The team, established byNed Irish in 1946, was one of the founding members of theBasketball Association of America (BAA), which became the NBAafter merging with the rivalNational Basketball League (NBL) in 1949. The Knicks were successful during their early years and were constant playoff contenders under the franchise's first head coach,Joe Lapchick. Beginning in 1950, the Knicks made three consecutive appearances in theNBA Finals, all of which were losing efforts. Lapchick resigned in 1956 and the team subsequently began to falter.
It was not until the late 1960s whenRed Holzman became the head coach that the Knicks began to regain their former dominance. Holzman successfully guided the Knicks to two NBA championships, in1970 and1973. The Knicks of the 1980s had mixed success that included six playoff appearances; however, they failed to participate in the NBA Finals.
The playoff-level Knicks of the 1990s were led by future Hall of Fame centerPatrick Ewing; this era was marked by passionate rivalries with theChicago Bulls,Indiana Pacers, andMiami Heat. During this time, they were known for playing tough defense under head coachesPat Riley andJeff Van Gundy, making NBA Finals appearances in1994 and1999. However, they were unable to win an NBA championship during this era.
Since 2000, the Knicks have struggled to regain their former successes, but won their first division title in 19 years in2012–13, led by a core offorwardsCarmelo Anthony andAmar'e Stoudemire. They were eventually eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by theIndiana Pacers.
The Knicks failed to make the playoffs for eight years until2020–21 when they were led by forwardJulius Randle and sophomoreRJ Barrett, who was selected third overall in the2019 NBA draft.[10]
In 1946, basketball, particularlycollege basketball, was a growing and increasingly profitable sport in New York City.[11]Hockey was another popular sport at the time and generated considerable profits; however, the arenas were not used often.[12]Max Kase, a New York sportswriter, became the sports editor at theBoston American in the 1930s, when he metBoston Garden ownerWalter A. Brown.[13] Kase developed the idea of an organized professional league to showcase college players upon their graduation and felt it could become profitable if properly assembled.[13] Brown, intrigued by the opportunity to attain additional income when the hockey teams were not playing or on the road, contacted several arena owners.[13] On June 6, 1946, Kase and Brown and a group of seventeen others assembled at theCommodore Hotel in New York City, as theBasketball Association of America (BAA), where charter franchises were granted to major cities throughout the country.[14]
Ned Irish, a college basketball promoter, retired sportswriter and then president ofMadison Square Garden, was in attendance.[13][15] Kase originally planned to own and operate the New York franchise himself and approached Irish with a proposal to lease the Garden.[13] Irish explained that the rules of the Arena Managers Association of America stated that Madison Square Garden was required to own any professional teams that played in the arena.[13] On the day of the meeting, Kase made his proposal to the panel of owners; however, they were much more impressed by Irish and his vast resources; Kase relented and the franchise was awarded to Irish.[13]
Irish wanted a distinct name for his franchise that was representative of the city of New York.[16] He called together members of his staff for a meeting to cast their votes in a hat. After tallying the votes, the franchise was named the Knickerbockers.[16] The "Knickerbocker" name comes from the pseudonym used byWashington Irving in his bookA History of New York, a name that became applied to the descendants of the originalDutch settlers of what later became New York, and later, by extension, to New Yorkers in general.[4] In search of a head coach, Irish approached successfulSt. John's University coachJoe Lapchick in May 1946.[16] Lapchick readily accepted after Irish promised to make him the highest-paid coach in the league; however, he requested he remain at St. John's one more season in hopes of winning one last championship.[17] Irish obliged, hiring formerManhattan College coachNeil Cohalan as interim coach for the first year.[17]
With no college draft in the league's initial year, there was no guarantee that the Knicks or the league itself would thrive.[18] Consequently, teams focused on signing college players from their respective cities as a way to promote the professional league.[17] The Knicks held their first training camp in theCatskill Mountains at the Nevele Country Club.[19] Twenty-five players were invited to attend the three-week session.[19] Players worked out twice a day and the chemistry between the New York natives was instant.[20] With a roster assembled, the Knicks faced theToronto Huskies at Toronto'sMaple Leaf Gardens on November 1, 1946, in what would be the franchise's first game—as well as the first in league history.[19] In a low-scoring affair presented in front of 7,090 spectators, the Knicks defeated the Huskies 68–66 withLeo Gottlieb leading the Knicks in scoring with 14 points.[21] With Madison Square Garden's crowded schedule, the Knicks were forced to play many of their home games at the69th Regiment Armory during the team's early years.[15] The Knicks went on to finish their inaugural campaign with a 33–27 record and achieved a playoff berth under Cohalan despite a dismal shooting percentage of 28 percent.[18] The Knicks faced theCleveland Rebels in the quarterfinals, winning the series 2–1.[22] However, the Knicks were swept by thePhiladelphia Warriors in two games in the semifinals.[22]
As promised, Lapchick took over in 1947, bringing with him his up-tempo coaching style, which emphasized fast ball movement.[23] Six new players were signed, including guardCarl Braun[22] andJapanese-American guardWataru Misaka, the first non-Caucasian basketball player in the BAA.[24] Under Lapchick, the Knicks made nine straight playoff appearances beginning in 1947.[25] Braun, who averaged 14.3 points, emerged as the team's star and paired withDick Holub andBud Palmer to account for half of the team's offense.[22] Despite this, the Knicks struggled throughout the year, compiling a 26–22 record.[22] Their finish was good enough to place them second in theEastern Division and secure a playoff match-up against theBaltimore Bullets where they lost the series two games to one.[22] In the1948 NBA draft, the Knicks selected two futureHall of Fame players in centerDolph Schayes andHarry Gallatin.[26] The Knicks were leery of Schayes' talent, prompting the center to leave to play for theSyracuse Nationals of the strugglingNational Basketball League.[26] Despite losing Schayes, the team started the year well going 17–8 before they fell into a slump.[27] They ended the year with a seven-game win streak to finish with a 32–28 record and a third-straight playoff appearance.[27] The Knicks defeated the Bullets in a rematch of their previous encounter in 1947, winning the series 2–1.[27] The team however struggled against theWashington Capitols and lost the series 1–2.[27]
Lapchick was responsible for leading the Knicks during their early success. However, these ventures never culminated with a win in theNBA Finals.
