The Knicks and Spurs are back in the NBA Finals together, 27 years after San Antonio beat New York in the 1999 series.
That was the year of Y2K panic, American Pie, Britney Spears, and the internet still making that horrible dial-up noise in the hallway.
Now Victor Wembanyama is heading into Madison Square Garden, Jalen Brunson is trying to end New York’s long wait, and another Larry O’Brien Trophy is on the line.
More than a quarter of a century is a long time in basketball and in real life. Here is what has changed since the Knicks and Spurs last met on this stage.
1999 nostalgia as the NBA Finals sees a familiar matchup
Dial-up internet
In 1999, getting online was not something you did without thinking. You waited for the dial-up sound, hoped nobody picked up the house phone, and accepted that even loading a photo could go on longer than a double-overtime these days.
Today, highlights, box scores, rumours and reaction are instant. It is almost too easy to find everything, and sometimes too easy to lose an hour scrolling instead of locking in on the game.
Blockbuster on a Saturday night
Before streaming, you had to actually go somewhere to pick a film. A Saturday night trip to Blockbuster had its own pressure, because choosing the wrong tape could ruin the whole evening.
There was no endless scroll, no five apps and no algorithm quietly judging your taste. You wandered the aisles, argued over comedies and action films, then hoped the tape was not damaged when you got home.
Snake on a Nokia 3210
The Nokia 3210 was everywhere around the time of the first Knicks and Spurs Finals, and Snake was simple perfection. No updates, no in-game purchases, no loading screens, just a tiny line chasing dots on a button phone.
They don’t make games like that anymore.
Mario was still Mario, handheld consoles were massive, and the indestructible ‘Blokia’ was the simple man’s choice for a bit of mental stimulation. Now phones are mini televisions, cameras, wallets and whatever else you need it to be. Back in 1999, just sending a text felt modern enough.
SportsCenter highlights
SportsCenter is still around, but the way fans consume highlights has completely changed. Back in 1999, catching the best plays on TV felt like part of the ritual.
If Tim Duncan dominated or Allan Houston got hot, you waited for the package. There was a real sense of occasion to seeing the clips lined up with the music, the voiceover and the late-night recap.
Now a Wembanyama block or Brunson step-back will be on social media within 30 seconds. That’s great, but it does feel less magical. Maybe that’s just growing up…
The NBA
The 1999 NBA Finals were physical, defensive and low-scoring. The average final score was 85-80 to the Spurs, which says everything about the pace and style of that era.
Now the league is built around spacing, shooting, pace and skill in every position. Big men handle the ball, guards shoot from the logo, and teams treat the three-point line like the centre of the sport.
Then there is Wembanyama. If you described him to someone in 1999, a 7’4” player blocking shots, hitting threes and moving like a wing, they might genuinely think aliens had invaded Madison Square Garden.
Lots has changed since the Knicks and Spurs last met in the Finals, but some things do not.
The magic of the Garden. The Spurs being an incredibly well-run organisation with a ridiculously talented big man. Knicks fans being the craziest in the world.
These are all very much true statements in 2026 as well.
- READ MORE: How Adam Silver reacted to Donald Trump’s plans to attend NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden
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