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1994 NBA Finals

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1994 NBA Finals
TeamCoachWins
Houston Rockets Rudy Tomjanovich 4
New York Knicks Pat Riley 3
DatesJune 8–22
MVPHakeem Olajuwon
(Houston Rockets)
Hall of FamersRockets:
Hakeem Olajuwon (2008)
Knicks:
Patrick Ewing (2008)
Coaches:
Pat Riley (2008)
Rudy Tomjanovich (2020)
Officials:
Dick Bavetta (2015)
Hugh Evans (2022)
Darell Garretson (2016)
Eastern finalsKnicks defeated Pacers, 4–3
Western finalsRockets defeated Jazz, 4–1
← 1993 NBA finals 1995 →

The 1994 NBA Finals was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1993–94 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Houston Rockets played the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks for the championship, with the Rockets holding home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series. The Rockets defeated the Knicks 4 games to 3 to win the team's first NBA championship.

This matchup was Hakeem Olajuwon's second NBA Finals appearance, his other being in 1986, when Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics defeated the Rockets, four games to two. The series was Patrick Ewing's first NBA Finals appearance. The Rockets came in with strong determination to win not only the franchise's first NBA championship, but the city's first championship in a league that still existed. The Knicks, who had been recently acquired by Viacom when it bought Paramount Communications (formerly Gulf+Western), were looking to win their third NBA championship and first since 1973.

The series was hailed as a meeting of the two great centers who had previously played for a championship in college. In 1984, while Olajuwon was with the University of Houston and Ewing was with Georgetown University, Georgetown beat Houston 84–75 in the 1984 NCAA Championship game. But in this series, Olajuwon outperformed Ewing,[1][2][3] outscoring him in every game of the series and posting numbers of 26.9 ppg on 50.0% shooting compared to Ewing's 18.9 ppg on 36.3% shooting.[4] However, Ewing set an NBA finals record in the series with a total of 30 blocks, and tied the single-game record of 8 blocks in Game 5.[5] Tim Duncan later set the record for most blocks in a Finals series (2003) with 32 blocks in six games, while Dwight Howard set the record for most blocked shots in a Finals game with 9 blocked shots in Game 4 of the 2009 Finals with the Orlando Magic.

During the series, the Rockets played seven low-scoring, defensive games against the Knicks. After splitting the first two games in Houston, the Knicks won two out of three games at Madison Square Garden. In Game 6, Olajuwon blocked a last-second three-point shot attempt by John Starks that would have given the Knicks their third NBA title, instead giving the Rockets an 86–84 victory and forcing a Game 7, which made Knicks Coach Pat Riley the first (and to this date, the only) coach in a Game 7 NBA Finals on two teams, having been with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984 and 1988. In addition, the Knicks set a record for most playoff games played in one season, with 25. The Detroit Pistons tied this record in 2005.[6] The Boston Celtics, coached by Doc Rivers, surpassed it during their 2008 championship season when they played 26.[6]

The Rockets beat the Knicks in Game 7, 90–84, enabling the city of Houston to celebrate its first NBA and fifth professional sports championship (first in an existing league). For his efforts, Olajuwon was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. Riley had the unfortunate distinction of becoming the first (and to date, the only) coach to lose a Game 7 NBA Finals on two teams, having lost to the Celtics in 1984. It also denied him the distinction of being the first coach to win a Game 7 NBA Finals with two teams, having defeated the Detroit Pistons in 1988.

It was the first championship series since 1990 without the Chicago Bulls.

NBC Sports used Ahmad Rashad (Knicks sideline) and Hannah Storm (Rockets sideline). Marv Albert and Matt Guokas called the action.

Background

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Houston Rockets

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The Rockets chose Hakeem Olajuwon as the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft. Olajuwon's first nine NBA seasons included numerous All-Star, All-NBA and All-Defensive selections, but the closest he got to a championship was in 1986, when the Rockets fell two games short of a title against a powerful Boston Celtics team.