Prior to the beginning of the1949–50 season, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association which comprised 17 teams.[28][29] Despite division realignments, the Knicks remained in the Eastern Division.[25] The team continued its dominance under Lapchick, winning 40 games; however they lost the Eastern Division finals to theSyracuse Nationals.[25]
Thefollowing season, the Knicks made history signingSweetwater Clifton to a contract, thus becoming the first professional basketball team to sign anAfrican American player.[25] During this same season, the Knicks finished with a 36–30 record. Though they placed third in their division, they secured a playoff spot and began the first of three consecutive trips to theNBA Finals.[25] In spite of their success, the Knicks could not overcome theRochester Royals despite a valiant comeback after losing the first three games of the Finals.[25] The next two years, in 1952 and 1953, New York fell to theMinneapolis Lakers in the Finals.[25]
It was during this early period, the Knicks developed their first standout players inCarl Braun who retired as the Knicks leading scorer with 10,449 points before later being surpassed by the likes of Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier and Willis Reed.[25] Harry Gallatin and Dick McGuire were also well-known standouts on the team and were later enshrined in theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.[25]
Following these back-to-back losses, the Knicks made the playoffs in the subsequent two years with no success. Lapchick resigned as the team's head coach in January 1956 citing health-related issues.[30]Vince Boryla made his debut in February 1956 as the Knicks' new coach in a win over theSt. Louis Hawks.[31] However, after two seasons of poor performances and no playoff appearances, Boryla tendered his resignation from the team in April 1958.[32]
Looking to regain their former dominance,Andrew Levane was named the head coach and in his first year, the results were significantly better as the team finished with a 40–32 record, securing their playoff spot.[33] However, the Knicks could not manage to get past the Eastern Division semi-finals.[33] The Levane-led squad fared poorly to begin the 1959–60 season and under mounting pressure Levane resigned and was immediately replaced by Carl Braun, who became the team's firstplayer-coach.[34] The team did not fare much better under Braun and the Knicks hiredEddie Donovan, who helped build upSt. Bonaventure's basketball team, in 1961.[35] During Donovan's tenure, New York failed to achieve a playoff berth. As a testament to their struggles, on March 2, 1962, the Knicks faced the Philadelphia Warriors inHershey, Pennsylvania, where they infamously allowedWilt Chamberlain to score an NBA-record100 points in a 169–147 Warriors victory.[25][33]
In 1964, the franchise's fortunes began to take a steady turn. The Knicks drafted centerWillis Reed, who made an immediate impact on the court and was namedNBA Rookie of the Year for his efforts.[25] However, the leaders of the team still remained in flux. In an attempt to reorganize, the Knicks named former standoutHarry Gallatin as head coach while reassigning Donovan togeneral manager position.[36] After a slow start in 1965,Dick McGuire, another former Knick, replaced his former teammate Gallatin midway through the season.[33] Though he failed to guide the Knicks to the playoffs in 1965, he managed to do so the following season, however, the Knicks lost in the Eastern Division semi-finals.[33]
The Knicks started their 1967–68 season with a 124–122 win over the visiting Warriors. In that game, seven players on the Knicks' roster scored in double figures.[37] However, the Knicks lost their next six games, falling to a 1–6 record. They managed to stop their losing streak on November 1, 1967, when the Knicks won the road game against the Lakers, 129–113. During the game, Willis Reed scored a career-high 53 points on 21-of-29 shooting from the field.[38] On November 3, the Knicks defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 134–100 in Seattle. In that game, nine Knicks' player scored at least 10 points.[39] Head coach Dick McGuire was replaced midway through the 1967–68 season after the team began the season with a 15–22 record.[33] With the Knicks under .500, the team decided to hire coachRed Holzman, whose impact was immediate. Under his direction, the Knicks went 28–17 and finished with a 43–39 record thus salvaging a playoff berth, however, the Knicks were again vanquished in the Eastern Division semi-finals by thePhiladelphia 76ers.[33] However their roster was slowly coming together piece by piece. RookiesPhil Jackson andWalt Frazier were named to theNBA All-Rookie Team whileDick Barnett and Willis Reed performed in the1968 NBA All-Star Game.[25]
The following season, the team acquiredDave DeBusschere from theDetroit Pistons, and the team went 54–28.[33][40] In the playoffs, New York made it past the first round of contention for the first time since 1953, sweeping theBaltimore Bullets in four games, before falling to theBoston Celtics in the Eastern Division finals.[41]
In the1969–70 season, the Knicks had a then-single-season NBA record18 straight victories en route to a 60–22 record, which was the best regular season record in the franchise's history to that point.[42][43] After defeating the Bullets in the Eastern Division semifinals and theMilwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Division finals, the Knicks faced theLos Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.[42] With the series tied at 2–2, the Knicks would be tested in Game 5. Willis Reed tore a muscle in his right leg in the second quarter, and was lost for the rest of the game.[44] Despite his absence, New York went on to win the game, rallying from a 16-point deficit.[44]
Without their injured captain the Knicks lost Game 6, setting up one of the most famous moments in NBA history.[44] Reed limped onto the court before the seventh game, determined to play through the pain of his injury.[44] He scored New York's first two baskets before going scoreless for the remainder of the contest.[44] Although he was not at full strength, Reed's heroics inspired the Knicks, and they won the game by a score of 113–99, allowing New York to capture the title that had eluded them for so long.[44] Reed, who had been named the All-Star MVP and the league's MVP that season, was named MVP of the Finals, becoming the first player to attain all three awards in a single season.[44]
The Knicks' success continued for the next few years. After losing to the Bullets in the 1971 Eastern Conference finals, the team, aided by the acquisitions ofJerry Lucas andEarl "The Pearl" Monroe, returned to the Finals in 1972.[25] This time the Knicks fell to the Lakers in five games.[25] The next year, the results were reversed, as the Knicks defeated the Lakers in five games to win their second NBA title in four years.[45] The team had one more impressive season in1973–74, as they reached the Eastern Conference finals, where they fell in five games to the Celtics.[46] It was after this season that Willis Reed announced his retirement, and the team's fortunes began to shift once more.[47]
1975–1985: post-championship years
In the1974–75 season, the Knicks posted a 40–42 record, their first losing record in eight seasons. The team still qualified for a playoff spot, however, but they lost to theHouston Rockets in the first round.[25] After two more seasons with losing records,[33] Holzman was replaced by Willis Reed, who signed a three-year contract.[48] In Reed's first year, New York finished the year with a 43–39 record and returned to the Eastern Conference semi-finals, where they were swept by the Philadelphia 76ers.[49] The next season, after the team began with a 6–8 record,[50] Holzman was rehired as the team's coach after Reed had angered Madison Square Garden presidentSonny Werblin.[51][52] The team did not fare any better under Holzman's direction, finishing with a 31–51 record, their worst in thirteen years.[50]
After improving to a 39–43 record in the1979–80 season, the Knicks posted a 50–32 record in the1980–81 season.[25] Inthe playoffs, theChicago Bulls swept New York in two games.[25] Holzman retired the following season as one of the winningest coaches in NBA history. The team's record that year was a dismal 33–49.[25] However, Holzman's legacy would continue through the players he influenced. One of the Knicks' bench players and defensive specialists during the 1970s wasPhil Jackson. Jackson went on to coach theChicago Bulls andLos Angeles Lakers to 11 NBA championships, surpassingRed Auerbach for the most in NBA history. Jackson cited Holzman as a significant influence on his career in the NBA.[53]
Hubie Brown replaced Holzman as head coach and in his first season, the team went 44–38 and made it to the second round of the playoffs, where they were swept by the eventual championPhiladelphia 76ers.[54] The next season, the team, aided by new acquisitionBernard King, improved to 47–35 and returned to the playoffs.[25] The team defeated the Detroit Pistons in the first round with an overtime win in the fifth and deciding game, before losing in the second round in seven games to the Celtics.[25] The team's struggles continued into the1984–85 season, as they lost their last 12 games to finish with a 24–58 record.[25] The first of these losses occurred on March 23, 1985, where King injured his knee and spent the next 24 months in rehabilitation.[25]
1985–2000: the Patrick Ewing era
Patrick Ewing played for the Knicks from 1985 to 2000, leading them to the Finals in 1994 and 1999.
In the summer of 1985, the Knicks were entered into the first-everNBA draft lottery.[55] The Knicks ended up winning the number one pick in that year'sNBA draft. They used the pick to select starcenterPatrick Ewing ofGeorgetown University.[55] In Ewing's first season with the Knicks, he led all rookies in scoring (20 points per game) andrebounds (9 rebounds per game), and he won theNBA Rookie of the Year Award.[56] The team would not fare as well, though, as they struggled to a 23–59 record in his first season.[33]
During Ewing's second season, the team started with a 4–12 record and head coach Hubie Brown was dismissed in favor of assistantBob Hill.[57] Under Hill, the Knicks had brief successes but went on to lose seventeen of their twenty-one final games of the season to finish 20–46 under Hill and 24–58 on the season.[58][59] Hill was dismissed at season's end.[60]
The team immediately turned around in the1987–88 season with the hiring ofRick Pitino as head coach, who, only months prior to his hiring, ledProvidence College to theFinal Four, turning around a program that had struggled prior to his arrival.[60] Combined with the selection of point guardMark Jackson, who won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and garnered MVP consideration, in thedraft and with Ewing's consistently stellar play, the Knicks madethe playoffs with a record of 38–44, where they were defeated by the Celtics in the first round.[61][62]
Prior to the start of the1989–90 season, Pitino departed from New York to coach for theUniversity of Kentucky leaving many stunned by his departure.[66] AssistantStu Jackson was named as Pitino's replacement becoming the team's 14th head coach and the youngest head coach in the NBA, at the time, at the age of 32.[67] Under Jackson's direction, the Knicks went 45–37 and defeated the Celtics in the first round ofthe playoffs, winning the final three games after losing the first two. They went on to lose to the eventual NBA championDetroit Pistons in the next round.[68] Jackson and the Knicks struggled to a 7–8 record to begin the1990–91 season and Jackson was replaced byJohn MacLeod who led the Knicks to a 32–35 record, ending the season with a 39–43 record overall that was good enough to earn the team another playoff appearance. The Knicks were swept in the first round by the eventual NBA champion, Chicago Bulls.[69]
1991–1996: the Pat Riley/Don Nelson years
After the conclusion of the season, MacLeod left the team to become the head coach at theUniversity of Notre Dame. PresidentDavid Checketts reached out toPat Riley, who was working as acommentator for theNational Broadcasting Company (NBC), to see if he was interested in returning to coaching. Riley accepted the Knicks proposition on May 31, 1991.[70] Riley, who coached the Lakers to four NBA titles during the 1980s, implemented a rough and physical style emphasizing defense.[70] Under Riley, the team, led by Ewing and guardJohn Starks, who scored 24 points per game and 13.9 points per game respectively, improved to a 51–31 record, tying them for first place in the Atlantic Division.[71][72] After defeating the Pistons in the first round ofthe playoffs, the team faced the Bulls, losing the series 4–3 in seven games.[72] The1992–93 season proved to be even more successful, as the Knicks won the Atlantic Division with a 60–22 record. Before the season, the Knicks tradedMark Jackson to theLos Angeles Clippers forCharles Smith,Doc Rivers, andBo Kimble while also acquiringRolando Blackman from theDallas Mavericks. After defeating theIndiana Pacers andCharlotte Hornets in the first two rounds of theplayoffs, the Knicks made it to the Eastern Conference finals, where once again they met the Bulls. After taking a 2–0 series lead, the Knicks lost the next four games.
