This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
Nothing was normal about the lockout-shortened 1998-99 NBA season, especially the route taken to the Finals by the New York Knicks. Before the March start of the season, they signed controversial Latrell Sprewell, yet bickering and bad chemistry nearly ruined the season and cost
the general manager his job. Then things turned around. Having sneaked into the playoffs as the eighth and final seed, the Knicks knocked off the top-seeded Miami Heat when Allan Houston's shot bounced up, around and in the hoop. After playoff victories against Atlanta and Indiana, the Knicks rolled into the Finals, only to be crushed by the San Antonio Spurs in five games. Still, the 1998-99 Knicks demonstrated what can happen when a team believes in itself, and in the spirit of camaraderie the 13 members of the Eastern Conference champs signed this dark brown Official NBA Stern ball including Sprewell, Houston, Patrick Ewing, Chris Childs, Marcus Camby, Larry Johnson, Charlie Ward, etc. The signatures are in black marker and rate 7s and 8s. This ball was given to our consignor directly from one of the Knicks.