New Blood 🐝⚡ vs. Old Power 🏆💪: The 2000 Finals Storyline 🏀🔥

As we enter our 16th season, the Dallas Mavericks are back on top. Not only are they the reigning champions, but last season marked the franchise’s 5th title in our timeline — two more than the second-place Celtics, who sit at three.

Last year’s championship also gave John Stockton his 5th ring. Only his former teammate, Charles Barkley (6), has more in this universe. With Michael Jordan around, the two couldn’t win even a single title. Without him? Together they now own 11 rings combined.

The question for 1999–2000 is clear: Can Stockton match Barkley’s six rings? Chuck managed to win two without Stockton. Can John now return the favor and grab two without Sir Charles by his side?

Before diving into the results of the 1999–2000 season, let’s rewind to the 1999 NBA Draft and see where the first-round class landed. The story begins at #1 overall — and wouldn’t you know it, the Atlanta Hawks strike gold once again. They land the pick thanks to their ownership of Golden State’s selection.

This marks the third time in our history the Hawks have picked #1, and the second time it came courtesy of the Warriors. Back in 1990, that connection landed them Derrick Coleman, who by 1994 had already helped deliver a championship to Atlanta.

Now the Hawks turn to Elton Brand, and in his very first season he’s already an All-Star. The big question: can he guide Atlanta to their second title in this timeline? Only time will tell.

As for other notable picks, Lamar Odom went #4 to the Pacers and helped the team make the playoffs for the first time since 1992. Wally Szczerbiak went 6th to the Cavs, while Shawn Marion went 9th to the Grizzlies. 

Both players made their team’s starting lineup, but unfortunately that didn’t lead to success, as both clubs still landed in the lottery by season’s end. Jason Terry went #10 to the Sonics, while Ron Artest went 16th to the Hawks — a pick that originally belonged to the Kings.

Yes, that’s right: the Hawks landed four first-round picks in 1999, with Brand and Artest both making immediate contributions and improving Atlanta’s playoff standing.

Out of the 29 players selected, these are the names making the biggest impact in Year 1 for their drafted teams. Others will surely rise to prominence in the seasons ahead, but for now, the draft spotlight belongs to this group.

Now on to the season in the Eastern Conference, where for the very first time in our history the Philadelphia 76ers (58-24) finish on top. They are led by their superstar forward and All-Star, Kevin Garnett.

At #2 we have the Charlotte Hornets (55-27). This marks their second straight year winning the Central Division. Last season they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, and this year they bring back four of their five starters — including All-Stars Eddie Jones and Derrick Coleman. With Anthony Mason returning to the lineup, the Hornets are once again built to make serious noise in the playoffs.

At #3 sit the Atlanta Hawks (54-28). Thanks to their rookie additions, they leap from the 7th seed to the 3rd. However, they did lose longtime leader and 1994 champion guard Mookie Blaylock. In fact, Dikembe Mutombo is the only returning starter from a year ago.

Finally, rounding out the top four are the Milwaukee Bucks (52-30). The Bucks are the only top-four seed that did not make the playoffs last year. Their big turnaround came largely from the addition of All-Star guard Sam Cassell, helping them climb from 10th to 4th in just one year.

Seeds 5–8 line up as follows: the Knicks, Heat, Nets, and Pacers. Last year’s shortened season saw the Knicks reach the NBA Finals as a 5-seed — can they make another deep run this time?

The Heat once again finish 6th, just like last season. In 1999 they pushed the 3-seed Sixers to five games before bowing out. Can they now upset the young Hawks?

The Nets tumble to their worst playoff seed since 1994, falling from 1st all the way to 7th. The absence of cornerstone big man Jayson Williams is a major reason for the slide.

And then there are the Pacers, back in the postseason for the first time since 1992. Rookie Lamar Odom is a welcome addition to a frontcourt that already features Glenn Robinson.

In total, two new teams join the playoff field in the East: the Bucks and Pacers. Where there are additions, there must also be subtractions — this year, that meant the Magic and Raptors. 

The Magic lost longtime cornerstone Penny Hardaway to the Suns, while the Raptors played at a similar level as last year, but couldn’t keep pace with the surges from Milwaukee and Indiana.

In the Western Conference we see a true changing of the guard. For the past four seasons, the Houston Rockets had ruled the West, winning two NBA titles in the process. But last year they fell to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals — the eventual champions.

Now it is the Dallas Mavericks (59-23) who sit atop the standings, dethroning Houston as the #1 seed. The defending champs have just one goal: repeat. With second-year star Dirk Nowitzki stepping into the starting lineup, the Mavs now boast a formidable core alongside All-Star Grant Hill, Michael Finley, and John Stockton.

