1999 New York Knicks: Where Are They Now?

• The New York Knicks have not made the Finals since 1999

• The 1999 Knicks were built on star power, toughness, and grit

• Despite the tough demeanor of the players, many of them are activists

The 1998-99 NBA season will forever be etched in the memories of New York Knicks faithful as the team ventured deep into the playoffs, ultimately reaching the NBA Finals. Two decades have passed since that fateful season, and as the sands of time continue to shift, it’s only natural to wonder: where are the players of the 1999 New York Knicks now? 

Led by the charismatic and gritty head coach Jeff Van Gundy and an ensemble cast of players, the Knicks’ journey that season was defined by resilience, determination, and a relentless pursuit of success. 

It is time to embark on the journey to catch up with the key figures who played pivotal roles in that unforgettable season. From the presence of tough-minded stars Latrell Sprewell and Marcus Camby, along with three-point sharpshooters like Allan Houston, we’ll explore their post-playing careers, reflect on their contributions to the franchise, and gain insights into how life has unfolded for these Knicks legends beyond the hardwood.

Here are where the 1999 NBA champions from the New York Knicks are right now as we reminisce about how good the franchise used to be in the Eastern Conference.

Herb Williams (Former New York Liberty Assistant Coach In WNBA)

After the 1999 Finals, Herb Williams retired at 41 years old. In 2003, he returned to the Knicks as an assistant coach where he worked under head coaches Don Chaney and Lenny Wilkens. When Wilkens resigned in 2005, Williams took over as head coach.

A few months later, Larry Brown was named head coach, which took the former center’s spot before Herb Williams was the acting head coach of the Knicks for the final two games of the 2005–06 season when Brown was missing in action with illness.

A clear Knicks supporter, Williams continued to work as an assistant coach under new head coach Isiah Thomas and Mike D’Antoni and continued to be in the coaching staff under Mike Woodson until Phil Jackson fired the entire staff in 2014. Finally, between 2015 and 2019, Herb Williams was last seen as the assistant coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty.

Rick Brunson (New York Knicks Assistant Coach)

Rick Brunson, father of current New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, was interestingly a member of the New York Knicks franchise. Brunson only appeared in garbage time for one game in the 1999 NBA Finals and played 17 games during the regular season. A 6’4” point guard, Rick had a similar build to his son Jalen.

Brunson retired following the 2005-06 season and worked as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets, focusing on player development. Between 2007 and 2009, he was with the University of Virginia as the Cavaliers’ director of basketball operations before getting hired as assistant coach for the Hartford Hawks men’s basketball team.

In 2010, Brunson was later hired as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls, which showed his desire to entertain coaching in the NBA with nine years in the league under his belt as a player. 

The former point guard then took on a role as an assistant coach to Mike Dunlap on the Charlotte Bobcats’ staff. Most recently, on June 2, 2022, Brunson was hired by the New York Knicks as an assistant coach, and he is trying to get New York back to the promised land.

Chris Dudley (Founder Chris Dudley Foundation)

Chris Dudley is an interesting person beyond his basketball days. Dudley was a renowned member of the 1999 Knicks because, as a 6’11” behemoth, he brought size, toughness, and defense in the post and is a familiar face for most of the NBA fans in the late 1990s.

However, he is more interesting than that. Dudley is one of the only players in NBA history who had diabetes (Adam Morrison, another), and managed to deal with that and still have success over his working career. 

Since 2008, Dudley has been a wealth management partner with Filigree Advisors and even took a chance with politics as a Republican. In 2010, he lost a very close election to Democrat John Kitzhaber for his role as the governor of Oregon.

Dudley is mainly known now for being the founder and activist for the Chris Dudley Foundation where he partakes in organized events for kids who want to play basketball. 

Perhaps most amazingly, Dudley organizes camps for kids with diabetes as the former NBA player shows it is possible to deal with the illness and still have a successful basketball career.

Chris Childs (Mentor In Males-2-Men Program)

Chris Childs was a no-nonsense player for obvious reasons. Not many players even thought about fighting Kobe Bryant on the court, but Childs was one of them. He threw fists at the Lakers legend and it turned out it was mainly due to maintaining respect for himself.

Other than that, Childs was a key contributor to the 1999 Knicks. The 6’3” point guard averaged 6.8 points and 4.0 assists per game on 38.3% from three during the regular season before averaging 4.7 points and 3.7 assists per game in the playoffs. Known for consistency and toughness, this role was important for the Knicks.

Other than appearing in some interviews that can be found online, Childs is a mentor in the Males-2-Men Program. He speaks about mentoring young kids to develop into successful men and how to not fall into traps that could hold them back, an honorable non-profit-based initiative.

