Of course we're hype to see New York's Blue and Orange Knicks in the NBA Finals. People are screaming and saying that NYC is going to explode, breakdown, it'll be the end of the world, yadda yadda yadda. Knicks fans across the 5 boroughs are hype, and rightfully so. The last time the team was even in the Finals was in 1999, funnily enough, against the San Antonio Spurs. Well now is the perfect time for a run back on that L we took 27 years ago, but let's take a look at what's transpired in that time. We put together a list of huge cultural moments that occured in sincne the NY Knicks were last in the NBA Finals, June of 1999.
1. 9/11
A tough one to start out with. Most of us were kids, some of us weren’t even born yet. Our memories of this were all confusion and leaving school early, worried looks on our parents faces. Then we got older and we learned. The lives lost. The memorials made. The phone calls from people aboard the planes, the stories from those near the Towers when they fell, the unforgettable images that emerged. The Dust Lady. The Falling Man. In the wake of the tragedy, sports was something the people rallied around, uniting us within the unthinkable reality. This Finals run has the chance to do the same thing, without the lifelong horror.
2. ‘03 blackout
Ok so I think I actually remember this one. I was watching Snow Dogs starring Cuba Gooding Jr., and the power went out. That’s all I remember, but in my defense, I was 7. Turns out it was a blackout that lasted up to 2 days in some places and affected over 50 million people. Photos show people crammed into the streets like the aliens have arrived, walking over the bridges, and living by candlelight. Some say that if when the Knicks win the chip, the city will get this level of crazy again. - Hunter
3. The City's new sports stadiums
This point began as “Shea Stadium gets replaced with Citi Field” because most of our writers are Mets fans. But then we thought about it, and there’s been way more than one stadium change since ‘99. Shea became Citi Field, “old” Yankee Stadium got replaced with “new” Yankee Stadium, they built MetLife out in the Meadowlands, the Barclays Center in Prospect Heights, and UBS Arena in Elmont. Of course, we still have the irreplaceable Madison Square Garden, aka the World’s Most Famous Arena; home to the Knicks, and getting ready to hang new banners for this incredible season some time soon. - Hunter
4. Avengers saved NYC
Who could forget when the sky tore open and aliens rained down from the heavens? Tearing through Midtown, causing tens of billions of dollars in damages, only to be stopped by Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? It was a hell of a time. Hard to believe it was 14 years ago now. Thirty movies and almost 5 “phases” later, and the MCU is still going (somewhat) strong.
5. Linsanity
By no means were the Knicks strangers to star power during their Finals drought. Carmelo Anthony arrived in 2011, giving New York its biggest superstar in years. But nobody expected an undrafted Harvard graduate named Jeremy Lin to become the face of the franchise, even if only for a few weeks. During an unbelievable 11-game stretch in 2012, Lin transformed into Linsanity. He led the Knicks to a 9-2 record, dropped 38 points on Kobe Bryant's Lakers, and turned Madison Square Garden into the center of the sports world. Knicks basketball became the biggest story on the planet. Fans packed the Garden, networks couldn't stop talking about him, and No. 17 jerseys appeared all over the city. Everyone remembers Linsanity not because it was one of the most popular runs in New York sports history, but because it was one of the most popular things to have happened in sports during the 2000s and 2010s. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough to lead the Knicks back to the finals, but it did remind New York City of what it’s like to be a fan of the greatest sports team in the greatest city. GO NEW YORK GO NEW YORK GO!
6. Hurricane Sandy
Whether you call it a hurricane, a superstorm, or simply “Sandy”, everyone knows what you mean, and most people have stories to share. I got to put a pickaxe through a waterlogged PS3 so that was pretty fun. But the storm caused almost $20 billion in damages, flooded subways, and washed away the roller coaster from the Jersey Shore. Unfortunately, scenes like this have become far too common in the years since Sandy, as flooding and heavy rain become a more frequent problem. - Hunter
7. Shmoney Dance & Hot N*gga music video
*Jahlil beats, holla at me* – For real though, this song was everywhere when it came out. And it’s still got such a cultural relevance. With the Knicks NBA Finals appearance coming up, I saw someone say that Bobby’s legendary Knicks hat should come down from the rafters at MSG at one of the home games, leading into a halftime performance from the Brooklyn rapper. - Hunter
8. 5Pointz torn down
We lost a New York City landmark since the last time the New York Knicks were in the NBA Finals. 5Pointz in Long Island City was a building that housed artist studios, and was renowned worldwide for the graffiti pieces on the walls of its exterior. Curated by graf artist Jonathan Cohen, the building featured pieces from TATS CRU, CORTES, Tracy 168, and other legendary names. The building was demolished in 2014 to make way for new uppity, highrise residential housing (which is a sad sight to see passing on the 7 train). For the duration of the building’s legacy as a 5Pointz, the New York Knicks did not make a single Finals appearance.
