Allan Houston

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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.

In Their Own Story

The turning point of Houston's tenure came not on the court, but with a contract signed in 2001 that would alter the franchise's financial landscape. He agreed to a six-year, $100.4 million extension, resulting in a yearly salary over $20 million that made him virtually untradeable. As knee injuries began to mount, specifically causing him to miss 32 games in the 2003–04 season, his contract became a burden. When the NBA introduced an amnesty clause in 2005 allowing teams to waive one player without it counting against luxury tax calculations, the media dubbed the provision the "Allan Houston Rule." Despite expectations that the Knicks would use this clause on him given the two years and $40 million remaining on his deal, Houston assured the team he would retire if his knee problems recurred. Consequently, the Knicks released Jerome Williams instead, while Houston officially announced his retirement on October 17, 2005.

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.
• He played college basketball under his father and coach, Wade Houston.
• 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.