By his tenth season, Olajuwon became a more complete player, and he led the Rockets to a 15–0 start en route to a 58–24 record. But after a four-game defeat of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, they blew a pair of big fourth-quarter leads at home and lost to the Phoenix Suns to begin the second round (in the process earning the derisive nickname "Choke City" from the Houston Chronicle).

In response, the Rockets used the headline as motivation, overcoming a 0–2 deficit to defeat the Suns in seven games (earning the nickname '"Clutch City"). In the conference finals, Houston defeated the Utah Jazz in five games to claim their third conference title. Olajuwon won the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards at season's end.

New York Knicks

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Like Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing was a first overall pick of the NBA draft. Ewing was picked by the Knicks in the 1985 draft, and won Rookie of the Year that season. But despite earning All-Star accolades of his own, the Knicks teams he played with only made it past the first round twice during his first six seasons (in 1989 and 1990).

In the 1991 off-season, the Knicks hired Pat Riley as head coach. In contrast to the fast-paced style of Showtime he used with the Los Angeles Lakers, Riley took a more deliberate and physical approach in New York. Aided by the likes of Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason, John Starks and Charles Smith, Ewing and the Knicks rose to prominence under Riley, and in 1994, they won 57 games to finish second in the Eastern Conference.

Their playoff run began with a 3–1 victory over their cross-river rival New Jersey Nets. They had a hard time disposing of a Chicago Bulls team that had lost Michael Jordan to retirement (which lasted until the final months of the following season), but managed to win all four home games to advance. In the conference finals, they were pitted against the upstart Indiana Pacers, led by Reggie Miller. The Pacers gave the Knicks a scare, but the latter's experience proved too much as they won the series in seven games.

Road to the Finals

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Houston Rockets (Western Conference champion) New York Knicks (Eastern Conference champion)
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Seattle SuperSonics 63 19 .768
2 y-Houston Rockets 58 24 .707 5
3 x-Phoenix Suns 56 26 .683 7
4 x-San Antonio Spurs 55 27 .671 8
5 x-Utah Jazz 53 29 .646 10
6 x-Golden State Warriors 50 32 .610 13
7 x-Portland Trail Blazers 47 35 .573 16
8 x-Denver Nuggets 42 40 .512 21
9 Los Angeles Lakers 33 49 .402 30
10 Sacramento Kings 28 54 .341 35
11 Los Angeles Clippers 27 55 .329 36
12 Minnesota Timberwolves 20 62 .244 43
13 Dallas Mavericks 13 69 .159 50
2nd seed in the West, 2nd best league record
Regular season
#
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Atlanta Hawks 57 25 .695
2 y-New York Knicks 57 25 .695
3 x-Chicago Bulls 55 27 .671 2
4 x-Orlando Magic 50 32 .610 7
5 x-Indiana Pacers 47 35 .573 10
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 47 35 .573 10
7 x-New Jersey Nets 45 37 .549 12
8 x-Miami Heat 42 40 .512 15
9 Charlotte Hornets 41 41 .500 16
10 Boston Celtics 32 50 .390 25
11 Philadelphia 76ers 25 57 .305 32
12 Washington Bullets 24 58 .293 33
13t Milwaukee Bucks 20 62 .244 37
13t Detroit Pistons 20 62 .244 37
2nd seed in the East, 4th best league record
Defeated the (7) Portland Trail Blazers, 3–1 First round Defeated the (7) New Jersey Nets, 3–1
Defeated the (3) Phoenix Suns, 4–3 Conference Semifinals Defeated the (3) Chicago Bulls, 4–3
Defeated the (5) Utah Jazz, 4–1 Conference Finals Defeated the (5) Indiana Pacers, 4–3

Regular season series

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The Houston Rockets won both games in the regular season series:

December 2, 1993
Houston Rockets 94, New York Knicks 85
Madison Square Garden, New York City

