NBA Champions ·
1999 San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs won their first title in the lockout-shortened 1999 season, going 37-13 and beating the New York Knicks in five. Tim Duncan and David Robinson formed the Twin Towers, with Duncan taking Finals MVP at 23. They also became the first former ABA team to win an NBA championship.
The season did not begin until February after a labor dispute cut the schedule to 50 games. San Antonio started 6-8, then won 31 of its last 36 to finish tied with Utah for the best record in the league.
Duncan and Robinson controlled both ends inside. Duncan averaged 21.7 points and 11.4 rebounds in the regular season and raised that to 27.4 and 14.0 across the Finals. Avery Johnson ran the offense, Sean Elliott and Mario Elie spaced the floor, and Steve Kerr brought championship habits over from Chicago.
The playoff run produced the Memorial Day Miracle, Elliott's tip-toe 24-footer that beat Portland in Game 2 of the conference finals. San Antonio reached the Finals against the Knicks, the first eighth seed ever to get there, playing without the injured Patrick Ewing. The Spurs won in five. Avery Johnson hit the deciding shot in the Game 5 closeout at Madison Square Garden, a 78-77 final.
Duncan won Finals MVP in his second season. Kerr, fresh off three straight with the Bulls, won a fourth in a row.
Championship roster
Featured in Ring Holders Club
| Player | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Avery Johnson | PG | 74 |
| Mario Elie | SG | 73 |
| Sean Elliott | SF | 78 |
| Tim Duncan | PF | 92 |
| David Robinson | C | 88 |
| Antonio Daniels | 6th man | 74 |
| Gregg Popovich | Coach | 90 |
Ratings are year-specific curated estimates for Ring Holders Club, not official NBA stats.
Rest of the roster
| Player | Pos | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Kerr | G | won his fourth straight title |
| Jaren Jackson | G | |
| Malik Rose | F | |
| Will Perdue | C | |
| Jerome Kersey | F |