Allan Houston

The clutch shooter who delivered Game 5 in 0.8 seconds.

Allan Wade Houston Jr., born April 20, 1971, is a former professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1993 to 2005. A shooting guard for nine seasons with the New York Knicks, he was a pivotal member of their 1999 NBA Finals team and a two-time All-Star. Before his time in New York, Houston honed his skills at Ballard High School and the University of Tennessee, where he graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer. He also earned international acclaim, winning a gold medal with the U.S. men's basketball team at the 2000 Summer Olympics. As of July 2019, Houston serves as special assistant to the general manager for the Knicks and manages the Westchester Knicks in the G League.

Quick Facts

League: NBA G League
Team: Westchester Knicks
Position: General manager
Born: 20 April 1971
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
High school: Ballard (Louisville, Kentucky)
College: Tennessee (1989–1993)
Draft round: 1

Lore & Background

Houston's legacy is defined by a singular, iconic moment during the 1999 Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Miami Heat. In Game 5 of that series, with the Knicks trailing by one point and the clock ticking down to zero, Houston caught an inbounds pass and hit a running jumper in the lane with exactly 0.8 seconds remaining. This shot secured a 78–77 victory, marking only the second time in NBA playoff history where an eighth seed defeated a first seed. Following this dramatic win, the Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers to reach the NBA Finals. Although the team lost the series 4–1 to San Antonio due to injuries to Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson, Houston averaged 21.6 points per game in his only Finals appearance, including a memorable 34-point performance in Game 3.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking to understand Houston's impact should focus on his scoring consistency and his role in the 1999 playoff run. He joined the Knicks as a free agent in 1996 after three seasons with the Detroit Pistons, immediately taking over John Starks' starting spot while Starks mentored him off the bench. Houston maintained a scoring average of 17 points per game in his first year as a Knick and peaked during the lockout-shortened season leading to the Finals. His shooting prowess was his hallmark; he remains second on Tennessee's all-time list for three-point field goals made, trailing only Chris Lofton. For those studying his final moments in the league, note that his last NBA game occurred on January 19, 2005, against the Toronto Raptors, where he recorded 3 points and 4 assists in an 81–98 loss.

Did You Know?

Houston is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
His jersey number 20 was retired by the University of Tennessee during halftime of a game against Kentucky on March 6, 2011.
Houston attempted an NBA comeback in 2007 but ended it in October due to bad timing with team preparation.
He won gold medals at both the 1999 Tournament of the Americas and the 2000 Summer Olympics.