SAN ANTONIO – Years of frustration and playoff failures came to an end on June 25, 1999, as the San Antonio Spurs won the franchise’s first NBA championship.
Tuesday marks 20 years since the Spurs won the championship by defeating the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, 4-1.
In only his second season in the league, Tim Duncan was named NBA Finals MVP.
It would be the first of three such honors and five championships overall in the career the Spurs’ future Hall of Fame forward.
Duncan was dominant in the series, averaging 27.4 points, 14 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
He shot 53 percent from the field and nearly 80 percent from the free throw line.
It was a memorable championship for Spurs’ Hall of Fame center David Robinson.
Robinson, who was in his 10th NBA season, had taken the brunt of the criticism for previous Spurs' playoff exits.
Robinson was a perfect fit alongside Duncan, as the two formed an iconic defensive duo in the interior.
“The Admiral” averaged 16.6 points, nearly 12 rebounds and three blocks per game in the series.
The signature moment of the Finals was point guard Avery Johnson’s game-winning and series clinching shot in Game 5, which resulted in a 78-77 victory for San Antonio.
Throughout the playoffs, the Spurs got significant contributions from role players on the roster.
Jaren Jackson, Mario Elie and Malik Rose all made key plays and were part of big moments.
But the biggest moment of all was Sean Elliott’s Memorial Day Miracle shot in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against Portland.
The championship was the first for head coach Gregg Popovich, who was questioned at the beginning of the season when the Spurs started 6-8.
Popovich molded the Spurs into a championship contender after the slow start and has won five titles in his career as Spurs head coach.
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NBA Champions San Antonio Spurs', from left, Tim Duncan, Antonio Daniels, Gerard King, Sean Elliott, and Avery Johnson celebrate after defeating the New York Knicks 78-77 in Game 5 of the 1999 NBA Finals Friday, June 25, 1999, at New York's Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan, left, and coach Gregg Popovich celebrate after defeating the New York Knicks 78-77 to clinch the championship in Game 5 of the 1999 NBA Finals Friday, June 25, 1999, at New York's Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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. The Spurs with play the New York Knicks. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman/ALLSPORT
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.
16 Jun 1999: Allan Houston #20 of the New York Knicks leaps for the ball as he falls on Jaren Jackson #2 of the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA Finals game two at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 89-77.
(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
16 Jun 1999: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs takes the shot during the NBA Finals game against the New York Knicks at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 89-77. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport
18 Jun 1999: Sean Elliott #32 of the San Antonio Spurs pulls down a rebound against the New York Knicks during game two of the NBA Finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman/ALLSPORT
14 Jun 1999: Tim Duncan 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. The Spurs with play the New York Knicks. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman/ALLSPORT
16 Jun 1999: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs passes the ball past Kurt Thomas #40 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.
16 Jun 1999: Avery Johnson #6 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the NBA Finals game two against the New York Knicks at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Knicks 89-77. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport
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. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman/ALLSPORT
NBA Champions San Antonio Spurs', from left, Tim Duncan, Antonio Daniels, Gerard King, Sean Elliott, and Avery Johnson celebrate after defeating the New York Knicks 78-77 in Game 5 of the 1999 NBA Finals Friday, June 25, 1999, at New York's Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Hundreds of thousands of fans celebrated on the streets of San Antonio through the night and for the ensuing days at the championship parade
For years, the Spurs had come painfully close to a championship, but the 1999 season vaulted the franchise into a run of success that is nearly unmatched.
Two decades and four more championships later, the Spurs are considered to be a bedrock and cornerstone franchise not only in the NBA, but in all professional sports.
RJ Marquez is the traffic anchor/reporter for KSAT’s Good Morning San Antonio. He also fills in as a news anchor and has covered stories from breaking news and Fiesta to Spurs championships and high school sports. RJ started at KSAT in 2010. He is proud to serve our viewers and be a part of the culture and community that makes San Antonio great.
