1999 NBA Finals Intro Game 1

Introduction of game 1 of the NBA finals

[@lav7161]

That NBC intro with the peacock logo lights and the music dropping never gets old. Childhood memories 🙂

[@spinner9057]

I wish the NBA Finals could still be like this, airing on NBC.

[@dathomie4044]

IKR! BSPN won’t allow the player intros anymore! We want that in arena atmosphere in our living rooms!

[@MrDariusJWilliams]

There's a slight chance that NBC could acquire the rights to televise NBA games again. The current TV deal is up soon.

[@terancetheindomitable9701]

​@@MrDariusJWilliamsI wonder if NBC would show the player intros if they got the NBA back because TNT doesn't show the player intros either.

[@jumbostorm887]

Seems it’s a possibility

[@homerthompson416]

And now they will be starting 2026 per Bill Simmons

[@javianjohnson8746]

Last night the Spurs returned to the Alamodome against the Warriors for the first time since 2002 in front of a crowd of 68,000! Came to this video to see the Dome in its prime during the Spurs first championship!

[@davidokutinyang946]

I watched that game against the Warriors! Had a very historical feel. It was a great moment for San Antonio, despite the loss!

[@Kiniaq77]

This is the NBA on NBC the 1999 NBA Finals, The Alamodome in San Antonio It was real basketball...

[@chrisuncleahmad]

The only NBA Finals ever at the Alamodome (their next three NBA Finals appearances came after the move to the AT&T Center)

[@MediocreMedic123]

*4

[@matthewmensah481]

A.k.a. SBC Center/ Frost Bank Center San Antonio, TX

[@Sam_MvP1]

And now every player from the spurs on that team is officially retired

[@bigblue9996]

Yep but the coach remains

[@tobiogunyemi7631]

The Armageddon music cue in the beginning of this is something else, I dig it

[@nathanprentiss7578]

This finals gets lost, but man those Knicks were tough wish we could see teams like them again.

[@goblue85]

They were better than an 8th seed that year, if it was a full season they would have been a 5 or 6 seed

[@robertbui9030]

if they had Ewing and LJ, series would legit go to 6 or 7 games

[@jamespungello8361]

@@robertbui9030 They came within one shot of sending it to 6 without them. Such a shame they weren't at least at full strength (not saying they would've won but you never know)

[@goldenstatewarriors4011]

They definitely missed Ewing in the series. He could have at least neutralized Robinson in the post

[@lp1578]

If Ewing didn't get hurt against the Pacers it would have gone 7 in the Finals and probably they still would lose ... Van Gundy would have had Ewing at C and Campy at PF to start and LJ and Thomas coming off the bench ... But with Ewing hurt he had to start Dudley at C and later in the series Campy and LJ at PF which made them extremely undersized against two 7 footers in Duncan & Robinson.

[@mrmartywaring]

Watching any of the Knicks teams in the 90s on NBC was epic!

[@ColahandFriends]

Goosebumps! I miss the intro sounds of NBC. So sad duncan retires #thankyoutd

[@josephgarcia6102]

He is hall of fame now

[@billny33]

1:05 "Uncertainty defined the New York Knicks regular season. But turmoil and lackluster results have given way to spectacular playoff achievement and team harmony. When this unconventional collection of stars lost their leader, they never lost heart. Instead it inspired them to last second heroics and peak performances that have the skeptics asking and fans begging: can the eighth seed do it again?" I couldn't keep my eyes dry when that pregame opener first aired, let alone now. Thank you Bob.

[@Jamesbrowntv]

These NBC 90s finals opens were damn near poetry

[@bouldercrestboi]

Bob Costas is the sports world poet god.

[@aminurrrr0621]

DAMN! Hannah Storm looked HOT back in 99!

[@TMC1982Part2]

This always struck me as the forgotten NBA Finals during NBC's 12 year run with the NBA. It came during the same season that there was a lockout that shortened the season to 50 games. It was also the only Finals on NBC to not include either Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers (during either the tail end of the Showtime era with Magic Johnson or the Shaq-Kobe Bryant era), or the Houston Rockets, during the interim of Michael Jordan's first retirement. In fairness, the New York Knicks were in the 1994 Finals against the Rockets, so it isn't like we were getting two brand new teams in 1999. And the '95 Finals with the Rockets and Orlando Magic still had Shaq involved, so there's still some continuity.