1994 NBA Finals rosters

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Houston Rockets

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1993–94 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PG 1 Brooks, Scott 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1965–07–31 UC Irvine
PF 50 Bullard, Matt 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–06–05 Iowa
PG 10 Cassell, Sam 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1969–11–18 Florida State
PF 35 Cureton, Earl 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957–11–03 Detroit Mercy
SF 17 Elie, Mario 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1963–11–26 American International
PF 7 Herrera, Carl 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1966–12–14 Houston
PF 25 Horry, Robert 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970–08–25 Alabama
SF 21 Jent, Chris 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970–01–11 Ohio State
SG 11 Maxwell, Vernon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–09–12 Florida
C 34 Olajuwon, Hakeem 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963–01–21 Houston
C 3 Petruška, Richard 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1969–01–25 UCLA
C 42 Riley, Eric 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1970–06–02 Michigan
SG 20 Robinson, Larry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1968–01–11 Centenary
PG 30 Smith, Kenny 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1965–03–08 North Carolina
PF 33 Thorpe, Otis 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1962–08–05 Providence
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

New York Knicks

[edit]
1993–94 New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
PG 50 Anthony, Greg 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 1967–11–15 UNLV
SG 20 Blackman, Rolando 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1959–02–26 Kansas State
SF 4 Bonner, Anthony 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1968–06–08 Saint Louis
SG 44 Davis, Hubert 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 1970–05–17 North Carolina
C 33 Ewing, Patrick 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–08–05 Georgetown
SG 7 Gaines, Corey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965–06–01 Loyola Marymount
PG 11 Harper, Derek 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1961–10–13 Illinois
PF 14 Mason, Anthony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–12–14 Tennessee State
PF 34 Oakley, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union
SF 54 Smith, Charles 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1965–07–16 Pittsburgh
SG 3 Starks, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–08–10 Oklahoma State
C 32 Williams, Herb 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 242 lb (110 kg) 1958–02–16 Ohio State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Series summary

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Game Date Road team Result Home team
Game 1 June 8 New York Knicks 78–85 (0–1) Houston Rockets
Game 2 June 10 New York Knicks 91–83 (1–1) Houston Rockets
Game 3 June 12 Houston Rockets 93–89 (2–1) New York Knicks
Game 4 June 15 Houston Rockets 82–91 (2–2) New York Knicks
Game 5 June 17 Houston Rockets 84–91 (2–3) New York Knicks
Game 6 June 19 New York Knicks 84–86 (3–3) Houston Rockets
Game 7 June 22 New York Knicks 84–90 (3–4) Houston Rockets

Game 1

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June 8
9:00et
New York Knicks 78, Houston Rockets 85
Scoring by quarter: 24–26, 22–28, 17–18, 15–13
Pts: Patrick Ewing 23
Rebs: Charles Oakley 14
Asts: Derek Harper 5
Pts: Hakeem Olajuwon 28
Rebs: Otis Thorpe 16
Asts: Kenny Smith 5
Houston leads the series, 1–0
The Summit, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 16,611
Referees:
  • No. 17 Joe Crawford
  • No. 14 Jack Madden
  • No. 27 Dick Bavetta

Game 2

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June 10
9:00et
New York Knicks 91, Houston Rockets 83
Scoring by quarter: 24–20, 18–22, 30–23, 19–18
Pts: John Starks 19
Rebs: Patrick Ewing 13
Asts: John Starks 9
Pts: Hakeem Olajuwon 25
Rebs: Otis Thorpe 12
Asts: Kenny Smith 6
Series tied, 1–1
The Summit, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 16,611
Referees:
  • No. 10 Darell Garretson
  • No. 4 Ed T. Rush
  • No. 42 Hue Hollins

