5 things that didn’t exist the last time the Knicks were in the NBA Finals back in 1999

After nearly three decades, the New York Knicks are finally looking at a real shot at an NBA title.

The Knicks rolled past the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night to officially complete the series sweep and earn a trip to the NBA Finals. That’s something the Knicks haven’t pulled off since the 1998-99 season, a full 27 years ago.

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While their opponent isn’t solidified yet — the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are tied up 2-2 in the Western Conference finals — a lot has changed since the Knicks were last in this spot. Many of the things we take for granted today didn’t exist yet.

Ready to feel old?

Social media wasn’t really a thing in 1999. There was instant messaging — remember AOL Instant Messenger? — but that was about it. Myspace didn’t launch until August 2003, and Facebook started in February of 2004. Twitter started in 2006, and Instagram didn’t come until 2010. Vine launched and shut down in that window, and TikTok wasn’t released internationally until 2017.

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Yahoo Sports wasn’t even two years old during the 1999 Finals. The internet was a very, very different place.

Survivor, American Idol and reality TV in general

The run of popular reality competition-style shows that dominated the 2000s and early 2010s hadn’t hit the airwaves yet. “Survivor,” which just completed its 50th season this spring, was still almost a year out from its first ever episode. “American Idol” came out in June 2002, and “America’s Got Talent” didn’t start until 2006.

And while it had made its debut, MTV’s “Total Request Live” wasn’t even a year old the last time the Knicks were in the Finals. “Sopranos” had just finished its first season, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” with Regis Philbin had just started, and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” a show that is now preparing for its 28th season, was still months away from making its debut.

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The iPhone, and the BlackBerry

The first iPhone didn’t come out until January 2007, long after the Knicks’ last Finals run. Apps, games and…

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Author : Ryan Young

Publish date : 2026-05-26 04:20:00

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