Duncan formed the core of the San Antonio Spurs in their second season together. The team drafted Duncan with the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft. They had been teammates since that selection occurred. A 62-loss 1996, 97 season preceded their rise, marked by Robinson suffering a season-ending injury. Veteran coach Bob Hill was fired during that difficult period. Gregg Popovich took over as general manager and later became head coach. In the 1997, 98 season, the Spurs won 56 games but lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Utah Jazz. They recovered from a 6, 8 start in 1998, 99 to win 31 of their last 36 games. The pair finished tied with the Utah Jazz for the best regular-season record at 37, 13.
The New York Knicks barely qualified for the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. General manager Ernie Grunfeld was fired toward the end of the season when the team teetered on the brink of missing the postseason. They faced the Miami Heat, the top Eastern Conference seed, in the first round. Allan Houston made a shot with 0.8 seconds remaining in Game 5 of that series. That basket secured victory and made them only the second team in NBA history after the 1993-94 Denver Nuggets to win a playoff series as an eighth seed. Patrick Ewing was lost for the series against Indiana after the first two games. Larry Johnson hit a three-point shot while being fouled with 11.9 seconds left in Game 3. He converted the free throw for a game-winning four-point play. The Knicks won Game 6 and became the first team in North American sports history to reach a championship series as an eighth seed.
Game 1 took place on June 16 with the San Antonio Spurs defeating the New York Knicks 89, 77. Game 2 followed on June 18, ending with a 80, 67 Spurs victory. The series shifted to San Antonio for Game 3 on June 21, where the Knicks won 89, 81. Game 4 occurred on June 23, returning the lead to San Antonio at 96, 89. The decisive Game 5 happened on June 25. With 47 seconds to go, Avery Johnson hit the game-winner. Latrell Sprewell scored 25 points in the second half of that final game. Fourteen of his points came in the fourth quarter. He could not hit either jump shot in the last half-minute that might have changed the outcome. Tim Duncan scored 31 points and nine rebounds in the deciding contest. The Spurs won the NBA Finals four games to one.
Tim Duncan averaged 27.4 points and fourteen rebounds across the five-game series. He also contributed 2.4 assists and 2.2 blocks per game. His performance earned him the Most Valuable Player award of the finals. On June 25, exactly two years after he was drafted by the Spurs, he delivered the winning moment. Duncan played all five games and started every single one. His shooting percentage stood at .537 over the series. He recorded a total of 140 points across the championship run. No other player matched his consistency or impact during those critical weeks.
NBC aired the 1999 NBA Finals in the United States. Bob Costas handled play-by-play duties while Doug Collins provided color commentary. Hannah Storm served as the studio host for the network coverage. Isiah Thomas, Bill Walton, and Peter Vecsey worked as studio analysts. Ahmad Rashad and Jim Gray reported from the sidelines locally. Marv Albert returned to radio play-by-play on WFAN with partner John Andariese following his sex scandal two years prior. NBC Sports rehired Albert shortly after the incident. He eventually returned to lead play-by-play roles in 2000. The broadcast reached major markets including New York City and San Antonio through WNBC and KMOL-TV respectively.
The Spurs became the first NBA champion since the 1985, 86 Celtics to fail to win a second consecutive title. They later won additional titles in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014. Game 2 at the Alamodome remains the last NBA Finals game played in a multi-purpose stadium. Attendance numbered 39,554 for that contest. As of now, this stands as New York's last NBA Finals appearance. Patrick Ewing was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics after the following season ended. The next eighth seed to reach the Finals was the Miami Heat, who lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games. Both franchises met again 26 years later in the 2025 NBA Cup championship game. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 124-113 in that matchup.
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Common questions
When did the 1999 NBA Finals take place?
The 1999 NBA Finals took place from June 16 to June 25. Game 1 occurred on June 16 and the decisive Game 5 happened on June 25.
Who won the 1999 NBA Finals championship series?
The San Antonio Spurs won the 1999 NBA Finals four games to one against the New York Knicks. Tim Duncan scored 31 points and nine rebounds in the deciding contest to secure the victory.
What was the regular season record of the San Antonio Spurs during the 1998, 99 season?
The San Antonio Spurs finished tied with the Utah Jazz for the best regular-season record at 37 wins and 13 losses. They recovered from a 6-8 start to win 31 of their last 36 games.
How many points did Tim Duncan score in the 1999 NBA Finals series?
Tim Duncan recorded a total of 140 points across the five-game championship run. He averaged 27.4 points per game and earned the Most Valuable Player award of the finals.
Which team became the first eighth seed to reach an NBA Finals series?
The New York Knicks became the first team in North American sports history to reach a championship series as an eighth seed. They defeated the Miami Heat in the first round before losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals.