Exclusive: Chris Childs is speaking a Knicks title into existence

The New York Knicks are in a place where they haven’t been since 1999, the NBA Finals. Fittingly, they will be playing against the same team that defeated them in five games 27 years ago, the San Antonio Spurs.

It’s almost a virtual repeat of 1999. The Spurs have the home court advantage, with Game 1 at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday. Plus, the Spurs are the prohibitive favorites against an underdog Knicks team.

The excitement and anticipation are beyond palpable, which is exactly how former player Chris Childs, a member of the 1999 Knicks, wants it to be. He is brimming with enthusiasm over the prospect of the Knicks winning their first title since 1973, when he was six years old.

Not only that, Childs is not wasting any time, declaring that the Knicks will win it all in five games, and a celebration of biblical proportions will take over the Big Apple.

“The city has been thirsty for it,” Childs said to ClutchPoints. “I guess now they are ready for the main course. I’m excited.”

Childs forsees competitiveness given some similarities in play on both sides. Also, he will keep an eye out for what the Knicks will do to stop Victor Wembanyama, who obviously will shoulder the brunt of the burden for the Spurs. At the same time, he’s looking at what is in store for Karl Anthony-Towns, who, along with Wemby, is playing in their first NBA Finals.

“The kind of play somewhat the same way,” Childs said. “Wemby, his whole dominance, definitely, we can’t avoid him, we have to attack him. I am looking to see what KAT does.”

Childs offered sound advice to Jalen Brunson, the focal point of the New York offense. Essentially, he wants Brunson to be smart and be the ultimate playmaker.

“He has to pick his spots; they are going to try to double-team him,” Childs said. “Looking forward to seeing if he can put up the numbers in the other sees. Even if he doesn’t have a high scoring percentage, his assists have to be high.”

Meanwhile, Childs will have the chance to reunite teammates from one of the best underdog stories in all of sports.

The 1999 Knicks are still partying like it’s 1999

In 1999, the World Trade Center towers still captivated the New York skyline. President Bill Clinton survived impeachment. Y2K fears began to take shape. Teen pop exploded onto the charts with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, and N’Sync.

Meanwhile, the Knicks defied convention and became the first 8th seed to reach the NBA Finals. The team featured a who’s who of uniqueness with Childs, Latrell Sprewell, Larry Johnson, Marcus Camby, Charlie Ward, Kurt Thomas, Allan Houston, and Patrick Ewing.

They relied solely on grit and will to get them past the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, and Indiana Pacers in the first three rounds, per Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. Houston was the hero in the first round with his iconic floater in Game 5 against the Heat. Then, Johnson’s four-point play in Game 3 of the ECF rocked Madison Square Garden.

Although New York lost, that team still lives on in the hearts of Knicks fans, young and old.

Childs told ClutchPoints he plans to be there for Game 4 at the Garden. He also said the bond amongst the ’99 team will never break.

“Most of the guys are gonna be there for Games 3 and 4,” he said. “Everybody respects each other, and that never dies. It’s good to see the guys. As soon as you see them, there’s love for everybody.”

Five games the other way around? We’ll hold Chris Childs to it.

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