What the world was like in 1999, last time Knicks made NBA Finals

It was June 1999. Jennifer Lopez sat at No. 1 on the Billboard chart with her debut single. Star Wars: Episode I had been in theaters for a month and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me was topping the box office.

The first season of The Sopranos had wrapped that spring and a New Jersey mobster with panic attacks was suddenly the most talked-about character on television.

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

David Robinson (R) of the San Antonio Spurs shoots over Marcus Camby of the New York Knicks 18 June 1999 during game two of the NBA Finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.

(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

David Robinson (R) of the San Antonio Spurs shoots over Marcus Camby of the New York Knicks 18 June 1999 during game two of the NBA Finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.

(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

14 Jun 1999: David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs chats with the media after practice in preparation for game one of the NBA Finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

(Matthew Stockman/ALL SPORT, Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

15 Jun 1999: Marcus Camby of the New York Knicks chats with the media before practice in preparation for game one of the NBA Finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

(Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

Latrell Sprewell of the New York Knicks laughs with teammates 22 June, 1999, during practice at Madison Square Garden in New York. Sprewell and the Knicks trailed the San Antonio Spurs one game to two in the best-of-seven NBA finals.

(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

15 Jun 1999: Latrell Sprewell of the New York Knicks chats with the media before practice in preparation for game one of the NBA Finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

(Matthew Stockman/ALLSPORT, Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

16 Jun 1999: Allan Houston #20 of the New York Knicks puts up a shot over Jaren Jackson #2 of the San Antonio Spurs during game one of the NBA Finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

(Todd Warshaw/ALLSPORT, Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

16 Jun 1999: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs stumbles as he is pushed by Marcus Camby #23 of the New York Knicks during the NBA Finals game two at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 89-77.

(Todd Warshaw, Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

18 Jun 1999: Chris Dudley #14 of the New York Knicks gets hammered as he goes to the basket by Tim Duncan #21 and David Robinson #50 of the San Antonio Spurs during game two of the NBA Finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

(Matthew Stockman/ALLSPORT, Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

Latrell Sprewell of the New York Knicks is surrounded by the media 22 June, 1999, before practice at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. Sprewell and the Knicks trailed the San Antonio Spurs two games to one in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series.

(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

Latrell Sprewell (R) of the New York Knicks drives to the basket against Sean Elliott of the San Antonio Spurs 18 June 1999 during game two of the NBA Finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.

(ROBERT SULLIVAN, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

Patrick Ewing(L) of the New York Knicks focuses on his teammates while they stretch during practice 20 June 1999 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

(ROBERT SULLIVAN, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

San Antonio Spurs player Mario Elie (R) gets past New York Knicks Marcus Camby during game four of the NBA Finals 23 June, 1999 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

(TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

Then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush (L) talks with San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt (R) during a break in the action 18 June 1999 during game two of the NBA Finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.

(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

New York Knicks player Larry Johnson (C) hugs teammate Allan Houston (L) as Kurt Thomas looks on after the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the NBA finals 21 June, 1999 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won the game 89-81.

(ROBERT SULLIVAN, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

San Antonia Spurs player Mario Elie (C) ends up sitting on some New York Knicks fans after going for the ball during game three of the NBA Finals 21 June, 1999 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

New York Knicks player Latrell Sprewell (R) takes a shot over San Antonio Spurs player Malik Rose during game four of the NBA Finals 23 June, 1999 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

(ROBERT SULLIVAN, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

16 Jun 1999: Latrell Sprewell #8 of the New York Knicks makes an under the basket dunk during the NBA Finals game two against the San Antonio Spurs at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 89-77.

(Todd Warshaw/ALLSPORT, Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

16 Jun 1999: Head coach Jeff Van Gundy of the New York Knicks looks on the court during the NBA Finals game two against the San Antonio Spurs at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 89-77.

(Todd Warshaw/ALLSPORT, Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

Mario Elie of the San Antonio Spurs hangs onto the rim after a dunk during the fourth quarter of game four of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The Spurs beat the New York Knicks 96-89 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.

(TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

New York Knicks player Allan Houston (R) shoots over San Antonio Spurs player Antonio Daniels during game three of the NBA Finals 21 June, 1999 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

New York Knicks players Marcus Camby (R) and Chris Childs hug as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the NBA finals 21 June, 1999 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won the game 89-81.

(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

21 Jun 1999: Allan Houston #20 of the New York Knicks soars to the basket over Jaren Jackson #2 of the San Antonio Spurs during game three of the NBA Finals at the Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.

(Jamie Squire/ALLSPORT, Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

New York Knicks guard Latrell Sprewell dunks for two points in the second quarter 25 June, 1999, during game four of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.

(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

Allen Houston of the New York Knicks warms up 24 June 1999 before practice at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The Knicks trail the San Antonio Spurs three games to one in the NBA Finals best-of-seven game series.

(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

16 Jun 1999: Chris Dudley #14 of the New York Knicks makes a layup during the NBA Finals game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 89-77.

(Todd Warshaw/ALLSPORT, Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan (R) and teammate David Robinson hug after the Spurs defeated the New York Knicks during the NBA Finals 25 June, 1999 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The Spurs won the series 4-1.

(ROBERT SULLIVAN, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

New York Knicks player Allan Houston (L) drives by San Antonio Spurs player Mario Elie during game five of the NBA Finals 25 June, 1999 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

(TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

16 Jun 1999: Chris Dudley #14 of the New York Knicks kneels on the floor during the NBA Finals game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 89-77.

(Todd Warshaw/ALLSPORT, Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

Tim Duncan (R) and Sean Elliott of the San Antonio Spurs celebrate 25 June, 1999, after the Suprs won game five of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The Spurs won the game 78-77 to win the series 4-1.

(MATT CAMPBELL, AFP via Getty Images)

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See highlights from the 1999 Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals series

The San Antonio Spurs team gathers around the championship trophy 25 June, 1999, after the Suprs won game five of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The Spurs won the game 78-77 to win the series four games to one.

(TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP via Getty Images)

Delicious news: Where to find Knicks treats for the NBA Finals

Jalen Brunson was 3 years old and Madison Square Garden was buzzing. The New York Knicks were in the NBA Finals.

The San Antonio Spurs won the series in 1999; the Knicks haven’t been back until now.

Twenty-seven years later, the same two teams return to the NBA Finals in a completely different world.

Here are 10 things that did not exist the last time the Knicks made the NBA Finals:

The iPhone

Apple did not release the first iPhone until June 2007. In 1999, the cool phone was the Motorola StarTAC, the slim flip phone that fit in your pocket. Down on Wall Street, the shiny new toy was the BlackBerry, which had just launched that January as a two-way pager.

Neither had a camera. So nobody was snapping selfies at the Garden back in 1999.

The Spurs superstar was not born yet and the NBA had no idea what was coming. The tallest player in the league that June was 7-foot-7 Gheorghe Muresan, a Romanian center whose career was ending due to back problems and whose other claim to fame was a cameo in an Eminem video. The idea of a 7-foot-4 player who handles the ball, shoots 3s, blocks shots and switches onto guards was science fiction.

After the New York Knicks captured their first Eastern Conference championship since 1999, The News Journal crafted a commemorative page print.

Social Media

No Facebook, no Twitter, no Instagram, no TikTok. If you wanted to scream about a Patrick Ewing dunk or a blown call, you had to yell at whoever was in the room and wait until you got to work or school the next morning to get everybody’s take.

Streaming

Netflix was a website that mailed you DVDs in little red envelopes. YouTube didn’t exist. Neither did Spotify. The 1999 Finals played on NBC, and if you missed it, you missed it. Maybe you caught the highlights on SportsCenter at 11.

Las Vegas Golden Knights, Aces and Raiders

Las Vegas was known in sports for boxing and betting in 1999, not being a sports town. The Vegas Golden Knights, the city’s first major professional franchise, is in its third Stanley Cup Final, so it’s hard to remember that they didn’t exist before 2017. The Raiders left Oakland in 2020 and headed to Vegas. The Aces moved from San Antonio in 2018 and won the city’s first major league title in 2022.

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