First Championship – June 25, 1999
The 1998-1999 NBA season was bizarre in that it was a shortened by a lengthy lockout. Teams played only 50 games, and for the most part, it was a calamitous experience. However, the Spurs won the championship and, well, Tim Duncan was very, very good at the age of 22.
For reference, Duncan averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game during the a six-game NBA Finals triumph over the Knicks, and it was apparent to anyone who paid attention that he was taking over the league. It is fair to say that there was a certain stigma associated with this particular title by non-Spurs fans, simply because of the weirdness of the season, but that didn’t apply to Duncan.
In addition, this was the last time that the San Antonio Spurs were “David Robinson’s team” from a roster construction standpoint. Moving forward, it was Tim Duncan time, and while the supporting cast was ever-changing, the foundation was sturdy to say the least.
Next: All-Star MVP