After the Bulls'Michael Jordan made what would be his first retirement from basketball prior to the1993–94 season, many saw this as an opportunity for the Knicks to finally make it back to the NBA Finals. The team, who acquiredDerek Harper in a midseason trade with theDallas Mavericks, once again won the Atlantic Division with a 57–25 record. Inthe playoffs, the team played a then NBA-record 25 games (theBoston Celtics played 26 games in the2008 playoffs); they started by defeating theNew Jersey Nets in the first round before finally getting past the Bulls, defeating them in the second round in seven games. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they faced theIndiana Pacers, who at one point held a three games-to-two lead. They had this advantage thanks to the exploits ofReggie Miller, who scored 25 fourth-quarter points in Game 5 to lead the Pacers to victory. However, the Knicks won the next two games to reach their first NBA Finals since 1973.
Inthe finals, the Knicks would play seven low-scoring, defensive games against theHouston Rockets. After splitting the first two games in Houston, the Knicks would win two out of three games atMadison Square Garden, which also hosted theNew York Rangersfirst Stanley Cup celebration in 54 years following their win over theVancouver Canucks in Game 7 oftheir finals during the series. (A Knicks win would have made the Garden the first building to host a Cup winner and an NBA champ in the same season.) In Game 6, however, a last-second attempt at a game-winning shot by Starks was tipped by Rockets centerHakeem Olajuwon, giving the Rockets an 86–84 victory and forcing a Game 7. The Knicks lost Game 7 90–84, credited in large part to Starks's dismal 2-for-18 shooting performance and Riley's stubborn refusal to bench Starks, despite having bench players who were renowned for their shooting prowess, such asRolando Blackman andHubert Davis available. The loss denied New York the distinction of having both NBA and NHL championships in the same year. Nevertheless, the Knicks had gotten some inspiration fromMark Messier and the Rangers during the finals.
The next year, the Knicks were second place in the Atlantic Division with a 55–27 record. The team defeated theCleveland Cavaliers before facing the Pacers again in the second round. The tone for the Knicks–Pacers series was set in Game 1, as Miller once again became a clutch nuisance to the Knicks by scoring eight points in the final 8 seconds of the game to give the Pacers a 107–105 victory. The series went to a Game 7, and whenPatrick Ewing's last-secondfinger roll attempt to tie the game missed, the Pacers clinched the 97–95 win. Riley resigned the next day,[73] and the Knicks hiredDon Nelson as their new head coach.
While Nelson had been a successful coach before joining the Knicks, his offensive-orientedNellie Ball philosophy failed to mesh with the team, and during the1995–96 season, Nelson was fired after 59 games, and, instead of going after another well-known coach, the Knicks hired longtime assistantJeff Van Gundy, who had no prior experience as a head coach. Van Gundy, who restored the team's defense-first style of his mentor Pat Riley, went 13–10 the rest of the way. The Knicks ended up with a 47–35 record that year, and swept the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the eventual champion Bulls (who had an NBA record 72 wins in the regular season) in five games.
1996–2000: the Jeff Van Gundy years
In the1996–97 season, the Knicks, with the additions of such players asLarry Johnson andAllan Houston, registered a 57–25 record. In the playoffs, the Knicks swept theCharlotte Hornets in the first round before facing theMiami Heat (coached by Riley) in the second round. The Knicks took a 3–1 lead in the series before a brawl near the end of Game 5 resulted in suspensions of key players. Many of the suspended Knicks players, Ewing in particular, were disciplined not for participating in the altercation itself, but for violating an NBA rule stipulating that a benched player may not leave the bench during a fight (the rule was subsequently amended, making it illegal to leave the "bench area"). With Ewing and Houston suspended for Game 6, Johnson and Starks suspended for Game 7, andCharlie Ward suspended for both, the Knicks lost the series.
The1997–98 season was marred by a wrist injury to Ewing on December 22, which forced him to miss the rest of the season and much of the playoffs. The team, which had a 43–39 record that season, still managed to defeat the Heat in the first round (a series, which saw another violent bench-clearing brawl at the end of Game 4, this time between Johnson and former Hornets teammateAlonzo Mourning) of the playoffs before having another meeting with the Pacers in the second round. Ewing returned in time for game two of the series. This time, the Pacers easily won the series in five games, asReggie Miller once again broke the hearts of Knicks fans by hitting a tying three-pointer with 5.1 seconds remaining in Game 4, en route to a Pacers overtime victory. For the fourth straight year, the Knicks were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.
Prior to the lockout-shortened1998–99 season, the Knicks tradedCharles Oakley to theToronto Raptors forMarcus Camby while also tradingJohn Starks in a package to theGolden State Warriors for 1994's 1st team all-league shooting guardLatrell Sprewell (whose contract was voided by the Warriors after choking Warriors' head coachP. J. Carlesimo during the previous season). After barely getting into the playoffs with a 27–23 record, the Knicks started aCinderella run. It started with the Knicks eliminating the #1 seeded Heat in the first round afterAllan Houston bounced in a running one-hander off the front of the rim, high off the backboard, and in with 0.8 seconds left in the deciding 5th game. This remarkable upset marked only the second time in NBA history that an 8-seed had defeated the 1-seed in the NBA playoffs, and also the first time it happened in the Eastern Conference. After defeating theAtlanta Hawks in the second round four games to none, they faced the Pacers yet again in the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite losing Ewing to injury for the rest of the playoffs prior to Game 3, the Knicks won the series (aided in part to a four-point play by Larry Johnson in the final seconds of Game 3) to become the first eighth-seeded playoff team to make it to the NBA Finals. However, in the Finals, theSan Antonio Spurs, with superstarsDavid Robinson andTim Duncan, proved too much for the injury-laden Knicks, who lost in five games. The remarkable fifth game of this Finals is remembered for its 2nd half scoring duel between the Spurs'Tim Duncan and the Knicks'Latrell Sprewell, and was decided by a long jumper byAvery Johnson with 47 seconds left to clinch the title for the Spurs.