At #2 are the Los Angeles Lakers (58-24). With no Kobe Bryant until the 2004 season, this is unquestionably Shaquille O’Neal’s team. But he’s not alone — All-Star Gary Payton is now in his tenth year in LA, and together with Shaq they are determined to restore the Lakers’ championship glory.

The Phoenix Suns (57-25) take the #3 seed. Last year they shocked the league by winning the Pacific over the Lakers. This season they doubled down by adding All-Star Penny Hardaway, and now they’re looking to do more than just surprise the basketball world.

Finally, rounding out the top four is the surprise of the West — the Golden State Warriors (54-28). After missing the playoffs entirely last season, they’ve risen to join the conference elite. 

All-Star Larry Hughes leads a squad that also features former champion Mookie Blaylock and former #4 overall pick Antawn Jamison. Only Donyell Marshall remains from their last playoff roster just two years ago.

Seeds 5–8 are filled by the Rockets, Nuggets, Jazz, and Kings. The Rockets, once dominant, now look vulnerable after losing Scottie Pippen to the Blazers, while veterans Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon have aged out of their superstar years.

Despite posting similar records to last season, both the Nuggets (falling from 4th to 6th) and the Jazz (from 6th to 7th) slide down the standings. Even the Kings, who stay afloat, drop from 7th to 8th. Much of this shuffle comes from the surge of Golden State.

In fact, the Warriors are the only new playoff team in the West this year, replacing last season’s 8th seed, the Minnesota Timberwolves, who plummeted to the very bottom of the league. A major factor? The steep decline of former franchise cornerstone Joe Smith.

Now to the fun, where in the East our #1 Sixers faced the #8 Pacers. Kevin Garnett was the best player in this series, but he didn’t have a Robin to his Batman. 

The Pacers, while lacking anyone of Garnett’s caliber, leaned on the new pairing of Lamar Odom and Glenn Robinson, who quickly developed chemistry in their first year together. That camaraderie showed throughout the series.

After Philly took Game 1, the Pacers stormed back to steal Game 2. The teams then split in Indiana, forcing a dramatic Game 5 back in Philadelphia. 

Odom and Robinson kept Indiana within striking distance late, but someone else needed to step up. Enter veteran Mark Jackson. The floor general, long past his All-Star prime, turned back the clock with 22 points, including the game-winning three. 

For a moment, fans saw shades of the dynamic young Clipper who burst into the league in 1988. With Jackson’s heroics, the Pacers completed the upset—the first #8 seed to topple a #1 in our universe. (In reality, it had happened twice before: the Nuggets in 1994 and the Knicks in 1999.)

The #2 Hornets vs #7 Nets series carried no such drama. Just last year the Nets had been the East’s top seed, but Charlotte came in with unfinished business. 

After taking the first two at home, the Hornets looked poised for a sweep before Stephon Marbury’s late-game heroics kept New Jersey alive in Game 3. That hope was short-lived. Charlotte dominated Game 4, blowing out the Nets and advancing with a statement win.

The 3/6 matchup featured two former champions. The #3 Hawks, winners in 1994, were far removed from that glory—Mookie Blaylock, the last link to that squad, had moved on to Oakland. 

Atlanta was now built around Dikembe Mutombo, who had led them to a Finals run in 1998 with Blaylock. The #6 Heat still had their 1996 championship duo of Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway. 

Mourning remained an All-Star, but Hardaway’s prime had passed. Even so, the Heat refused to go quietly, evening the series at 2–2 after dropping the first two games. But back in Atlanta, youth carried the day. Elton Brand powered the Hawks with 22 points and 11 rebounds as they pulled away by 12 to close out the series.

Finally, the defending Eastern Conference champion #5 Knicks squared off with the #4 Bucks. After Milwaukee grabbed Game 1, the Knicks responded by taking Games 2 and 3. 

But facing elimination, the Bucks roared back in Game 4. Ervin Johnson neutralized Patrick Ewing, whose age was finally showing—this season marked his first without an All-Star selection. 

Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s All-Star duo of Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Sam Cassell delivered double-doubles on the road to even the series. That set up a winner-take-all Game 5 in Milwaukee. 

Cassell, a former ’95 Bulls champion, outdueled Allen Iverson in a back-and-forth battle, but the closer came in the form of Ray Allen. The fourth-year guard caught fire, pouring in 25 points—including 12 in the fourth quarter—to seal a 112–105 victory. With that performance, the Bucks ended New York’s hopes of returning to the Finals.