Game 3

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June 12
7:30et
Houston Rockets 93, New York Knicks 89
Scoring by quarter: 26–18, 19–20, 24–25, 24–26
Pts: Hakeem Olajuwon 21
Rebs: Hakeem Olajuwon 11
Asts: Hakeem Olajuwon 7
Pts: Derek Harper 21
Rebs: Patrick Ewing 13
Asts: John Starks 9
Houston leads the series, 2–1
Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Attendance: 19,763
Referees:
  • No. 11 Jake O'Donnell
  • No. 20 Jess Kersey
  • No. 21 Bill Oakes

Game 4

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June 15
9:00et
Houston Rockets 82, New York Knicks 91
Scoring by quarter: 14–19, 19–21, 28–20, 21–31
Pts: Hakeem Olajuwon 32
Rebs: Otis Thorpe 10
Asts: Sam Cassell 5
Pts: Derek Harper 21
Rebs: Charles Oakley 20
Asts: Derek Harper 5
Series tied, 2–2
Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Attendance: 19,763
Referees:
  • No. 25 Hugh Evans
  • No. 17 Joe Crawford
  • No. 13 Mike Mathis

Game 5

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June 17
9:00et
Houston Rockets 84, New York Knicks 91
Scoring by quarter: 21–22, 16–26, 24–13, 23–30
Pts: Hakeem Olajuwon 27
Rebs: Otis Thorpe 13
Asts: Robert Horry 6
Pts: Patrick Ewing 25
Rebs: Patrick Ewing 12
Asts: Derek Harper 7
New York leads the series, 3–2
Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Attendance: 19,763
Referees:
  • No. 10 Darell Garretson
  • No. 4 Ed T. Rush
  • No. 27 Dick Bavetta

Game 6

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June 19
7:30et
New York Knicks 84, Houston Rockets 86
Scoring by quarter: 21–21, 15–25, 26–19, 22–21
Pts: John Starks 27
Rebs: Patrick Ewing 15
Asts: Derek Harper 10
Pts: Hakeem Olajuwon 30
Rebs: Olajuwon, Thorpe 10 each
Asts: Otis Thorpe 6
Series tied, 3–3
The Summit, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 16,611
Referees:
  • No. 11 Jake O'Donnell
  • No. 20 Jess Kersey
  • No. 14 Jack Madden

Game 7

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June 22
9:00et
New York Knicks 84, Houston Rockets 90
Scoring by quarter: 21–22, 22–23, 17–18, 24–27
Pts: Derek Harper 23
Rebs: Charles Oakley 14
Asts: Derek Harper 5
Pts: Hakeem Olajuwon 25
Rebs: Hakeem Olajuwon 10
Asts: Hakeem Olajuwon 7
Houston wins the NBA Finals, 4–3
The Summit, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 16,611
Referees:
  • No. 25 Hugh Evans
  • No. 17 Joe Crawford
  • No. 4 Ed T. Rush
External videos
video icon Full game broadcast by NBC on YouTube

Olajuwon vs. Ewing

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Although most fans in New York, and some members of the national media, considered John Starks, who shot 2-for-18 from the field in Game 7, a contributing factor in the Knicks' loss in the series, another important factor was Olajuwon's performance. Olajuwon outscored Ewing in every game of the series, while Ewing outblocked (4.3 to 3.9 bpg) and outrebounded him (12.4 rpg to 9.1 rpg). Ewing set a then NBA Finals record with a total of 30 blocks.[4]

1994 NBA Finals Gm 1 Gm 2 Gm 3 Gm 4 Gm 5 Gm 6 Gm 7 Totals
Hakeem Olajuwon 28 25 21 32 27 30 25 26.9 ppg 50.0% fg 9.1 rpg 3.6 apg 3.9 bpg
Patrick Ewing 23 16 18 16 25 17 17 18.9 ppg 36.4% fg 12.4 rpg 1.7 apg 4.3 bpg

Player statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Matt Bullard 2 0 13.5 .200 .286 .500 3.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 4.0
Sam Cassell 7 0 22.6 .422 .438 .926 3.1 2.9 1.3 0.3 10.0
Earl Cureton 1 0 2.0 .000 .000 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Mario Elie 7 0 11.3 .250 .400 .833 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.1 2.4
Carl Herrera 7 0 17.3 .579 .000 .750 3.6 0.4 0.4 0.1 7.1
Robert Horry 7 7 37.9 .324 .306 .619 6.1 3.7 1.3 0.6 10.3
Chris Jent 3 0 2.3 .000 .000 .000 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Vernon Maxwell 7 7 37.7 .365 .225 .682 3.3 2.9 0.6 0.0 13.4
Hakeem Olajuwon 7 7 43.1 .500 1.000 .860 9.1 3.6 1.6 3.9 26.9
Kenny Smith 7 7 25.4 .389 .357 1.000 1.4 3.1 0.7 0.0 5.6
Otis Thorpe 7 7 39.6 .519 .000 .500 11.3 3.3 0.9 0.0 9.3
New York Knicks
New York Knicks statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Greg Anthony 7 0 11.4 .323 .125 1.000 0.9 2.4 0.4 0.1 3.3
Anthony Bonner 2 0 5.5 1.000 .000 .000 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0
Hubert Davis 5 0 7.6 .200 1.000 .500 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.2 1.6
Patrick Ewing 7 7 44.0 .363 .200 .714 12.4 1.7 1.3 4.3 18.9
Derek Harper 7 7 38.0 .467 .436 .824 3.0 6.0 2.4 0.1 16.4
Anthony Mason 7 0 29.3 .468 .000 .640 6.9 1.3 0.7 0.0 8.6
Charles Oakley 7 7 40.7 .484 .000 .833 11.9 2.4 1.1 0.1 11.0
Charles Smith 7 7 26.7 .441 .000 .684 4.3 1.7 0.6 1.0 9.3
John Starks 7 7 41.9 .368 .320 .769 3.1 5.9 1.6 0.1 17.7
Herb Williams 4 0 1.8 .000 .000 .000 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0

Breaking news interruption

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During Game 5, most NBC affiliates split the coverage of the game between NFL Hall of Famer O. J. Simpson's slow speed freeway chase with the Los Angeles Police Department. At the time, Simpson was an NFL analyst on NBC.

NBA studio host Bob Costas acted as the anchor for both events, tossing to Marv Albert for the game and then to Tom Brokaw of NBC News for updates on the chase. Costas, a colleague of Simpson's on the network's NFL coverage, later learned that Simpson had called 30 Rockefeller Plaza during the chase and asked to speak to him but Costas had been on site at the Garden.[7][8]

KNBC in Los Angeles, serving the media market where the police were tracking Simpson, left the Game 5 broadcast completely for the chase with local coverage narrated by Paul Moyer and Colleen Williams; the station did not put up a split screen until the end of the game, which was still close. By that point, Simpson had returned to his mansion in Brentwood and surrendered to police.

A complete re-broadcast of Game 5, with natural crowd audio substituting for the parts for which NBC did not provide audio, is part of the DVD release of this series from Warner Home Video.

Aftermath

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The Rockets repeated as NBA champions in 1995 although their season record was worse. Plagued by a lack of chemistry, the Rockets were stuck in the middle of the conference standings most of the year. Then, as the NBA's trading deadline approached, on February 14, 1995, the Rockets acquired Olajuwon's "Phi Slama Jama" teammate Clyde Drexler. The Rockets finished the regular season as the 6th seed but the team on the court at season's end was clearly better than its 47–35 record. The new Rockets team had only had about two months to gel. The playoffs started rough for Houston, the team down 2 games to 1 to Utah in the First Round. But the Rockets battled back and won that series, stealing the deciding Game 5 in Utah. The Rockets' ability to overcome adversity became more evident as the postseason wore on. They beat four 50-win squads (Utah, Phoenix, San Antonio and Orlando) to win the championship, becoming the lowest seed ever to win it all.