The1999–2000 season, would prove to be the last one in New York for Ewing, as the Knicks, who had a 50–32 record that season swept theToronto Raptors a team led byVince Carter,Antonio Davis and a youngTracy McGrady in three games in the first round, defeated theMiami Heat in another dramatic seven-game series in which Ewing's dunk with over a minute remaining in game 7, provided the winning margin in a 1-point road victory. They would, however, lose in the Eastern Conference Finals to theReggie Miller-ledIndiana Pacers in six games. After the season, Ewing was traded[74] on September 20, 2000, to theSeattle SuperSonics, and the Ewing era, which produced many successful playoff appearances but no NBA championship titles, came to an end.[75]
Despite the loss of Ewing, the Knicks remained successful in the regular season, as they posted a 48–34 record under the direction of Houston and Sprewell.[76] In the first round of playoff contention, however, New York fell to theToronto Raptors in five games, failing to get past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in a decade.[77] After a poor start tothe season, the Knicks managed to get above .500 with a 10–9 record.[78] In spite of their recent success, Van Gundy unexpectedly resigned[79] as head coach on December 8, 2001, explaining he had "lost focus" and would no longer be able to properly coach the team.[80] The team, which named longtime assistantDon Chaney as their new head coach, ended the season with a 30–52 record, and for the first time since the 1986–87 season they did not qualify for the playoffs.[33][78]
In October 2002, the team elected to extend Chaney's contract for another year.[81] Rather than rebuilding, the Knicks opted to add veterans to the roster includingAntonio McDyess who had been dealing with knee problems in the preceding years.[82][83] Furthermore, the Knicks were criticized by many analysts as multiple players on the roster were overpaid in light of their poor performances, causing salary cap problems that would persist untilDonnie Walsh took over as team president.[82][84] McDyess injured his knee during the team's third preseason game and was subjected to further operations in April 2003 after aCT scan revealed the injured knee necessitated he undergo bone-graft surgery.[83] The Knicks managed only seven wins in their first twenty games, setting the tone for the rest of the season, which they completed with a 37–45 record; it was their second consecutive season without a playoff appearance.[85]
2003–2008: Isiah Thomas era
Isiah Thomas as coach of the Knicks in 2007. He stayed six years on the bench
After a 10–18 start to the 2003–04 season, the Knicks underwent a massive overhaul.Isiah Thomas was named the Knicks' president on December 22, 2003, upon the firing ofScott Layden.[86] Thomas continued to restructure the team, firing Chaney after an unproductive tenure and hiring Hall of FamerLenny Wilkens to coach the team.[87] Additionally, Thomas orchestrated multiple trades, including one that broughtpoint guardStephon Marbury to the team.[88] The team qualified for the playoffs that year with a 39–43 record, but were swept by theNew Jersey Nets in the first round.[89] The series included a highly publicized spat between the Knicks'Tim Thomas and Nets'Kenyon Martin, in which Thomas all but challenged Martin to a fight and called him "Fugazy".[90] The following season, the Knicks struggled to a 17–22 record before Wilkens resigned as head coach.[91]Herb Williams, who had previously coached the team in a game against theOrlando Magic prior to the team hiring Wilkens, took over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season and did not fare much better as the Knicks ended their season with a 33–49 record and out of playoff contention.[89][91][92]
Hoping to find a leader that could put the team back on track, New York hiredLarry Brown to coach the team.[93] Brown, who idolized the team during his childhood, was well regarded for his coaching abilities and his arrival brought a sense of hope to the franchise.[93] Hoping to find the next Patrick Ewing, the Knicks drafted centerChanning Frye and signed centersJerome James andEddy Curry, the former prior to the season and the latter during the season.[94] Curry, who reportedly had a worrying heart condition, refused to take a controversial DNA test, and fell out of favor withJohn Paxson,Chicago's general manager.[95] The Bulls signed-and-traded him to the Knicks along withAntonio Davis for Tim Thomas,Michael Sweetney, the Knicks' 2006 first-round pick, and the right to swap first-round picks with the Knicks in 2007, as well as 2007 and 2009 second-round picks.[95] Isiah Thomas did not lottery-protect the picks, and the Knicks forfeited the second pick in the2006 draft, and the ninth in the2007 draft. With a bloated payroll, the Knicks stumbled to the second worst record in the NBA that season, at 23–59.[96][97] The season concluded with the firing and $18.5 million buy-out of head coach Larry Brown after one season.[96][98]
Marbury, a Brooklyn native, played for the Knicks from 2004 to 2009.
With the departure of Brown, team president Isiah Thomas took over the head coaching responsibilities.[96] Thomas continued his practice of signing players to high-priced contracts while the franchise struggled to capitalize on their talent on the court. As a testament to their struggles, on December 16, 2006, the Knicks and theDenver Nuggets broke intoa brawl during their game inMadison Square Garden. With multiple players still serving a suspension as a result of the brawl, on December 20, 2006,David Lee created one of the most memorable plays in recent Knicks history, and served as a bright spot as the team's struggles persisted, during a game against theCharlotte Bobcats. With a tie game and 0.1 seconds left on thegame clock in doubleovertime,Jamal Crawford inbounded from the sideline, near half-court. The ball sailed towards the basket, and with that 0.1 seconds still remaining on the game clock, Lee tipped the ball off of the backboard and into the hoop.[99] Because of theTrent Tucker Rule, a player is allowed solely to tip the ball to score when the ball is put back into play with three-tenths of a second or less remaining. Because of this rule, the rarity of Lee's play increases. The Knicks won, 111–109 in double overtime.[99] The Knicks improved by ten games in the 2006–2007 campaign in spite of injuries that ravaged the team at the end of the year; they ended with a 33–49 record, avoiding a 50-loss season by defeating the Charlotte Bobcats 94–93 on the last day of the season.
During the 2007 off-season, the organization became embroiled in further controversy away from the basketball court.Anucha Browne Sanders, a former Knicks executive, had filed asexual harassmentlawsuit against Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden.[100] Faced with a trial, the jury returned a verdict finding Thomas and Madison Square Garden liable for sexual harassment.[101] The jury also levied $11.6 million inpunitive damages against Madison Square Garden, though this was later reduced to $11.5 million in a settlement between both parties.[101] The ordeal proved embarrassing for the franchise, revealing sordid details about Knicks management and the environment at Madison Square Garden.[101] The Knicks struggled as they opened their 2007 campaign with a 2–9 record leaving many Knicks fans, frustrated with the franchise's lack of progress under Thomas, called for the coach's firing—the chant "Fire Isiah" became a common occurrence during the Knicks' home games.[102][103] On November 29, 2007, the Knicks were handed one of their worst defeats in their history by theBoston Celtics, with a final score of 104–59.[104] This matched their third-largest margin of defeat.[104] New York went on to post an eighth consecutive losing season and tied the franchise mark for their worst record ever, at 23–59.[33]
MSG chairman James Dolan hired formerIndiana Pacers PresidentDonnie Walsh on April 2, 2008, to take over Isiah Thomas's role as team president.[105] At the introductory press conference, Walsh, while not proclaiming to be a savior, did set goals, which included getting the team under the salary cap and bringing back a competitive environment.[106] Upon the conclusion of the 2007–2008 regular season, Walsh fired Thomas, and on May 13, 2008, officially named formerPhoenix Suns head coachMike D'Antoni as head coach.[107][108] D'Antoni signed a four-year, $24 million deal to coach the team.[108] The Knicks, holding the sixth pick in the2008 NBA draft, selectedDanilo Gallinari on May 20, 2008.[109]
Additionally, the long-standing controversy withStephon Marbury ended when the two sides agreed to a buy-out of Marbury's contract, which allowed him to sign with the Celtics when he cleared waivers on February 27, 2009.[113] In spite of a volatile roster,the Knicks improved by nine wins from the previous season in D'Antoni's first season, to finish 32–50, coinciding with the emergence of forward-centerDavid Lee, who led the league with 65double-doubles, and the continued development of guard Nate Robinson and swingmanWilson Chandler.[114][115][116][117]
In the2009 NBA draft, the Knicks selected forwardJordan Hill eighth after targets such asStephen Curry,Jonny Flynn, andRicky Rubio were off the board. GuardToney Douglas was then selected with a 29th overall pick, which was acquired from theLos Angeles Lakers.[118] Shortly afterwards, New York executed a trade with theMemphis Grizzlies in which the Knicks acquiredDarko Miličić in exchange forQuentin Richardson.[118] The Knicks got off to their worst 10-game start in franchise history, producing nine losses, with just one win.[119] The Knicks responded by winning nine games and losing six in December.[120] On January 24, 2010, the Knicks suffered their worst home loss in Madison Square Garden history against theDallas Mavericks in front of a sellout crowd. The 50-point loss was also the second-worst in Knicks franchise history.[121]