[@eddietheaggie2010]

"Aaaaand the man in the middle........number 50, THE ADMIRAL, David, Rrrrrrobinson!!!!!" Damn, Stan Kelly had the best intro voice in all of sports.

[@marmarmar13]

"Aaaaaand the little big man AVEEEEEERY JOHNSON"

[@btownballer021]

Man, I would do just about anything to hear the NBC NBA theme again...

[@88949597]

I was 11 years old, and I became a Knicks fan that year when we got Spree He was my favorite player hands down. Even if Patrick & Larry were healthy, I still think they would have lost... But man I miss those Knicks teams. It was ugly at times, but they had heart. 💯

[@ammonbakarri-o2108]

Yeah spreewell carried them especially in game 5 with near 40 points.Houston choked in finals an Spreewell had no help

[@gilfordmccormack8140]

I was 8 watching their run to the finals

[@lp1578]

With Ewing hurt it left them undersized against two 7 footers in Robinson & Duncan ... Spree did his best, but Houston choking, LJ battling a hamstring injury and Campy constantly in Foul trouble officially ended the miracle run ☹️

[@broadstreet21]

To be fair, I don't think the Bulls would have beaten the Spurs either.

[@billny33]

As a Knicks fan, I remember turning on game 1 early to watch this pregame opener because they always did these so well and the Knicks were such a great story. 1:06 to 1:41 almost had me in tears.

[@crownvicluva]

Me too bro, me fucking too

[@faisalamalo3695]

Can’t believe this is 20 years ago. Just as another former Spurs squad win a title (Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green)

[@dedonbrown6779]

20 years ago wow! time flies

[@freakyfornash]

Now 25! Damn! XD

[@Kurry101]

The hug between spree and LJ was fucking epic. EMBRACE ME BROTHERRRRR

[@laurieso678]

hell yea it was! epic playoff series overall imo...... i loved that knicks squad

[@dunde8889]

Goosebumps and memories

[@dbreiden83080]

Duncan was an NBA GOD!! He is missed..

[@thomasrichardson2402]

I was at this game and it was beyond amazing!

[@ilackedtheheart]

Bring back Roundball Rock.

[@DTIII]

Eyy Man i aint even a Spurs fan, but this shit gave me chills bro, if only the NBA was like this nowadays...too damn Hollywood now.

[@rohitpuri4237]

Spurs cheekily using the beginning of Alan Parsons Project “Sirius” which the Bulls use in it’s entirety for their intro. Lol. Lol. Lol.

[@freakyfornash]

You were expecting someone else!? ;) XD

[@ckendall67]

"Expecting someone else?" ;-)

[@freakyfornash]

@@rusted8157 Yeah, even if having to go up against the "Twin Towers" in Robinson, and Duncan was kind of the next worst thing though! (L.O.L.!)

[@freakyfornash]

Though technically the Knicks should have done that, since the Spurs were a Western Conference team, who the Bulls obviously could have faced, and didn't exactly "replace" in the finals too.

[@davidbehman4836]

ESPN needs to do a 30 for 30 on the 1999 Knicks. What an amazing run to the Finals.

[@gilfordmccormack8140]

Big facts

[@challenger516]

no thanks

[@lp1578]

They won't do it because the so called sports talk professionals act like it was a fluke for the Knicks and Spurs to make it to the Finals because it was strike shortened season 🤦

[@joseher2523]

I work with Stan Kelly now. Great man very humble.

[@jasonelliott7977]

Is he still the Spurs PA announcer?

[@freakyfornash]

@@jasonelliott7977 He hasn't been in a long while, as the 2007-2008 season was his last one with the team.

[@nintendolegonbafan5413]

I got some Lego minifigures of these Spurs on my birthday. My dad turned on the tv and played this (starting at 7:12) as I started opening the present.

[@1103bullsnation]

The 1999 NBA Playoffs was a wild ride NY Knicks becoming the first 8th seed to reach the Finals and San Antonio finally beating their playoff demons and won the title and the Sacramento Kings becoming into elite contender despite losing in 5 games to Utah.

[@DL212]

that opening was beautiful that's what is missing from ABC

[@freakyfornash]

It's coming back at last though!

[@Sukuun]

At first, I thought "Bulls intro rip-off!", until I heard, "You were expecting someone else?" Ouch. What a stab. Yeah, the Bulls weren't in charge anymore.

[@freakyfornash]

Yet it was odd the Spurs did that, considering they were a Western Conference team and all. The Knicks pulling that stunt would have been much more appropriate if you ask me!

