1999–2000 New York Knicks season

The 1999–2000 New York Knicks season was the 53rd season for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association.^[1] The Knicks entered the regular season as runner-ups of the 1999 NBA Finals, where despite losing to the San Antonio Spurs in five games, they became the first eighth seeded team to reach the NBA Finals. During the off-season, the team signed free agents John Wallace and Andrew Lang; Wallace previously played for the Knicks during the 1996–97 season.^[2][3][4]

After advancing to the NBA Finals as the #8 seed last year, the Knicks won their first three games of the regular season, but then lost seven of their next ten games, as Patrick Ewing missed the first 20 games due to Achilles tendonitis.^[5][6][7] However, Ewing eventually returned as the team won 11 of their next 13 games, and later on held a 29–18 record at the All-Star break.^[8] The Knicks finished in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 50–32 record, earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference, and qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the 13th consecutive year; it was their first 50-win season since 1996–97.^[9]

Allan Houston averaged 19.7 points per game and led the Knicks with 106 three-point field goals, while Latrell Sprewell, who became the team's starting small forward after playing off the bench the previous season, averaged 18.6 points, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game, and Ewing provided the team with 15.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. In addition, Larry Johnson contributed 10.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while Marcus Camby played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 10.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, but only played 59 games due to a knee injury.^[10][11][12] Meanwhile, Kurt Thomas provided with 8.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, Charlie Ward contributed 7.3 points, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game, along with 102 three-point field goals, Wallace averaged 6.5 points per game, and Chris Childs contributed 5.3 points and 4.0 assists per game.^[13]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at The Arena in Oakland in Oakland, California, Houston was selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Eastern Conference All-Star team, while head coach Jeff Van Gundy was selected to coach the Eastern Conference; it was Houston's first ever All-Star appearance.^[14][15][16] In addition, Houston also participated in the NBA 2Ball Competition, along with Becky Hammon of the WNBA's New York Liberty.^[17][18] Camby finished tied in sixth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.^[19]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 2000 NBA playoffs, the Knicks faced off against the 6th–seeded Toronto Raptors, a team that featured All-Star guard Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and former Knicks guard Doug Christie. The Knicks won the first two games over the Raptors at home at Madison Square Garden, before winning Game 3 on the road, 87–80 at the Air Canada Centre to win the series in a three-game sweep.^[20][21][22]

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, and for the fourth consecutive year, the team faced off against the 2nd–seeded, and Atlantic Division champion Miami Heat, who were led by All-Star center, and Defensive Player of the Year, Alonzo Mourning, Jamal Mashburn and Tim Hardaway. With the series tied at 2–2, the Knicks lost Game 5 to the Heat on the road, 87–81 at the American Airlines Arena, as the Heat took a 3–2 series lead.^[23][24][25] However, the Knicks managed to win Game 6 over the Heat at Madison Square Garden, 72–70, and then won Game 7 at the American Airlines Arena, 83–82 to win in a hard-fought seven-game series.^[26][27][28]

In the Eastern Conference Finals, and for the third consecutive year, the Knicks faced off against the top–seeded, and Central Division champion Indiana Pacers, who were led by Most Improved Player of the Year, Jalen Rose, All-Star guard Reggie Miller, and All-Star forward Dale Davis. The Knicks lost the first two games to the Pacers on the road at the Conseco Fieldhouse, before winning the next two games at home, including a Game 4 win at Madison Square Garden, 91–89. However, the Knicks lost Game 5 to the Pacers at the Conseco Fieldhouse, 88–79, and then lost Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, 93–80, thus losing the series in six games, and ending their hopes of reaching the Finals for a second straight year.^[29][30][31] The Pacers would advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, but would lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the 2000 NBA Finals.^[32][33][34] The Knicks would not reach the Eastern Conference Finals again until 2025.

The Knicks finished fourth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 810,103 at Madison Square Garden during the regular season.^[13][35] This season marked an end of an era, as Ewing was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in an off-season four-team trade, after fifteen seasons with the Knicks.^[36][37][38] Also following the season, Chris Dudley was traded to the Phoenix Suns,^[39] while Wallace was dealt to the Dallas Mavericks,^[40][41] and Lang was released to free agency.