On February 17, the Knicks shook up the roster, trading Miličić to theMinnesota Timberwolves forBrian Cardinal and cash considerations.[122] A day later, the Knicks and Celtics swapped guardNate Robinson for shooting guardEddie House. The deal also included forwardMarcus Landry going to the Celtics and the Knicks acquiring bench playersJ. R. Giddens andBill Walker.[123] The Knicks also acquired All-Star forwardTracy McGrady from theHouston Rockets and point guardSergio Rodríguez from theSacramento Kings in a three-way trade. The deal sent Knicks shooting guardLarry Hughes to Sacramento and forward Jordan Hill and power forwardJared Jeffries to Houston. The trades, orchestrated to give the Knicks more cap space for the summer of 2010, netted the Knicks $30 million of cap space.[124] About three weeks after these team-changing trades, the Knicks played the Dallas Mavericks atAmerican Airlines Center and blew them out by a score of 128–94 for their largest win of the season.[120][125] However, the Knicks were eliminated from playoff contention in late March 2010 and completed their season with a 29–53 record, a regression from their first season under D'Antoni.[120][126]
The Knicks and former Phoenix Suns forward-centerAmar'e Stoudemire came to an agreement on July 5, 2010.[127] The sign and trade deal was made official on July 8 as Stoudemire agreed to an approximately $100 million contract over the span of five years.[127] Team president Donnie Walsh stated the signing of Stoudemire as a turning point for the future of a Knicks team that had struggled in recent years.[128] The Knicks continued to redesign their roster, tradingDavid Lee to theGolden State Warriors forAnthony Randolph,Kelenna Azubuike andRonny Turiaf.[129] The Knicks also struck deals with formerBobcats point guardRaymond Felton and Russian centerTimofey Mozgov.[129] The Knicks regained their title as the most valuable franchise in the NBA following these acquisitions, though this was mainly due to the arrival of Stoudemire, whose star power allowed the team to resurge; the Knicks sold out their full-season ticket inventory for the first time since 2002.[130]
D'Antoni along with Stoudemire and the core of young players, including Felton,Danilo Gallinari, Mozgov,Wilson Chandler and rookieLandry Fields, piloted the Knicks to a 28–26 record prior to the All-Star break, marking the first time the team had been above the .500 mark at that point of the season since 2000.[131] In spite of the team's mounting success,[132] New York made a push to acquireDenver Nuggets forwardCarmelo Anthony. After months of speculation, on February 22, 2011, Anthony was traded to New York, with teammatesChauncey Billups,Shelden Williams,Anthony Carter, and former Knicks playerRenaldo Balkman. Denver acquired Felton,Danilo Gallinari,Wilson Chandler, Mozgov,Kosta Koufos, a 2014 first-round draft pick, the Warriors' second-round draft picks for 2013 and 2014 and $3 million in cash. In addition, the Knicks sent Anthony Randolph andEddy Curry to the Minnesota Timberwolves and in return the Timberwolves'Corey Brewer was sent to the Knicks.[133][134]
The Knicks clinched their first playoff berth since the2004 NBA playoffs in a rout of theCleveland Cavaliers on April 3, 2011.[135] Carmelo Anthony ensured the franchise's first winning seasonsince 2001 on April 10, 2011, against the Indiana Pacers, as Anthony scored the game-winning basket for the Knicks and subsequently blockedDanny Granger's shot in the final seconds of the game.[136] The Knicks were ultimately eliminated from contention inthe first round on April 24, 2011, by theBoston Celtics, losing the series 0–4.[137] In spite of Donnie Walsh's successful efforts to help rebuild the franchise, he decided not to return as the team's president, electing to step down at the end of June 2011, citing the uncertainty surrounding his ability to continue to manage the daily operations of the team.[138]Glen Grunwald was elected as interim president and general manager.[138]
Following the conclusion of the2011 NBA lockout, the Knicks engaged in a sign-and-trade deal with the Mavericks for centerTyson Chandler on December 10, 2011, with Chandler signing a four-year contract worth approximately $58 million.[139] In return, the Knicks sentAndy Rautins to the Mavericks, generating a trade exception for Dallas. Ronny Turiaf and $3 million in cash considerations were sent to theWizards to complete the three-way trade. The Knicks also obtained the draft rights toAhmad Nivins andGeorgios Printezis from Dallas. In order to fit Chandler under the salary cap, Chauncey Billups was earlier waived under the amnesty clause of the new collective bargaining agreement.[139] To replace Billups at point guard, the Knicks signedMike Bibby to a one-year, veteran minimum contract.[140] The Knicks also signed veteran point guardBaron Davis on December 19 to a one-year contract. At the time, Davis had suffered a herniated disk and was not expected to compete for about 6–8 weeks, leaving Toney Douglas as the team's starting point guard.[141] The Knicks struggled early in the season because Douglas and Bibby struggled to facilitate the offense and subsequently, it became stagnated.[142] Subsequently, rookieIman Shumpert was thrust into the role as the starting point guard after Douglas was relegated to the bench due to his struggles.[143] In addition, head coach D'Antoni also decided to use Carmelo Anthony as a point forward to help generate a more up-tempo offense; however, there were concerns Anthony was holding the ball for too long, thus contributing to the stagnation of the Knicks' offense.[144][145]
With the Knicks struggling to an 8–15 record, D'Antoni inserted third-string point guardJeremy Lin into the rotation against theNew Jersey Nets on February 4, 2012.[144] Lin, who had been claimed off waivers on December 27 following an injury to Iman Shumpert, scored 25 points and had seven assists en route to a Knicks win.[144][146] Lin was praised for his ability to facilitate the offense, something the Knicks had struggled to do for the first 23 games of the season.[144] Lin, exceeding expectations, was named the starter for the Knicks following a game against theUtah Jazz.[147]
Lin guided the Knicks to a seven-game winning streak, despite being without Anthony andAmar'e Stoudemire for five games due to a groin injury and a death in the family respectively, that brought the team back to a .500 winning percentage.[148][149][150] The surge of positive play by the Knicks accompanied by the performance of Lin caused extensive national and worldwide media coverage that was referred to as "Linsanity".[151] To bolster their depth and perimeter shooting percentage, the Knicks signedJ. R. Smith on February 18, 2012.[152] The team struggled to congeal when Anthony returned from injury and went on to lose seven of eight games before head coach Mike D'Antoni resigned on March 14, 2012. AssistantMike Woodson was named the interim head coach.[153]
Under Mike Woodson
Mike Woodson, head coach of the Knicks from 2012 to 2014
Under Woodson, the Knicks finished 18–6 during the regular season and clinched a playoff spot for the second straight year this time as the seventh seed, making it the first time they have clinched consecutive playoff berths since making 13 straight playoff appearances from1988 to2001.[33][154] Not only did they also clinch consecutive winning seasons for the first time in a decade, but their 36–30 record was the highest winning percentage for the team since the2000–01 season.[33] The Knicks faced the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs and lost the first three games, breaking the NBA record for longest playoff losing streak at 13 games.[155] The team's struggles were partially attributed to injuries as Jeremy Lin, Baron Davis and Iman Shumpert were all sidelined by knee ailments.[156] The Knicks proceeded to win a close Game 4, which snapped their streak and ensured that they would not be swept out of the first round; however, they failed to keep up with the Heat's up-tempo offense in Game 5 and lost the series 4–1.[156] Despite the team's disappointing postseason exit, the Knicks removed Woodson's interim status and he was officially named the full-time head coach on May 25, 2012.[157]
Despite playing without an injured Iman Shumpert and Amar'e Stoudemire, the Knicks compiled an 18–5 record to start the season, their best start since1993. In their first four games, they scored at least 100 points and won by double digits in all of those games. The streak ended after a 10-point loss toMemphis Grizzlies. The following Sunday, in a game against theIndiana Pacers, the Knicks at home went on to win 88–76, assuring them a 7–1 record. After two tough losses to theDallas Mavericks andHouston Rockets, the Knicks returned home in a game against theDetroit Pistons on November 25, with a 121–100 blowout win, making them one of only three teams undefeated at home along with the Miami Heat and Utah Jazz. The Knicks finished November with an 11–4 record, their best month record since going 11–6 in March 2000.[161]
By the All-Star break in mid-February 2013, the Knicks compiled a 32–18 record, good for second in the Eastern Conference. On February 21, on the trade deadline, the team traded Ronnie Brewer for a 2014 second-round draft pick. The Knicks then signed veteran power forwardKenyon Martin to a 10-day contract. In late March, the Knicks went on to compile a four-game losing streak, tying their worst skid of the season. They would go on and face the Jazz on the road, eventually winning the game and starting what would turn out to be a 13-game winning streak, including wins against the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder. This was the third-longest winning streak in franchise history. On April 9, the Knicks beat the Washington Wizards to secure the Atlantic Division title for the first time since the 1993–94 NBA season. The Knicks' 13-game winning streak came to an end on April 11 as they lost to the Chicago Bulls. Despite that, they set the NBA single-season record for three-pointers. On May 3, the Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs, 4–2, their first playoff victory since 2000. On May 18, the Knicks were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, losing the series to the Indiana Pacers 4–2. Point guard Jason Kidd retired following the end of the season—he was named head coach of the Brooklyn Nets a few days later. In the 2013 NBA draft, the Knicks selectedTim Hardaway Jr. as the 24th pick in the first round. During the 2013 off-season, The Knicks claimed Los Angeles Lakers FMetta World Peace off of waivers. They re-signed J. R. Smith to a 3-year, $18 million deal and tradedQuentin Richardson,Steve Novak,Marcus Camby, and three draft picks to acquireAndrea Bargnani from theToronto Raptors.
