O.J. Simpson, Whose Arrest Interrupted New York Knicks NBA Finals Game, Dies at 76

O.J. Simpson's arrest famously interrupted Game 5 of the 1994 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.

Jun 17,1994; Los Angeles, CA, USA; The white bronco of O.J. Simpson driven by Al Cowlings is / Richard Mackson-USA TODAY NETWORK

O.J. Simpson, whose high-profile arrest interrupted an NBA Finals game involving the New York Knicks, has passed away at the age of 76, per an announcement from his family on X.

"On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer," the famly wrote on Simpson's account. "He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace."

Simpson, one of the most prolific running backs in college and pro history, was the subject of one of the most infamous and publicized criminal trials in American history: he was arrested in 1994 on two charges of first-degree murder after his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman were found dead in Los Angeles.

Jan 9, 1994; Los Angeles, CA, USA; NBC sideline reporter O.J. Simpson at the AFC wildcard playoff / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Police detectives recommended that Simpson be charged with first-degree murder on June 17, 1994, the same that the Knicks were set to break a 2-2 tie against the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Simpson originally agreed to turn himself in but instead fled with former Buffalo Bills teammate Al Cowlings in a white Ford Bronco. With Simpson feared to be at risk of commitng suicide, LAPD officiers followed behind the SUV in a low-speed chase across Los Angeles highways.

The chase interrupted regularly scheduled programming across the nation, as over 95 million were said to have watched the chase play out. NBC, which was broadcasting the Knicks-Rockets matchup, presented a good part of Game 5 in a split screen format, with the game taking the smaller portion. Marv Albert and Matt Guokas' commentary was muted as NBC News' Tom Brokaw provided coverage of the chase. Notably, NBC's Los Angeles affiliate KNBC cut away from the game entirely. At that time, Simpson was an analyst for NBC's NFL coverage.

Simpson later ended the chase at his Brentwood estate where he surrendered to authorities, tipping off a media firestorm that would last through his eventual acquittal in October 1995. He would later be found liable for the deaths of Brown and Goldman through a civil suit filed through their families.

Jun 1994; Houston, TX, USA: FILE PHOTO; Houston Rockets guard Kenny Smith (30) is defended by New / MPS-USA TODAY Sports

On the other side of the country, the Knicks wound up earning a monumental victory: behind a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double for Patrick Ewing, New York downed Houston 91-84 to take a 3-2 series lead. The stage seemed set for a memorable summer, as MSG previously hosted the New York Rangers' Stanley Cup Final victory over the Vancouver Canucks. The Rangers' championship parade, their first in 54 years, had been held hours before the Knicks and Rockets tipped off.

But Houston, armed with the MVP efforts of Hakeem Olajuwon, won the final two games at home at The Summit. Game 6 saw Olajuwon block a potential game-winning buzzer-beater from John Starks, denying the Knicks their first championship victory since 1973.