[@freakyfornash]

Bill Walton was the only one who was being realistic it seemed, considering there was just no way in Hell the Knicks were winning this series. Having both Ewing and a totally healthy L.J. could have maybe pushed that year's finals to the brink. That being even if the Spurs still likely would have pulled it out, had if the Knicks been fully intact I.M.O though.

[@glutamin111]

Yea in retrospect, Knicks had a huge amount of individual talent, but were a spent force. They were high in spirits, but Injuries, fatigue, relatively poor to average teamwork and relying too much on individual plays at this level was really a too far fetched hail mary for them to come out on top once again.

[@freakyfornash]

@@glutamin111 And even I as a Knicks fan, knew they had virtually no chance going into the series. Unlike in 94 when they had a legitimate shot at winning it all which they just missed out on, the Knicks and their fans were just happy they even managed to get this far in 99. That considering the fact they just barely made the playoffs after struggling during the regular season, and went on that amazing run as a bottom seed (albeit a very talented one) from that point on. That is until the Spurs became the brick wall which put an end to it when the Knicks meekly bowed out to them in the finals that year.

[@freakyfornash]

@@glutamin111 It was also crazy with how the Spurs two playoff losses that year ironically both came at the hands of 8th seeds for that matter too! L.O.L.!

[@bballer191]

Great vid. Thanks for the upload!

[@jordanadkins2427]

The NBA was easily the most entertaining sport in america at this time.

[@TheLocalLt]

Charles Melton the NFL had a series of down years between 1998 and 2001. America wasn’t feeling the St Louis Rams as the dominant team

[@TheLocalLt]

Charles Melton the NFL is the #1 sport by a hundred miles and has been since the mid/late 2000s, basically since 2007 it has jumped lightyears above the charts we measure the other sports by. Before that, the NFL, Baseball, and the NBA had all jockeyed for popularity since the 1960s

[@seanwilson8168]

@@TheLocalLt Like the WWF...the NFL will become diluted to the point of Irrelevance....unless idk. Its just not the same SMH

[@TheLocalLt]

Sean Wilson in terms of product it was better before 07 but it’s become a bigger business since

[@seanwilson8168]

@@TheLocalLt Im Cool with the Concussion Protocols too, you're Right 1000% but still NFL is Meh sometimes...or maybe we HATE the Pats LMAO

[@BucketMouthFishing23]

David robinson is underspoken in the talk of great bigs. Dude was a force in every facet of the game.

[@muzikman757]

@combo360 Actually it was the last title of the century. The last game of the century would be in the next season on Dec 31, 1999.

[@EctoFilms]

The Patrick Ewing injury completely killed the Knicks.

[@freakyfornash]

And with how LJ could also barely play by the time the finals came around didn't exactly help their cause either.

[@wa2k99]

If the Knicks had Ewing and a healthy Johnson, it would have been a much longer series

[@billny33]

wa2k99 tbh I didnt think LJ played that different this series than before he got hurt in game 6 vs Indiana. He played competent defense on Duncan considering the size disadvantage. It's just his 3 stopped falling. He fell in love with it because it was going in in the previous rounds of the playoffs.

[@razkable]

they might have won with ewing...he can guard duncan...the league wanted the knicks to win so badly....its why they got to thee 94 and 99 finals...

[@billny33]

Patrick wouldn't have saved them. Duncan and Robinson together was too much and Ewing was getting old. Might have gone 6 instead of 5. I think the only instance of the league helping the Knicks was LJ's 4 point play continuation foul call. Will always be one of my fav moments but I'll admit, was a bit shaky.

[@wuliwei6939]

With the tandem of Ewing and Camby, the Knicks would have fared better for sure

[@thelinedrive]

Asmosis Jones Ewing can't guard both Robinson and Duncan.

[@spurs2k6]

I agree that the Bulls would've struggled with the Spurs due to the size. The Bulls never faced a team that had that type of lock down defense. I give my spurs a great chance to win, but never count out the bulls with Scottie and MJ. Too bad never got a chance to see it. Would've been a classic

[@ammonbakarri-o2108]

Spurs same squad got swept by Jazz an lost in 5. If Indiana wasnt beating Chicago neither was the spurs

[@johnnysluck3052]

Nothing like the old intros on nbc

[@rocker316ify]

One of the many reasons that NBA had a lockout this year.

[@combo360]

i love my 1999 spurs. last win of the century baby!