2013–2017: Phil Jackson era
The Knicks also saw changes to business operations in late 2013, replacing general manager Glen Grunwald with former MSG presidentSteve Mills.[162] The Knicks also purchased anNBA D-League team locatedWhite Plains, which began operations at the start of the2014–15 NBDL season.[163] The Knicks then appointed former coachPhil Jackson as president of basketball operations, with Mills remaining as general manager, with the duo working directly under MSG chairman James Dolan.[164] Following the2013–14 season, coachMike Woodson and his entire staff were fired,[165] and was replaced byDerek Fisher. Fisher played under Jackson with theLos Angeles Lakers, winning fiveNBA championships with the franchise.[166] The Knicks finished the season with a disappointing 37–45 record and finished ninth in the Eastern Conference, but was the seasonCarmelo Anthony established his career high, the Knicks' franchise record, and the Madison Square Garden record for single-game scoring. Anthony recorded 62 points and 13 rebounds in a victory against theCharlotte Bobcats.[167]
The Knicks observed their worst-ever regular season record under the stewardship ofPhil Jackson, who acted as the president of the franchise from 2013 to 2017.
Forbes magazine released its franchise value rankings for NBA teams, and listed the Knicks as the world's most valuable basketball organization at $1.4 billion in 2014, edging out theLos Angeles Lakers by $50 million. The Knicks were valued at 40% more than the third-placeChicago Bulls valuation of $1 billion, and were valued nearly twice as highly as their crosstown rivals, theBrooklyn Nets, who came in at $780 million.[168]
In the off-season, the Knicks traded controversial guardRaymond Felton, along with former NBA defensive player of the year,Tyson Chandler, to theDallas Mavericks. In return, the Knicks receivedShane Larkin,José Calderón,Samuel Dalembert, andWayne Ellington along with two picks for the2014 NBA draft. The trade was the first one that Jackson ever executed as a front office executive. On June 26, as part of the draft, the Knicks selectedCleanthony Early as the 34th overall pick, andThanasis Antetokounmpo as the 51st overall pick, using the draft picks received in the trade from the Mavericks. The Knicks also acquiredLouis Labeyrie, an additional second-round draft pick, in a trade with theIndiana Pacers for cash considerations.
The Knicks would then go onto set a franchise record with its 13th consecutive loss, losing 101–91 to theWashington Wizards, giving New York its longest losing streak in the franchise's 69-season history.[169] This record was extended to 16th consecutive losses, after theNBA Global Games loss against theMilwaukee Bucks in London. The Knicks would finish the2014–15 season with a win–loss record of 17–65, the worst record in franchise history, and allowed them to gain the 4th overall selection in the upcoming draft. The Knicks also bought outAmar'e Stoudemire's $100 million contract a season early.
On June 24, 2015, the Knicks selectedKristaps Porziņģis with the fourth overall pick in the draft, and tradedTim Hardaway Jr. to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange forJerian Grant, the 19th overall pick. Midway through another losing season, Fisher was relieved of his coaching duties, withKurt Rambis being named as interim head coach as the Knicks finished the season with a record of 32–50.[170]Jeff Hornacek was then hired as their next head coach, which also oversaw Jackson's most notable acts as an executive. On June 22, formerNBA MVPDerrick Rose was traded, along withJustin Holiday and a second-round pick from Chicago, to New York in exchange forRobin Lopez,José Calderón and Grant. The Knicks also signedJoakim Noah,Brandon Jennings, andCourtney Lee to contracts worth a combined $127 million, and regressed the following season, causing the franchise to part ways with Jackson after three years as the Knicks' president of basketball operations.[171] Under Jackson's presidency, the Knicks had gone 80–166, suffered three consecutive losing seasons, and missed three consecutive playoffs.[172]
Following Jackson's departure, the Knicks appointedScott Perry as general manager and namedSteve Mills president of basketball operations.[173] The Knicks also saw Carmelo Anthony demanding a trade from the team, which posed difficulty for both player and franchise due to a no-trade clause inserted in Anthony's contract given by Jackson in 2013. Originally, the only teams for which he would waive his no-trade clause were for theCleveland Cavaliers and theHouston Rockets, with the former eventually removed from trade discussions due to internal conflicts. Anthony intended to join the Rockets, with a three-way trade with thePortland Trail Blazers set up involvingRyan Anderson. Anderson's three-year, $60 million contract was not feasibly able to be absorbed by either franchise, however, causing Perry to cease talks with the Rockets, before agreeing to a deal with theOklahoma City Thunder, after Anthony agreed to expand his no-trade clause to include the Thunder.[174][175] The Knicks receivedEnes Kanter,Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick in exchange for Anthony on September 25, 2017,[176] while also positioningKristaps Porziņģis as the new centerpiece of the franchise.[177]
The Knicks also re-signedTim Hardaway Jr. to a four-year, $71 million contract, while also agreeing to a one-year, minimum contract withMichael Beasley. The franchise also traded for former lottery pickEmmanuel Mudiay from theDenver Nuggets at the trade deadline, who was a point guard the Knicks were rumored to have targeted prior to selecting Porziņģis in 2015.[178] The trade also included theDallas Mavericks, with Dallas acquiring McDermott from the Knicks, and the Nuggets obtainingDevin Harris from Dallas.[179] However, the season again ended poorly, with 29–53 record to leave the Knicks as the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference. This caused the Knicks to part ways with head coachJeff Hornacek.[180] Hornacek's two full seasons retained criticism for the team's continued struggle on defense, as well as the inability to implement an efficient, modern offense.[181] He was replaced with formerMemphis Grizzlies head coachDavid Fizdale.[182] Fizdale signed a four-year deal, and was tasked to deliver on player development and improving the team's basketball philosophy.[183]
On May 15, 2018, the Knicks were awarded the ninth overall pick in the2018 NBA draft, and selectedKevin Knox II from theKentucky.[184] The team also acquiredMitchell Robinson with the 36th overall pick, and signed former lottery pickMario Hezonja. They further invested in untapped potential by signing another former lottery pick, withNoah Vonleh agreeing to a one-year deal.[185] However, following a dismal start tothe season, and after a meeting with Porziņģis gave team officials the impression that he wanted to be traded,[186] Porziņģis was traded on January 30, 2019, alongsideTrey Burke,Courtney Lee andTim Hardaway Jr., to theDallas Mavericks in exchange forDeAndre Jordan,Wesley Matthews,Dennis Smith Jr., an unprotected 2021 first-round draft pick, and an additional top-ten protected 2023 first-round draft pick.[187] The Knicks finished the 2018–19 season with a league worst 17–65 regular season record, but the season was notable for the emergence of undrafted rookieAllonzo Trier,[188] as well as for the progression of Dotson and Robinson.[189][190] The Knicks won the third overall pick in the2019 NBA draft, and selectedRJ Barrett fromDuke. The team also traded for forwardIggy Brazdeikis, who was drafted in the second round fromMichigan.
In preparation for the 2019–20 season, and as a result of having a record $74 million in cap space following the Porziņģis trade,[191] the team divided it among five new signings. The Knicks agreed terms with veteran role playersWayne Ellington andTaj Gibson, with forwardBobby Portis also signing. The team then signed former lottery picksElfrid Payton andJulius Randle. On February 4, 2020, the Knicks fired Steve Mills after seven seasons as president with Scott Perry taking over on an interim basis.[192]
2020–present: Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns
2019 third overall pick guardRJ Barrett, 2021All-NBA Second Team forward and Most Improved Player Julius Randle, and Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau led the Knicks to a surprisingly successful 41–31 record in 2020–21 and their first playoff berth in years.
