From Avery Johnson’s shot to Wemby’s Finals run, local veterans say the Spurs-Knicks matchup brings back memories of 1999.
SAN ANTONIO — When the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks meet in the NBA Finals, many fans will be focused on Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Brunson and a new generation of stars.
For veterans gathered at VFW posts across San Antonio, the matchup also brings back memories of 1999, when the Spurs defeated the Knicks to win the franchise’s first NBA championship.
Ricardo Garza remembers exactly where he was when Avery Johnson hit the championship-winning jumper.
“It was crazy,” Garza said. “We thought it was over. It’s not gonna happen. Then when Avery Johnson hit that shot — boom! Nothing but net.”
Garza was sitting at the bar inside the former VFW Post 76, the oldest VFW post in Texas, just feet from where he now gathers with fellow veterans. He said he watched every Spurs championship from the VFW.
“It went crazy. It went crazy in here,” he said.
Garza was serving on active duty when the Spurs won their first title.
He remembers a city completely consumed by Spurs fever.
“The town really came together,” Garza said. “It was Spurs, Spurs, Spurs. You couldn’t see any corner of the street that didn’t have Spurs stuff.”
Blanca Martinez remembers that celebration well.
“We were considered the city that knew how to party,” Martinez said.
More than 25 years later, veterans enjoy seeing the city once again buzzing with excitement.
Oscar Rosales, senior vice commander of VFW Post 1533, was in Corpus Christi during the 1999 championship run.
“I was a real fan then. Then I became a bigger fan from then on,” Rosales said.
When the Spurs unexpectedly advanced to the 1999 Finals, Rosales said hope quickly turned into excitement.
“Kind of wasn’t expecting it, but we were hoping for it,” he said. “Then when it happened, we were like, there’s gonna be more.”
He says the atmosphere around San Antonio reminds him of the city’s championship years.
“There’s so much excitement here in San Antonio again,” Rosales said. “Everybody gets into it. It’s big here in this post.”
Jose Arzola Jr. said the team’s playoff run rekindled his love for the NBA.
“I kind of got away from the NBA, but this brought me right back,” Arzola said.
Like many Spurs fans, he respects the challenge ahead.
“It’s gonna be a tough series,” he said. “The Knicks are good, they’re hot.”
Still, his prediction is simple: “Spurs in five.”
Commander Gilbert De Leon remembers every detail of the Spurs’ first championship.
“1999, I was 49 years old,” De Leon said. “I know the Spurs lost Game 3, won the next two and won the championship.”
He remembers the stars who helped bring San Antonio its first title.
“We had The Admiral. We had Duncan. We had Elliott.”
De Leon believes the championship united the city then, much like this Finals run is doing now.
“I think it brought the city back together as a whole,” he said. “They just loved it and celebrated it just like they’re doing now.”
“Now we’re looking for number seis,” De Leon said.
Luis Camacho said that is exactly what makes Spurs basketball special.
“It just brings the city together,” Camacho said.
Even Judy Vogel, who grew up in upstate New York, has fully embraced San Antonio’s team.
“I’m a Spurs fan now,” Vogel said.
She remembers the celebrations following the 1999 championship.
“Military and Commerce Street were still the same,” Vogel said. “Everybody honked their horns.”
Now she believes this young Spurs team has what it takes to bring another championship to San Antonio.
“They’ve got the gumption to do it,” she said. “They’re a young team. They’re good — and they’re all cute.”
While veterans are confident in the Spurs, they know the Knicks will be a challenge.
“Everybody knows New York. They are tough,” Garza said.
He sees the Finals as a battle between experience and youth.
“You’re taking an older team playing a younger team,” Garza said. “The younger team is hungry, as they proved against Oklahoma. The older team is very hungry also, so it’s gonna be a battle.”
Garza believes players like Stephon Castle and Wembanyama will be key.
“Castle’s gonna have to put Brunson down. Wemby is gonna have to do all his magic,” he said.
Still, every veteran interviewed shared the same prediction: the Spurs will bring another championship home to San Antonio.
“They all play together. They play team ball,” Garza said. “They all gotta stay together as one team.”
Rosales predicted “Spurs in five.”
Arzola echoed him.
“Spurs in five.”
And as the interviews wrapped up, the veterans offered one final message:
“Go Spurs Go!”