In the end, only the Indiana Pacers advanced in both our world and reality. But here, they were joined by the Hornets, Hawks, and Bucks, while in real life the Knicks, Heat, and Sixers all survived the opening round.

The West once again runs through Dallas. The last time the Mavericks were the #1 seed was back in 1992, during the era when they ruled the league for years. 

Their first-round opponent, the #8 Sacramento Kings, leaned heavily on All-Star Chris Webber. Now in his second year out West, Webber’s game has grown, but his team hasn’t. 

Before arriving in Sacramento, Webber had carried the Washington Wizards to the Conference Finals, but with the Kings his only true running mate was Vlade Divac. With little depth beyond them, Sacramento entered as a clear underdog against the defending champs.

The Mavs dominated the first two games in Dallas, but back home in Game 3 Webber finally got help. Nick Anderson stepped up, and the Kings avoided a sweep. 

Still, the champs responded swiftly. In Game 4, John Stockton orchestrated a complete floor game, leading the Mavericks to a road win and a 3–1 series victory. The repeat bid stayed very much alive.

The #2 LA Lakers entered the playoffs with high expectations. Despite never advancing past the Semis since Shaquille O’Neal arrived in 1996–97, this year felt different. 

Shaq was named league MVP, and with Gary Payton alongside him, LA looked primed for a deep run. But standing in their way were the #7 Utah Jazz, led by the Twin Towers of David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Duncan, in his third season, still hadn’t advanced in the postseason, but Utah had proven pesky, pushing both prior series to five games.

The Jazz made life miserable for Shaq. Robinson and Duncan’s interior defense frustrated the MVP, dragging the series to a deciding Game 5 in Los Angeles. 

There, the story stayed the same—Shaq overpowered at times, but unable to fully break through. The difference-maker turned out to be Bryon Russell. 

Known in reality for being on the wrong side of Michael Jordan’s legendary Finals shot, here Russell rewrote his legacy, drilling the game-winning jumper to stun the Staples Center crowd. 

The Jazz advanced, while Shaq’s search for his first championship in LA continued. Ironically, in real life 2000 was the year Shaq finally broke through for his first ring with Kobe. In our world, though Shaq already has one from the ’96 Heat, his Lakers tenure remains unfinished business.

The #3 Phoenix Suns faced off with the #6 Denver Nuggets. Much like in real life, the Suns were led by Jason Kidd and Penny Hardaway, though in our world they entered as the 3 seed instead of 5. 

The Nuggets, bringing back the same gritty group that pushed the Lakers to five games a year ago, looked ready for another fight. But the edge wasn’t there this time. Phoenix took care of business quickly, winning the first two at home before traveling to Denver and finishing off a 3–0 sweep.

The last matchup featured the surprising #4 Golden State Warriors against the #5 Houston Rockets. The Warriors had rebuilt their identity since their last playoff appearance in 1998, keeping only Donyell Marshall from that group. 

Now, they had a mix of youth and savvy vets—led by first-time All-Star Larry Hughes and veteran guard Mookie Blaylock, a former champion. Their opponents, the Rockets, still carried championship pedigree in Charles Barkley (six rings) and Hakeem Olajuwon (two rings), but both were far past their primes. Instead, the new lifeblood of Houston came from rookie All-Star Steve Francis and second-year wing Paul Pierce, who kept the Rockets competitive.

The series went the distance, setting up a dramatic Game 5 in Oakland. The game turned into a slugfest, both teams trading blows deep into the fourth quarter. 

With the Rockets up two and the ball in the final seconds, it looked like the champs would survive. But then came disaster. Barkley inbounded a lazy pass intended for Francis, which Blaylock jumped and stole. 

He immediately fired the outlet to Hughes, who let fly a three at the buzzer. Time seemed to freeze as the shot sailed… swish. Warriors win. Golden State advanced to the Semis on one of the most dramatic finishes in our alternate timeline.

When the dust settled, the Suns and Jazz moved on—mirroring reality. But the other two advancing teams were different. In real life, it was the Blazers and Lakers who joined them. 

Here, the Warriors stunned Houston while the Jazz eliminated Shaq’s Lakers. And in this world, the Blazers didn’t even make the playoffs, finishing just 10th despite adding Scottie Pippen.

Back East we had the first-ever 4 vs 8 Semifinals matchup between the #4 Milwaukee Bucks and the #8 Indiana Pacers. Neither team was in the playoffs last year, and only the Bucks had previously reached the Conference Finals (1987).

The Bucks added former champion and All-Star Sam Cassell for moments like these. But the Pacers had something special brewing in Indiana with Glenn Robinson and rookie Lamar Odom. 