In the 2021 off-season, the Knicks retained much of their old talent, while bringing in former all-star guardKemba Walker and forwardEvan Fournier.[204] Additionally, after Randle's breakthrough season, the Knicks extended his contract for four years in August 2021.[205]
On January 13, 2022, the Knicks traded former eighth overall pick of the2018 NBA draft,Kevin Knox II and a protected future first round pick in exchange for former 10th overall pick of the2019 NBA draft,Cam Reddish,Solomon Hill and a 2025 second-round draft pick and cash considerations.[206] During the 2021–22 season, the Knicks struggled regressed finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 37–45 record.[207] Randle took a step back having a down season across the boards and his shooting percentages took a hit that resulted in fans booing Randle and increased trade rumours, and the lack of leadership of Randle was questioned, along with attitude and desire to be a Knick.[207] Head coach Thibodeau was questioned if he was the right coach for the Knicks heading onwards.[208] The signings of guardKemba Walker and forwardEvan Fournier were considered extreme failures that set the Knicks back as well.[209] The third overall pick of the2019 NBA draft,RJ Barrett in his third season averaged 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists.[210]
The 2022 off-season brought a lot of change to the Knicks' roster. During the2022 NBA draft, the Knicks tradedAlec Burks,Nerlens Noel andKemba Walker to theDetroit Pistons to clear cap space for the free agency period, as well as trading their 11th overall pick for protected future first round picks.[211] On June 12, 2022, the Knicks signed point guardJalen Brunson to a four-year contract, with hopes he could bring some much-needed stability to the position.[212] The Knicks completed the 2022–23 season with a 47–35 record, finishing in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Randle represented the Knicks in the2023 NBA All-Star Game. In the first round of the2023 playoffs, the Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, their first playoff series win since 2013. They were then defeated 4–2 by theMiami Heat in the second round.[213]
In 2024, the Knicks saw Brunson and Randle represent them at theNBA All-Star Game. The team finished with 50 wins and secured the second seed, with a first round matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks defeated the 76ers in six games, before falling short in seven games against the Indiana Pacers. During the 2024 off-season, the Knicks traded away Julius Randle,Donte DiVincenzo andKeita Bates-Diop to theMinnesota Timberwolves in exchange forKarl-Anthony Towns.[214]
Season-by-season record
List of the last five seasons completed by the Knicks. For the full season-by-season history, seeList of New York Knicks seasons.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage
The first logo of the New York Knicks is of a character named "Father Knickerbocker" dribbling a basketball, in the iconic blue and orange colors. It was designed byNew York World-Telegram cartoonist Willard Mullin.[4] From the beginning, the Knicks home uniforms are in white with blue and orange trim, while the away uniforms are in blue with orange and white trim. The first iterations contain monotone lettering in blue (home) and orange (away) lettering, with the addition of a checkerboard pattern during the mid-1950s.
1964–1992: classic roundball
The Knicks would introduce an iconic logo that would endure for the next three decades. Designed by Bud Freeman, the word "Knicks" superimposed over a brown basketball is known as the "classic roundball logo", with minor changes throughout its lifespan such as maroon wordmark and orange basketball.[4] An alternate logo featuring the full team name inside an orange basketball was used during the late 1960s and into the 1970s. As the 1960s began, the Knicks updated their uniforms again. This time the lettering is in serifed fonts, and the blue lettering and numbers on the home uniforms are now trimmed in orange. The away uniforms maintained the orange lettering but added white trim; it later changed to white letters while adding white trim on the piping. Side stripes were also added to the uniform. The "NY" monogram is on the left leg of the shorts.
1968–1979; 1983–1997: championship era uniforms
The Knicks unveiled a uniform that would stay for three decades. This uniform, with an arched "NEW YORK" in serif lettering and in orange, would be the uniform worn during their 1970 and 1973 championship seasons; however, they were not introduced simultaneously. The home uniforms would debut in 1968, while the away uniforms debuted the following year. One noticeable feature was that the player's name was in a straight block arched lettering (which is also called the "vertical arch" style), which was meticulously designed byGerry Cosby and his sporting goods company. The unusual arrangement on the player's name was later adopted by severalMajor League Baseball teams in the 1970s, and are currently used by theNational Hockey League'sColorado Avalanche,Detroit Red Wings andNew York Rangers. On the shorts, there was no logo placed during much of the 1970s, but during the 1978–79 season, the side stripes were eliminated and the interlocking "NY" logo inside an apple was placed instead. When this uniform style was reinstated for the1983–84 season,[215] it now featured the player's number and the interlocking "NY" logo (similar to the "NY" on the iconicNew York Yankees pinstripe uniform) on the shorts, in addition to the return of the side stripes. After the1986–87 season, the shorts number was removed, then in the1991–92 season, the "roundball logo" replaced the "NY" and player names became serifed and arranged in a radial arch. The final iteration saw the Knicks adopt the "black-accented triangle" logo for the1992–93 season, replacing the previous "roundball logo", which was slightly tweaked to add "NEW YORK" above the logo for the1995–96 season.
1979–1983: crimson red era uniforms
The Knicks radically changed their uniforms prior to the1979–80 season.[216] Royal blue and orange were replaced by navy andcrimson red. During this period, the home uniforms featured the team name below the number, both in crimson red with navy trim and in a stylized, free-flowing font. Navy away uniforms continue to feature the city name but below the white and crimson red number. The interlocking "NY" logo debuted on the shorts, with the addition of player numbers and side stripes during the 1981–82 season.
The "Knicks" script from the "crimson red era" uniforms was later reused in the uniforms of the Knicks'NBA Development League affiliateWestchester Knicks, with the same team name below the number format, though it was soon changed to a variation of the triangle logo.
1992–2012: black-accented triangle
Before the 1992–93 season, the Knicks updated their "roundball logo" to its present form, with the word "Knicks" in a futuristic font, again superimposed over a basketball, with a silver triangle accentuating the look. The "new look" logo was designed byMichael Doret and overseen by Tom O'Grady.[4] For the 1995–96 season, the city name in a futuristic script was added atop the logo, while an alternate subway-token logo featuring the acronym "NYK" was introduced. Black was also introduced as an accent color. The logo was added while the "championship era" uniforms were still in use, but during the 1995–96 season, the Knicks unveiled a blue alternate uniform, this time featuring black side panels and the aforementioned "subway token" logo on the shorts' beltline. A home white version of this uniform was introduced for the 1997–98 season, effectively retiring the championship era uniforms. In the 2001–02 season, the side stripes were narrowed, while the "subway token" logo was moved to the back of the uniform, and the Knicks primary logo moved from the side to the front of the shorts.
2012–present: modified triangle
The Knicks updated their "new look logo", this time eliminating the color black from the scheme. They still used the previous uniform during the 2011–12 season, but for the 2012–13 season, the Knicks unveiled new uniforms inspired from their "championship era" uniforms. A more subtle and bolder "New York" script was introduced, while the uniform piping stopped until the lettering. The phraseOnce A Knick, Always A Knick is added on the uniform collar. Gray became the accent color. In addition, an updated version of their 1970s secondary logo, this time featuring only the team name, was introduced.[217]
On October 25, 2013, the Knicks unveiled an alternate orange uniform, which is essentially a mirror image of the blue away uniforms, but with orange as the primary color and blue and white as trim colors.[218] The uniforms debuted on October 31 in a road game against the Chicago Bulls, and were used in the first five weekend home games, but after going 0–6 in the orange uniforms, they were discontinued permanently.
