The 1998-99 NBA season was cut to 50 games due to a lockout. The New York Knicks, led by coach Jeff Van Gundy, finished 27-23 and slipped into the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed.
The roster featured new additions Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, and Kurt Thomas alongside veterans Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, and Allan Houston. A mix of injuries and inconsistency masked the team’s talent, leading many to view them as an “overqualified” eighth seed.
Why does no one ever talk about the Knicks making the Finals as the EIGHTH seed in 1999?
byu/skullcandy541 innbadiscussion
Rewriting NBA Playoff Odds with a Cinderella Run
New York opened the playoffs with a physical five-game series win over the top-seeded Miami Heat, coached by former Knicks coach Pat Riley. Allan Houston hit a game-winning floater with 0.8 seconds left in Game 5, bouncing in for a 78-77 win.
On this day in 1999… Larry Johnson’s 4-point play put the Knicks up 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals!
byu/Crowxzn inNYKnicks
Van Gundy said the shot did not make the team better:
“When Houston’s ball is in the air, on that shot, everybody was still the same coach and the same player. When it rolled in, it didn’t make us better. If it rolled out, it didn’t make us worse. I always use that as a point of reference for myself, to not think that change is always for betterment.”
he said, according to The Ringer.
In the second round, the Knicks swept the Atlanta Hawks. Sprewell averaged 22 points per game, and Camby anchored the defense with blocks and rebounds. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks faced the Indiana Pacers. Ewing tore his Achilles in Game 2 and missed the rest of the postseason.
In Game 3, Johnson hit a four-point play in the final seconds for a 92-91 win after being fouled by Antonio Davis. The Knicks won the series in six games, becoming the first No. 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals.
READ: Who Will Be New York Knicks Next Coach? Top 5 Candidates for New York Knicks Head Coach Position
Finals Setback & Legacy of Knicks
Facing Tim Duncan and David Robinson, the Knicks lost in five games. Ewing was sidelined, and Johnson played through a knee injury. The Spurs dominated inside and claimed the title.
Despite the loss, the 1999 Knicks became one of the league’s greatest underdog stories. Fans still chase the toughness and beliefs that define that run.
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
