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Resurfaced footage shows San Antonio Spurs playing StarCraft in 1999 NBA Finals

By Dylan Carter

NEW YORK - JUNE 21: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs attempts a shot against Latrel Sprewell #8 of the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 1999 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 21, 1999 in New York, New York. The Knicks won 89-81. OTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1999 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK - JUNE 21: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs attempts a shot against Latrel Sprewell #8 of the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 1999 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 21, 1999 in New York, New York. The Knicks won 89-81. OTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1999 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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While nabbing the franchise’s first championship in 1999, the San Antonio Spurs took a break to play two-on-two in the classic video game StarCraft.

The San Antonio Spurs‘ 1999 championship run signaled the beginning of a sustained stretch of success for the model franchise. Keying in on camaraderie above all else, the Spurs have always emphasized a team-first mentality while affording teammates the opportunity to build lifelong bonds.

One way that legendary Spurs Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Malik Rose and Sean Elliott bonded was through the highly praised video game StarCraft. A recent video resurfaced on the internet showing the foursome competing against each other in between games during their Finals series against the New York Knicks.

Reddit dug up footage of the Spurs playing Starcraft 2v2 between games of the 1999 NBA finals

the track balls mice, the old laptops the intro music, Timmy getting mad losing to the Admiral. it's all amazing (thx r/NBA) pic.twitter.com/i3QbutWZx9

— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) September 27, 2019

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The entire video provides a nostalgia trip for basketball fans and video game fans alike. Between the track ball mice, old fashioned PC laptops and 1990’s fashion, this clip transports fans back to a time before the Spurs’ dynasty was established to what it is today.

It’s interesting to see how the team bonded back in the day. This isn’t quite one of Gregg Popovich’s famous dinners, but gamers will always attest to the bonding power of a good old fashioned LAN Party with some close buddies.

San Antonio took care of the Knicks with relative ease, winning the series in a five-game gentleman’s sweep. Duncan won the first of his three Finals MVP trophies after averaging 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and one steal in an astonishing 45.5 minutes per night.

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At this point, it became clear that Duncan would be a dominant force in this league for years to come. Little did the Knicks know, The Big Fundamental’s amazing series came off the back of a highly competitive back-and-forth with his own teammates.