Their chemistry took time, but by the end of the season they had jelled—and that bond helped them pull off the upset of the #1 Sixers in the opening round.

The Bucks weren’t ready for the Pacers’ energy, and Indiana stole Game 1 in Milwaukee. Behind a brilliant performance from Cassell in Game 2, the Bucks bounced back. 

But when the series shifted to Indiana, the Pacers’ home crowd was electric, and Robinson and Odom fed off it. They claimed both games in Indianapolis to take a commanding 3–1 lead.

Facing elimination in Game 5, the Bucks leaned on their All-Stars. Cassell and Shareef Abdur-Rahim delivered, combining for game highs to force the series back to Indiana. 

But the Pacers wouldn’t waste the opportunity. In Game 6, veteran Mark Jackson turned back the clock, orchestrating a dominant effort. Indiana led from start to finish, winning by 17 and advancing to their first Conference Finals in franchise history.

In reality, the #8 Knicks shocked the world by reaching the NBA Finals in the shortened 1999 season. Here, it was our #8 Pacers writing the Cinderella story, punching their ticket to the East Finals.

On the other side, the #2 Charlotte Hornets and #3 Atlanta Hawks squared off. The Hornets, fresh off their first-ever Conference Finals appearance a year ago, looked to go back-to-back. 

The Hawks, meanwhile, had retooled completely around All-Star Dikembe Mutombo, surrounding him with fresh talent including rookie Elton Brand. The question was whether Mutombo could anchor a young squad all the way to the next level.

The Hawks had the talent to run with Charlotte, but lacked the playoff experience. By contrast, the Hornets returned virtually the same roster from last year. 

This series was also a rematch of the 1999 first round, when the Hornets eliminated the Hawks in five. That battle featured Derrick Coleman, who had left Atlanta years earlier, defeating his former team and ex-teammate Mookie Blaylock.

Now rejuvenated, Coleman was back as an All-Star. Against his old franchise once again, he was masterful. The Hornets protected home court, taking the first two games behind Coleman’s 20+ point performances. 

The Hawks clawed back with a Game 3 win in Atlanta, but Charlotte responded in Game 4. Coleman dominated with 30 points and 12 rebounds, putting the Hornets one win away from advancing.

Back home for Game 5, the Hornets closed the deal. With Anthony Mason and Elden Campbell helping Coleman control the paint against Mutombo and Brand, and Eddie Jones exploding for 32 points, Charlotte sealed the series. The Hornets returned to the Conference Finals, determined to finish what they couldn’t a year ago.

Their opponent? The Cinderella Pacers, who in reality also reached the Conference Finals in 2000—but as the #1 seed led by Reggie Miller, Dale Davis, and Rik Smits. In our world, those names were elsewhere, leaving this Indiana squad to make history with Robinson, Odom, and Jackson.

Over in the West it was the defending champs #1 Mavericks vs the #4 Warriors, who had just eliminated one former champion in the first round and were looking to pull off another upset.

Larry Hughes and Mookie Blaylock were up to the challenge. Blaylock, a former champion (’94 Hawks) himself, gave the Warriors a steadying presence in this highly competitive series.

It all came down to Game 7 in Dallas, and the Warriors gave it their all. Unfortunately, their all wasn’t enough. This Mavericks team had possibly the most complete starting five in the entire league.

John Stockton was joined by Michael Finley, while All-Star Grant Hill, Dirk Nowitzki, and Shawn Bradley made up the frontcourt. Fueled by the home fans, the Mavs closed strong, winning 123–115.

As for the 3/7 matchup on the other side—the underdog Utah Jazz, like the Warriors, gave their higher-seeded counterparts everything they had. It was a dogfight from Game 1 to Game 7 between the Suns and Jazz.

David Robinson had been here before as a 7 seed but could not get the job done. In ’91 and ’94 his Jazz took higher-seeded opponents to seven games only to lose.

There was one major difference between those Jazz teams and this one: All-Star Tim Duncan. The Big Fundamental had his breakout performance of his young career.

Duncan finished with 28 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks to help the Jazz continue their Cinderella run. The Suns had no answers, and the final was Jazz 102, Suns 95.

With both the Jazz and Mavericks advancing to the Western Conference Finals, these Finals look very different than the real 2000 West Finals between the Blazers and Lakers.

On to the Eastern Conference Finals, where for the second year in a row the Charlotte Hornets were here, and again they had home court. Last year they were upset by the #5 seed veteran Knicks.

