The most reliable mid-range shooter of the late 1990s — his buzzer-beater ended the Miami Heat dynasty.
Allan Wade Houston was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1971, the son of high school basketball coach Wade Houston. Detroit Pistons selected him 11th overall in the 1993 NBA Draft after four years at the University of Tennessee. His 12-season career produced 17.3 points per game and two All-Star appearances. He was best known for his automatic mid-range shot — his pull-up jumper from the right elbow was among the most reliable individual shots of his era. His most famous moment came in Game 5 of the 1999 first round against the Miami Heat — with the Knicks trailing, he drove the lane and banked in a running 14-foot shot with 0.8 seconds remaining to eliminate Miami and send the eighth-seeded Knicks to the second round. The shot became known simply as The Shot and remains one of the most celebrated individual moments in Knicks history. He won Olympic gold with the USA at the Sydney 2000 Games. He reached the NBA Finals with the Knicks in 1999 — the last time the franchise appeared in the Finals. A knee condition forced his retirement in 2005. His legacy in New York remains warm — he later worked in the Knicks front office and the Allan Houston Rule changed draft rights procedures in the NBA.
Clutch shooting and smooth jump shot
How They Played
Pure shooter with excellent mid-range game
Lasting Impact
One of the most reliable scorers in Knicks history
All-Star 2x
Career Honours
- All-Star 2x
- Olympic Gold Medal (2000)