[@hugomardelar1593]

Tuve la oportunidad de estar presente en ese juego, fue espectacular

[@1103bullsnation]

Speaking as a Bulls fan if Jordan didn't retire and the team stayed together they would have been beaten by San Antonio because even though Dennis Rodman shut down Malone but he would have had problems with Robinson and Duncan and the bench for CHI would never have had helped at all and would have had MJ and Scottie Pippen carry the load to beat San Antonio.

[@musicalmelodies3595]

The Bulls or Orlando Magic intro was used by nearly every other team back then too 😅

[@jorgealonzo8535]

Man, 7:13 on gave me the feels! The memories of the dome nosebleeds!

[@mauriciovillalba]

The OST of Armageddon for the intro lol

[@MrWhitipino]

Mayne, San Antonio went NUTS when we won the championship in 1999, shoot, I remember as a kid, whenever Sprewell would take foul shots on tv, My dad and I would yell SPREEEEE!!, and most of the time, he'd miss

[@Lester24Park]

Wow brings back such memories. Now Hannah Storm is with ESPN, Doug Collins is coaching the Sixers, and Isiah Thomas ruined the Knicks franchise for multiple yearss

[@tperk]

40K for an NBA Finals game. 20 years later the NCAA D1 Men's Final has them beaten by 30K. College hoop is king.

[@philipconte5732]

And now 24 years later the 8 seed are about to get bounced from the finals in 5 yet again.

[@oeao2841]

This series was the reason why I became a Spurs fan...started as a bandwagon been a loyal fan since...damn if Jordan was around it could have been Twin towers vs Jordan..that series would have gone 7 games

[@Ezekiel144k]

nope, would have been 6 games

[@GialloHorror]

Speaking as a Knicks fan, Chicago would not have beaten us in 1999, nor would they have beaten us in 1997 when we got screwed against Miami. Pippen and Jordan were nearing the end of their careers, while Houston, Camby and Sprewell were in their primes. Ewing, and LJ were still effective, and our bench was stellar. The Spurs were the only team, in my opinion that could've beaten us in 1999, and they did.

[@hylianlegends]

Mhm, right right. /s

[@cruzza2461]

Go spurs go!

[@TMC1982Part2]

Did Bob Costas at the 1:23 mark inadvertently allude to the "Ewing Theory", which in the most simple of terms, refers to when a team miraculously improves despite the loss of their star player?

[@spurs2k6]

i think that the spurs still win this series. Ewing i think wouldve pushed this to a game 6. Duncan just could not be stopped along with Dave on the inside, it was a nightmare for opponents.

[@ajk]

Just curious, would you be willing to post the Phil Jackson bit by chance, to complete the intro section? You don't have to if you don't want, but just wondered.

[@janalecdavalos1377]

2014 NBA CHAMPIONS!!

[@1stindadraft]

MEMORIES

[@kascnef]

15 years ago this June...I barely remember this series as the Knicks would fall to the Spurs, who would win their first ever NBA Finals title before winning a few more with new players such as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli. Since then the Knicks have failed to go to the championship. The New Jersey Nets would reach the finals in back to back years in 2002 and 2003 (only championship was in 1976 ABA season as the New York Nets), losing both to the Lakers and Spurs. When the team moved to brooklyn, they turned around big and have reached the playoffs since last season. Hopefully the Nets win an nba finals as an NBA team.

[@ZStomp]

Good times!

[@spurs2k6]

@joseher2523 awesome man. he was and will always be the voice of the spurs as far as im concerned.

[@ConspiracyofRavens18]

i think this could have been a six or seven game series if Patrick Ewing was healthy and playing but oh well

[@GialloHorror]

Had The Knicks been healthy they would've gave The Spurs a better battle, btu I think they would've fallen short. This was a very talented Spurs team, and even with a healthy Ewing it would've been tough. Ewing was not the same player he was in 1994. But of course, David Robinson was no Hakeem Olajuwon.

[@brandonmorris92]

I bet the Spurs used Sirius as a way to troll the Chicago fans....

[@dknights411]

@inquisitive871 IMHO, a healthy Ewing would have helped the Knicks, but the Spurs were just on a roll this year. All things equal, I would have said Spurs in 6 or 7. But it would have been a great series if Ewing played.

[@Syeven4949]

I wish this years finals was that good I see a sweep coming I hoped Dallas would win but of course Boston with super team

[@Funkgun]

MASH team vs the better team of the west. Those Knicks had heart.

