For only the second time this century, the New York Knicks have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Knicks earned their spot by defeating the Boston Celtics 4-2 in their series, concluding with a Game 6 victory on Friday. New York took control early, winning the first two games, and a critical Game 4 win helped pave the way for their series-clinching performance.
The last time the Knicks reached this deep stage of the playoffs was the 1999-2000 season. Since then, they have had three previous attempts (in 2013, 2023, and 2024) to return to the Conference Finals but fell short each time, including a tough seven-game series loss to the Indiana Pacers just last season.
Let`s take a look back at what was happening in the world when the Knicks last competed in the Eastern Conference Finals on May 23, 2000.
Familiar Faces: Thibodeau and Brunson`s Connection
Since Tom Thibodeau became the Knicks head coach in 2020, the team has made the postseason four times, ending a seven-year drought. Thibodeau`s history with the franchise predates his head coaching tenure; he served as an assistant coach from 1996 to 2003, including the year the Knicks made their last Conference Finals appearance.
Interestingly, one of the players Thibodeau coached on that 2000 team was Rick Brunson, father of current Knicks star Jalen Brunson. The elder Brunson played in two games against Indiana during that series and is currently a Knicks assistant coach, a role he has held since the 2022-23 season, the year before New York signed Jalen.
Santana`s Musical Reign on the Charts
Shortly after the massive success of his first No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, `Smooth,` Carlos Santana followed up with another chart-topper. His song `Maria Maria` spent another week at No. 1 precisely as the Knicks were four wins away from the 2000 NBA Finals.
The track, featuring hip-hop duo The Product G&B, was a sensation, spending 10 weeks at No. 1 and a total of 26 weeks on the charts. It also won the Grammy Award for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals at the 42nd Grammy Awards.
Other notable songs in the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 during that period included `Breathe` by Faith Hill at No. 2, `Say My Name` by Destiny`s Child at No. 7, `Bye Bye Bye` by *NSYNC at No. 9, and `Try Again` by Aaliyah at No. 10.
“Gladiator” Dominates the Box Office
The epic historical film `Gladiator,` released on May 5, 2000, quickly became a global phenomenon. It went on to become the second-highest-grossing film of the year worldwide, earning over $460 million.
The movie received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for a remarkable 12 Oscars at the 73rd Academy Awards. `Gladiator` took home five prestigious awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Russell Crowe, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects.
Lakers` Dramatic Comeback in Western Conference Finals
While the Knicks` playoff run ended with a six-game loss to the Pacers, the Western Conference Finals delivered a classic seven-game series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Trail Blazers staged a strong comeback after being down three games to one, forcing a decisive Game 7 at the then-Staples Center.
In Game 7, Portland held a substantial 15-point lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. However, the Lakers mounted a dramatic rally, capped off by the iconic alley-oop connection between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O`Neal. This play gave Los Angeles a six-point lead with 41 seconds left, a lead they would not surrender, securing their spot in the NBA Finals.