A Breakthrough in the Postseason
The New York Knicks have ended a 25-year wait by advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.
Their 4-2 series victory over the Boston Celtics was secured on Friday night in Game 6. New York capitalized on strong performances throughout the series, taking control early with wins in Games 1 and 2, and regaining momentum with a pivotal Game 4 triumph. With the series now wrapped, the Knicks await the winner of the Cavaliers–Pacers matchup in the conference finals.
Prior to this run, the Knicks had three missed chances to return to this stage in 2013, 2023, and 2024 — most recently falling in a seven-game series to the Pacers just last postseason.
Familiar Faces on the Sideline
The 2000 conference finals squad had some notable names who are now guiding this current team. Tom Thibodeau served as an assistant coach back then. Today, he’s the head coach leading New York’s tactical efforts. Rick Brunson, who was a player on that same squad, now serves as an assistant coach.
And at the center of it all is Jalen Brunson — Rick’s son and the team’s All-Star leader. His emergence as a premier guard has been a major driving force in the Knicks’ deep playoff run. The father-son connection, layered with history, has become one of the most compelling narratives in the NBA postseason.
A Look Back at 2000
The Knicks’ last Eastern Conference Finals appearance came in an entirely different era — culturally, musically, and in the basketball world.
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Carlos Santana was dominating the music charts. His hit “Maria Maria” sat atop the Billboard Hot 100, following the global success of “Smooth.”
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Moviegoers were packing theaters for Gladiator, which would go on to win five Academy Awards and become a box-office juggernaut.
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On the basketball front, the Lakers were in the early stages of building a dynasty. Their comeback over Portland in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, capped by the iconic Bryant-to-O’Neal alley-oop, led to the first title of the Shaq-Kobe era.
Now, It’s the Knicks’ Moment
After years of heartbreak and playoff exits, the Knicks are finally back in the NBA’s final four. They are now just four wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. While their ultimate fate remains unknown, this run already marks a major turning point for a franchise long stuck in the middle of the Eastern Conference pack.
The wait is over. The spotlight is back. And New York is four wins from rewriting its story.