[@joshuarosal2725]

yo me quedo con las introducciones de la NBC fantasticas COSTAS Y COLLINS GRANDES COMENTARISTAS

[@hunt08234]

NBA on NBC was the best

[@spurs2k6]

all finals games from 99-07

[@leonj301]

The Spurs belong back in Downtown San Antonio .. New Arena Go Spurs Go!

[@rocker316ify]

The beginning of the Spurs Dynasty baby :)

[@Ballinbigtime11342]

I have no idea when these Knicks will be better but when they do the rest of the East will have to look out.

[@1103bullsnation]

I rather watch the 1998 and 1999 Finals and also 2000 then today's NBA Finals

[@spurs2k6]

@mr1996wwe agree, it sucks he was fired last week from clear channel

[@ckendall67]

@danielnunn And the Dallas Stars beat the Buffalo Sabres in 1999 Stanley Cup Finals also.....another Texas team beating a N.Y. State team.....

[@911MrBlack]

hey its doug collins, he coaches the sixers now.

[@StevenLaiHing]

Lol no they just played a snippet of the bulls Intro and then said that. Right. LOL

[@spurs2k6]

I have the 16 game DVD set

[@josephgarcia6102]

we won last night the spurs are back at the finals go spurs go

[@spurs2k6]

@Jaxis1337 Im not. The Bulls always struggled with dominant big men. During the regular season, the Spurs had tons of success, winning frequently for many seasons. Im not saying the Spurs wouldve beaten the bulls. The playoffs is a whole different environment, but such a big team like the spurs wouldve really made it hard for MJ to attack the basket (even though he became a jump shooter), along with everyone else. Just stating a very possible scenario.

[@marcopecorino9]

Roll tide

[@Spursman99030507]

Did Stan Kelly quit

[@chrisuncleahmad]

Of the 4 titles the Spurs won, this would be the only Finals ever played at the Alamodome.

[@Kiniaq77]

@spurs2k6 We want Stan Kelly's back!

[@Aerochalklate]

where's the video where spurs play sirius (bulls theme)

[@alexchen5445]

It's literlaly this one.

[@Tonobolis21]

why isnt he the Spurs announcer anymore?

[@markbj11]

it became increasingly unlikely that the NBA would return to NBC for the foreseeable future. source: wikipedia

[@thefreak985]

Kinda sucks Ewing was hurt, he coulda got a title

[@sportsguy1981]

22 Junes ago

[@cs292]

…..and it continues…..

[@TORLBC]

NBC was great. Funny I pick up on two things: SA fans, being from small-market Middle America, wanted their team to knock out NBC's clearly biased coverage of the big-market Knicks. Also, who the hell actually had the Knicks winning that thing? SA had the talent advantage period. (PS: did *everyone* use "Sirius" for '90s lineups?)

[@CG92BlImp]

Not everyone used Sirius for their Player Intros. After the Rockets won their 1st Title, they changed to Capella's "U Got 2 Know." And for the longest amount of time -- 1992 to 2008, I think -- the Spurs done their intro to the sounds of "Y'all Ready For This."

[@spurs2k6]

@HRpaperstacks06 difference is that im a nba fan first team fan 2nd. Unlike most i can objective without letting emotion cloud my judgment. Most so called fans cant do that, and yes the Rockets wouldve given problems for the Bulls as well. Like i said, dominant big men the bulls always struggled with.

[@peterblue2708]

Twas the time the Postseason ratings went down. MJ is blame for all this mess. Instead of the Knicks in the finals, it should've been MJ and his Bulls against the Spurs. The Bulls probably would've pushed the series to 6 or 7 games.

[@gnemos]

@MichaelElam23 98-99 Jordan & Pippen would have been pretty old, I don't see why Spurs couldn't beat them. Besides, as mentioned already, Jordan's Bulls always struggled against dominating big men. For example Jordan's Bulls had an all-time losing record against Olajuwon's Rockets.

[@hoopsrgreat23]

except no. the spurs would have still won in 6 or 7...ewing was pretty much done, and got traded the year after. robinson and duncan would have dominated him. an aging patrick wouldn't have stopped the twin towers. and johnson still was playing in the finals anyways. the knicks just ran into a much better team.

[@spurs2k6]

@Jaxis1337 yes our run is over. nothing last forever

[@andrewwalsh3862]

You spoke 10 years too soon lol

[@josephrinzo]

new york knicks 1999. the real champions. wow what a season