Kurt Thomas (Retired In Dallas)

Kurt Thomas was yet another no-nonsense player for the 1999 New York Knicks. He was not someone to mess with, because, at 6’9” and 230 lbs, he was a massive figure in the post before averaging 8.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in the fourth season of his career. In the Finals, Thomas posted 5.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

Thomas went on to have a very long career, completing 18 years in the NBA with stints across nine franchises. The big man constantly found jobs because of his defense and leadership, and the Knicks knew that best. Thomas retired following the 2012-13 season and has since retired in terms of any profession.

Thomas currently resides in Dallas and is still making frequent visits to the gym at Hillcrest High School, with a goal to support his son Kurt Thomas Jr. who is an aspiring athlete.

Charlie Ward (Head Coach For Florida State University High School)

Charlie Ward is one interesting athlete. Many might not remember, but Ward was an exceptional college football player who won the Heisman Trophy, Davey O’Brien Award, and College Football National Championship as a quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles.

However, the 6’2” Ward went after an NBA career after he was taken No. 26 overall in the 1994 NBA Draft. The point guard had the best season of his career in 1999, averaging 7.6 points and 5.4 assists per game in the regular season, and started in the NBA Finals, where he posted 5.8 points and 3.6 assists per game.

After the 2004 season, Ward later had short spells with the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets before retiring in 2005. A year after his retirement, Ward was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. 

Since then, Ward took on his biggest post-retirement role as the head coach for Florida State University High School.

Larry Johnson (Retired In Las Vegas)

Larry Johnson was another key contributor to the New York Knicks in 1999, as a 29-year-old forward who could be relied upon to score, rebound, and run on the fast break. Johnson averaged 12.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in the regular season before posting 11.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in the NBA playoffs for the Knicks.

Since retiring, Johnson occasionally participated in basketball-related events and activities as an ambassador for the sport, including appearances at NBA events and community basketball programs.

Johnson has not been too much in the public eye although reports say he is currently residing in the suburbs of Las Vegas. Considering the hectic NBA career he had in terms of six playoff runs in 10 seasons, perhaps maintaining privacy is what the two-time All-Star prefers.

Marcus Camby (Founder of Cambyland Foundation, League Ambassador)

New York Knicks fans loved Marcus Camby back in the day. The lanky center turned out to be one of the best defensive bigs in the NBA, and in 1999, his presence was sorely needed by a Knicks team built on toughness and a defensive mindset. In the 1999 Finals, Camby averaged 9.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.

Marcus Camby was seen publicly as the league ambassador for the Toronto Raptors during an exhibition game in 2019 against the Utah Jazz at Rogers Place. Camby played for a variety of teams, including the Raptors, so he is clearly a fan-favorite across many franchises besides the Knicks.

Camby is also the founder of the Cambyland Foundation. In 1996, Camby established the foundation, a non-profit organization that partners with school and community organizations to provide opportunities for young people.

Allan Houston (New York Knicks Assistant General Manager)

Allan Houston was considered the second-best player on the team offensively and was no doubt the best sharpshooter in terms of consistency and accuracy. Houston averaged 16.3 points on 40.7% from three during the regular season and boosted those numbers to 21.6 points per game in the NBA Finals.

Allan Houston was serving as the Assistant General Manager for the New York Knicks, a position he had held since 2008. In this role, he was involved in various aspects of the team’s basketball operations, including player development, scouting, and front-office decision-making.

As of July 2019, Houston is a special assistant to the general manager of the Knicks and worked as the general manager of the Westchester Knicks, the organization’s G League affiliate.

Latrell Sprewell (Madison Square Garden Media Personality)

After retiring from professional basketball, he faced various personal and legal issues, which included financial difficulties and legal troubles. Losing a house and a yacht is not an easy thing to deal with, but Sprewell has managed to find a way to live modestly in a house in Milwaukee.

After dealing with the issues, Sprewell is currently a media personality and community member for Madison Square Garden of the New York Knicks. Whether it is making appearances or doing community work, Sprewell is a fan-favorite in the city of New York for his talent as a player and tough mentality.

In 1998-99, Sprewell averaged 16.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game but took his numbers to 26.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in the NBA Finals. Even if the Knicks did not win the Finals, Sprewell was no doubt New York’s best player.

Patrick Ewing (Head Coach of the Georgetown Hoyas Men’s)

Patrick Ewing was 36 years old in the 1998-99 season with the New York Knicks and due to age and attrition, he only appeared in 38 games in the regular season posting 17.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.

Interestingly, Ewing also played 11 games in the postseason but was not available during the NBA Finals. The legendary big man who is considered one of the best players in Knicks history averaged 13.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in the playoffs despite not making a single Finals appearance.

It was Ewing’s presence during the season and in the locker room that helped guide the Knicks to the Finals so he is an esteemed member of the roster. Currently, Ewing is the head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team. 

Ewing, one of the greatest college basketball players of all time while at Georgetown, had been the head coach for six years and finished with a 75-109 record.

It was announced in March of 2023 that Ewing would not return as head coach, but his presence in the New York market in terms of media appearances is critical because he was truly one of the best to ever do it for the Knicks. 

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