Now standing in their way of a first NBA Finals appearance were the #8 Indiana Pacers, who were also looking for their first shot at the big stage.

The Pacers were riding their Cinderella wave. A franchise that had never gotten out of the first round, and hadn’t been in the playoffs since 1992, now stood just 4 wins away from the Finals.

With so much riding on the line for both franchises, it was no wonder this turned into a fantastic 7-game series. That’s right—it all came down to Game 7 in Charlotte.

The Pacers had already won one decisive game on the road, but that was back in Round 1 against a first-time top seed Sixers. This was different. These were the Hornets, who had been here before and carried championship pedigree.

Last year, the Hornets lost on the road in New York in Game 6. Had the series gone to 7, who knows what might have happened. Now, they had their chance.

Former Champion Derrick Coleman willed his team to victory, scoring 27 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, including the offensive board that sealed it.

The Hornets were finally on their way to their first ever NBA Finals. Eddie Jones sank the two free throws that iced it after Coleman’s board. “This is a dream come true,” Jones said after the game.

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As for the Western Conference Finals, there was another Cinderella story brewing in Salt Lake City. The #7 Utah Jazz were here for the first time in franchise history.

Their opponent? The most successful franchise in our 15-year history—the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, who had one goal: repeat.

On paper, it looked like David vs. Goliath, but the Jazz, with their version of the Twin Towers—David Robinson and Tim Duncan—made it a thrilling 7-game series.

That’s right, it all came down to Game 7 in Dallas. Could the Jazz do what the Pacers could not, or would this Cinderella story end here too?

Just like in Game 7 vs. the Warriors, the Mavericks came out blazing. But unlike the Warriors, the Jazz could not fire back. In the Semis, Dallas had pulled away late—but here they led from start to finish, winning by 19 points.

John Stockton controlled the pace, and now was only one step away from matching his former teammate Charles Barkley’s all-time rings record of 6—at least in our 16-year history that began with the 1984 draft.

The Finals were set, and it wasn’t the Pacers vs. Lakers like in reality. Instead, it was the Dallas Mavericks, looking to add to their historic run, vs. the Charlotte Hornets, who were chasing their first championship ever.

Finals: Mavericks vs. Hornets

The Mavericks were looking for their 6th title in their history, but also in the last 16 years. No team had come close to this sort of dominance during this era of the NBA.

The Hornets weren’t about to be their next victim. They shocked the Mavericks by winning Game 1, thanks to another strong performance by Derrick Coleman.

John Stockton and Grant Hill answered in Game 2, leading Dallas to the win. After the two teams once again split the next two games, it came down to a crucial Game 5 in Charlotte.

This time, Anthony Mason turned back the clock to his 1996 All-Star form. He finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds, including the game-winning board in the final seconds. 

With the Hornets up one, Stockton found Hill for an open jumper, but he missed. Mason was there for the rebound, quickly outletting to David Wesley as the buzzer sounded.

Heading back to Dallas, the Mavericks had their backs against the wall. Stockton had been on both sides of this before. In 1987, the Mavericks were down 3-2 and lost Game 6 in Boston.

 

The very next year, again down 3-2 to the Celtics, they returned home to Dallas. The rest is history—the Mavericks won both games and their first title.

Now Stockton faced the same challenge once again. Could history repeat itself without Charles Barkley, the man who carried him in ’88? These were the defending champions, and that meant something.

Game 6 was all Mavericks. The defending champs came out firing on all cylinders, and by the fourth quarter, the game was decided. The series was heading back to Dallas for a winner-take-all Game 7.

Just like in 1988, the visitors came ready. Back then, Barkley exploded for 30+ and Derek Harper hit the game winner. Who would be the hero this time?

The answer was Grant Hill. Named Finals MVP last year, he cemented it again with his performance in Game 7. Hill finished with 35 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter. 

Still, it was John Stockton’s late-game heroics that ultimately won it for Dallas. He was directly involved in the Mavericks’ last 10 points, dishing out 3 assists to Hill and scoring himself.

The Mavericks and Stockton secured their 6th title. Although Barkley did it first, Stockton did it the way Michael Jordan did in reality—winning all 6 with one franchise.

So, in this Jordanless universe, it is John Stockton who most mirrors the GOAT, winning 6 titles with the same team. It took him double the years, but the achievement was no less legendary.

In 16 seasons, Stockton’s career has been a rollercoaster. He won his first 4 titles in his first 8 years, then endured losing seasons, before finally winning again last year and this year.

The question now: Can Stockton and the Mavericks chase a second three-peat, and climb to the very top of the ring mountain? Stay tuned for Season 17.