During the Finals, Viacom stepped up in trying to sell their Madison Square Garden properties, which included the Knicks and the New York Rangers.[9] In August 1994, Viacom sold the Knicks to Cablevision Systems and the ITT Corporation (the latter sold its shares years later).[10] Also in 1995, the Knicks enjoyed another strong season, with 55 wins, but were eliminated in seven games by the Indiana Pacers during the second round as Pacers guard Reggie Miller's "Knick Killer" legacy continued. After the season, Pat Riley left the Knicks after they balked at his request for a stake in ownership and the role of team president in negotiations for an extension.[11] He departed for the Miami Heat, with whom he won three championships, one as head coach and two as president. The Knicks made the NBA Finals again in 1999 as the first eighth seed to make the Finals, but fell to the Spurs in five games, and have not returned since.

Before this victory, the Houston Oilers' AFL two championships at the close of the 1960 season and 1961 season and the Houston Aeros' two WHA Avco World Trophies in 1974 and 1975 represented Houston's only professional championships. The 1994 NBA Championship represented the city of Houston's first professional championship since those two teams, and the first in a league that did not later merge.

This was the last NBA Finals for three of the league's longest-tenured and most recognizable referees: Darell Garretson, Jack Madden and Jake O'Donnell. Garretson and Madden retired after the 1994 Finals, while O'Donnell worked the 1994-95 season, but did not work past the second round of the playoffs, marking the first time since 1971 he did not officiate in the championship series. O'Donnell retired in December 1995 following the end of a lockout of NBA referees by Commissioner David Stern.

Overall, as of 2019, Houston's teams in the "Big Four" major professional sports are 6–1 over their New York City counterparts in playoff series. The Rockets, in addition to their 1994 triumph, also defeated the Knicks in the 1975 Eastern Conference First Round. The NFL's Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans) followed with a victory over the New York Jets in the 1991 AFC wild card round, and the Houston Astros later prevailed over the New York Yankees in three MLB postseason series during the 2010s (the 2015 ALWC, 2017 ALCS, and 2019 ALCS). The only New York-based team that prevailed over Houston was the New York Mets, who won over the then-NL member Astros in the NLCS in their 1986 championship season.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Araton, Harvey (June 23, 1994). "ON PRO BASKETBALL: N.B.A. FINALS; Long-Sought Title That Ewing Needed Eludes Him Again". The New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2008. But he (Ewing) was just not as good as Hakeem Olajuwon, never has been.
  2. ^ Kalb, Elliot (2003). Who's Better, Who's Best in Basketball?: Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top 50 NBA Players of All Time. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 163. ISBN 0-07-141788-5. Olajuwon clearly outplayed Ewing
  3. ^ "Daily Dime: Special Edition The game's greatest giants ever". ESPN. March 6, 2007. Archived from the original on March 25, 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2007. He (Olajuwon) outplayed Ewing, Robinson and O'Neal to lead Houston to back-to-back titles...
  4. ^ a b "History of the NBA Finals: Hakeem Olajuwon: The NBA's Best In The Mid '90s". hollywoodsportsbook.com. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
  5. ^ "Patrick Ewing Bio". NBA. Archived from the original on February 22, 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2007.
  6. ^ a b Beck, Howard (June 17, 2008). "Celtics Remain Mindful Of a Missed Opportunity". The New York Times. p. D2. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  7. ^ "NBC broadcaster Bob Costas remembers why O.J. Simpson called during the infamous Bronco car chase: "His character was being defamed"". Sportskeeda. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  8. ^ "Bob Costas recalls O.J. Simpson car chase following his death: 'It was surreal, to put it mildly'". Yahoo! Sports. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  9. ^ "VIACOM STEPS UP EFFORTS TO SELL RANGERS, KNICKS". June 14, 1994. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Chass, Murray (August 28, 1994). "ITT-Cablevision Deal Reported To Buy Madison Square Garden". Retrieved February 11, 2024 – via NYTimes.com.
  11. ^ Herring, Chris (January 18, 2022). "How Pat Riley Quit On the Knicks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2023.