9. The Bronx Whine Era
Before TikTok dances took over the world, New York had the Bronx Whine. In 2014, Dominican artist BB Bronx created the “Bronx Whine” song featuring reggaeton star Farruko, and it was instantly a hit. Combining Caribbean and Hispanic dance movements, the Bronx Whine was an essential move to know during that era. Today, that era has long passed, and that's how long it's been since the Knicks went to the Finals. A Bronx teenager created the Bronx Whine, watched it go viral and turn into a staple of New York culture, and then watched it fade into nostalgia before the Knicks finally made it back to the NBA Finals. If the Knicks win the chip, don't be surprised if somebody starts Bronx Whining at the parade.
10. Life and Death of Times Square Toys’R’Us
Any 90s and 2000s kids know about the wonder that was Toys 'R' Us back in the day. If you were lucky, you may have even gotten the chance to go to the HUGE Toys 'R' Us in Times Square. Huge isn't even the word: floors of toys and video games, a Ferris Wheel, a DINOSAUR (YES a whole T-Rex) and the huge LEGO builds, this place really felt like magic as a kid. Sadly, it was axed back in 2015, and a whole generation's fun with it. Now it exists only as a legend, an urban tale, and most of all, fond fond memories of simpler days.
11. Eid becomes an NYC school Holiday
Eid has become a recognized NYC Public School Holiday, along with Diwali since the Knicks last went to the NBA Finals. This is a huge milestone for the city’s Hindu and Muslim population, but it’s also cool for everyone to get an extra day off along with being included in the city’s recognized religious celebrations. Inshallah the Knicks win the NBA Finals.
12. Tekashi 6ix9ine
The Clown Prince of NYC, Tekashi 6ix9ine was (and still is in some ways) taking the internet by storm in the late 2010s. Starting out as an internet troll on the infamous Buying and Selling sneaker communities on Facebook, 6ix9ine grew to fame with his music, crazy outfits, and beefs that kept him in the limelight until his arrest in December 2019. His fame kinda came and went, all before the Knicks got back to the NBA Finals. Maybe he’ll have some new memes in store for us this Finals season.
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13. Astoria Borealis
Blue skies, but not during the day, and not for the Knicks either! Remember when the sky turned BLUE randomly one evening in 2018? That was the result of a fire at a Con Edison substation in Astoria, where burning aluminum caused the sky to light up a blue-green hue! Maybe they’ll get lit for the Knicks this finals run and give us some more blue skies.
14. Pop Smoke (RIP)
Pop Smoke was born JUST A MONTH after the end of the 1999 NBA Finals. The monumental Canarsie born rapper had his entire career and life happen in the time between the Knicks’s current and last NBA Finals appearances. If he were still alive today I can only imagine the energy NYC would have right this instant. RIP to the New York king of Drill.
15. COVID-19 pandemic
Of course we have to mention the very crazy, COVID-19 Pandemic which happened here in NYC. The city was hit hard, businesses closed down and at one point we were the epicenter of growing cases and deaths due to COVID in the world. The Knicks also didn’t fare too well, going 21-45 for their overall record that season.
16. 2023 Canada Wildfires
The 2023 Canadian wildfires could’ve waited until the Knicks were in the NBA Finals again to start turning the sky ORANGE. Just kidding, that would be horrible, and the breathing conditions would probably be really bad for all athletes involved, not to mention fans that want to watch the game. We had DUNE in NYC before the Knicks made it back to the Finals.
17. Hip-Hop Celebrates 50 years
Hip-Hop, created the year the Knicks LAST WON the NBA Finals in 1973, celebrated 50 whole years before the Knicks made it to the Finals again (since 1999). Imagine how tuff it would’ve been for them to win again in 2023? Well let’s hope they rock the house this NBA Finals!
18. NY Liberty WNBA Championship
Shoutout to the NY Liberty for providing the only chip in recent history and giving some hope to NY basketball teams. Watching this run was incredible (even if I was stuck in a library studying at the time). Sabrina Ionescu hitting 3’s from damn near the logo, Jonquel Jones beaming ear-to-ear with winning the Finals MVP, and Breanna Stewart bringing the UCONN WBB grit to the Barclays Center; it was a time to behold. And the parade was incredible. Now imagine that, on steroids, for a Knicks chip celebration? You gotta be there.
19. RIP MetroCard
Our beloved MTA MetroCard, no longer in service. In 1999, there was probably no thought of such an occurrence even happening. The MetroCard, introduced in 1994, would have only been around for 5 years up until that point. The Knicks have to do it for the late, great, MTA MetroCard.
20. The Mullet Comes back
The Mullet was a popular hairstyle when the Knicks LAST WON the NBA Finals in the 70s, but it’s been so long since they’ve last won and went to the Finals that everyone’s fave “business in the front, party in the back” hairstyle came back around. The mullet had its resurgence BIG in Bushwick and downtown Manhattan in the 2020s, and heads are still sporting the 2-in-1 look today, with some new variations and styles along with it.
So is a chip in the Knicks future this year? We hope so, the energy and momentum they've built up this playoff run is amazing, and we get the chance to witness not only sports, but New York history WHEN they get that dub. What are some things we missed? What are significant moments that happened in your life in NYC since 1999? Sound off in the comments on our Substack! GO KNICKS
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