Beginning with the 2017–18 season,Nike became the NBA's new uniform provider.[219][220] Under Nike, "home" and "away" uniform designations were eliminated, and in their place were the white "Association" set, primary color "Icon" set, alternate color "Statement" set, and annual "City" set that were used either at home or away.[221][222] The Knicks kept their white "Association" and blue "icon" uniforms almost intact with only a few alterations such as truncated shoulder and shorts striping and the modern roundball logo on the waistband.[223]
From 2017 to 2019, the Knicks' "statement" uniform featured a white base with lettering in orange with white and blue trim. The striping was inspired from the team's 1970s-era uniforms.[224] In the 2019–20 season, the Knicks changed their Statement uniform to a blue base and white lettering with blue and orange trim. The white letters were a nod to the team's 1960s blue uniforms. As with the previous "statement" uniform, the striping was based on the team's 1970s uniforms.[225] Before the 2022–23 season, the "statement" uniform was again changed, this time with a navy base and orange gradient striping. The 1995–2011 "New Look" logo was placed on either side of the shorts. Letters are orange with blue trim.[226]
In the 2025–26 season, the Knicks changed their "statement" uniform, going with a black base with orange and blue gradient stripes. The aforementioned gradient stripes were a nod to Madison Square Garden's iconic lighting.[227]
Special uniforms
The Knicks have also worn special edition uniforms every March as part of the NBA's Noche Latina events and duringSt. Patrick's Day. The uniforms during Noche Latina were originally white with blue and orange trim, first using the 2001–12 uniform from 2008 to 2012, and then the current uniforms from 2012 to 2015, the only exception beingNueva York in front. In the 2015–16 season, the Knicks used a variation of their away blue uniform for Noche Latina. The Saint Patrick's Day uniforms used the road uniform template except for green substituting for the blue base. These uniforms have also been used onChristmas Day from the 2009–10 season, and was worn in particular byNate Robinson for a "Kryptonate vs. Superman" theme against Dwight Howard in the2009 Slam Dunk Contest. The St. Patrick's uniforms were shelved after the 2011–12 season.
On Christmas Day 2012, the Knicks wore monochrome uniforms known as "big color". The uniforms are mostly orange, with blue trimming. The following year, the Knicks wore sleeved orange uniforms known as "big logo", featuring a chrome-treated Knicks logo in front. For the 2014 edition, the Knicks wore a variation of their home uniforms, featuring the team logo in front and the player's first name in a blue nameplate below the number. The 2016 Christmas Day game against the Celtics saw the Knicks wear an all-blue uniform without additional striping, complete with fancy scripted orange lettering and numbers.
As part of its deal with Nike, a special "city" uniform would be used to pay tribute to either local culture or team traditions. The Knicks' 2017–18 "city" uniform, which is navy with orange and grey trim and features an emblem containing the team name, uniform number, a ladder with a silhouette of a firefighter, a fire hydrant, and the abbreviation "N.Y.C." for New York City, pays homage to the city's firefighters and their families. It was designed in collaboration with the Knicks, the NBA, Nike and theUniformed Firefighters Association.[228]
The Knicks' second "city" uniform is also in navy and features white lettering, a straight aligned "New York" wordmark in front and alternating stripes of blue, navy and orange designed to mimic the New York City skyline. The blue and orange arm striping was inspired from the team's 1950s uniforms. The Knicks initially debuted the uniform in the 2018–19 season, and was retained the following season.[229]
The Knicks' 2020–21 "city" uniform is designed in collaboration withKith. The uniform is predominantly black with blue and orange side gradients. The roundel in front features both the full team name and the "city never sleeps" nickname in a white, blue and orange gradient, and white numbers with blue drop shadows are added inside. The "NYC" acronym in black and white trim is placed within the Nike mark.[230]
The Knicks' 2021–22 "city" uniform featured another collaboration with Kith. The predominantly black uniform featured the classic "New York" wordmark in white with orange trim, and orange numbers with white trim. Those elements, along with the 1992 "New Look" logo on the waist, paid tribute to the 1995–2001 blue uniforms. Along the side, black and gray checkerboard stripes were an homage to the 1950s set. A silhouette of the classic Madison Square Garden logo was added to the side stripes on the shorts.[231] This design was revisited for the 2025–26 season, but was "remixed" to closely resemble the 1997–2001 white uniform minus the black accents.[232]
Another Kith-collaborated "city" uniform was released in the 2022–23 season. This design was inspired by the blue uniforms they wore from 1995 to 2001, but with black as the base color.[233]
The 2023–24 "City" uniform, again under a collaboration with Kith, was yet another nod to the late 1990s–early 2000s uniform design. In a first for the franchise, dark blue pinstripes were added to the blue-based uniform, and two "New York" wordmarks in both white and orange were layered twice on the top, in a nod to the iconic saying "the city so nice, they named it twice." Black and orange side stripes were also featured.[234] This uniform, albeit in white, was reused as part of the 2024–25 "City" uniform.[235]
Throwback uniforms
The Knicks were one of several NBA teams to wear throwback uniforms during the league's 50th anniversary in the 1996–97 season. The throwback set they wore that season represented the franchise's first season in 1946–47. However, both the blue and white throwbacks featured blue letters with orange trim (the originals had only orange letters on the blue uniform and blue letters on the white uniform minus any additional trim).
In the 2004–05 season, the Knicks wore throwback white uniforms from the "maroon era" of the early 1980s. The only difference from the originals was that the letters on the player's name were arranged in a radial arch (the originals were designed in a vertical arch) and were smaller in size.
The following season, the Knicks wore throwback blue checkerboard uniforms from the mid-1950s, which featured the "Father Knickerbocker" logo on the left leg (the originals did not feature said logo).
For the 2007–08 season, the Knicks wore their classic white uniforms as a tribute to the early 1970s championship teams. As with the "maroon era" throwbacks, the player's name no longer appeared in a vertical arch and were smaller in size. In addition, the original "roundball" logo was added (the original uniforms had no logo on the shorts).
The 2010–11 season saw the Knicks wear the blue uniforms to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1969–70 championship team. However, the design they wore that season faithfully replicated those of the 1991–92 Knicks team, complete with radially-arched serifed block letters on the player's name and the "roundball" logo on the shorts. In the original version, the shorts had no logo while the player name is arranged in a vertical arch and in a sans-serif block font.
In the 2015–16 season, the Knicks wore throwback white versions of the mid-1950s checkerboard uniforms in commemoration of the franchise's 70th season.
In the 2021–22 season, the Knicks, along with the Celtics and Warriors, were one of three teams to wear a "classic edition" uniform to commemorate each franchise and the NBA's 75th anniversary. The Knicks design harkened back to the original white uniforms from 1946, complete with enlarged blue numbers, blue waistbands, and blue and orange side stripes.
The Knicks hold the draft rights to the following unsigned draft picks who have been playing outside the NBA. A drafted player, either an international draftee or a college draftee who is not signed by the team that drafted him, is allowed to sign with any non-NBA teams. In this case, the team retains the player's draft rights in the NBA until one year after the player's contract with the non-NBA team ends.[236] This list includes draft rights that were acquired from trades with other teams.
Steve Mills served as general manager and president during the 2013–14 season.[254] At the end of the 2013–14 seasonPhil Jackson replaced Mills as team's president.[164] He was reinstated as president in 2017, withScott Perry replacing him as general manager.[173]
The New York Knicks and theBoston Celtics are two of the three remaining teams from the original 1946 NBA (the other is theGolden State Warriors). The rivalry stems from the old rivalry between the cities of New York City andBoston, which is also mirrored in both theYankees–Red Sox andJets–Patriots rivalries. The fact that Boston and New York City are only 190 miles apart contributes to it.
The teams have met nine times in the postseason. The last time was in the2012–13 season, whenCarmelo Anthony won the 2013 scoring title and helped them win the Atlantic Division for the first time since 1994. The Knicks faced the Celtics, who were withoutRajon Rondo because of a mid-season injury, in the 1st round of the2013 playoffs. In both games 1 and 2, Celtics had a lead going into halftime but were held to 25 and 23 points respectively in the second half, which was an all-time low for the franchise in the playoffs. Knicks gained a 3–0 lead in the series, but Boston avoided elimination in games 4 and 5. In game six, Knicks once led by 26 points in the fourth quarter, then the Celtics went onto a 20–0 run in less than 5 minutes to make it a close game, but Knicks still won and moved on to round 2.
TheBrooklyn Nets, formerly the New Jersey Nets, are the Knicks' closest rival geographically. Both teams play in New York City, with the Knicks inManhattan and the Nets inBrooklyn. Media outlets have noted the Knicks-Nets rivalry's similarity to those of other New York City teams, such asMajor League Baseball'sSubway Series rivalry between theAmerican League'sNew York Yankees (the Bronx) and theNational League'sNew York Mets (Queens), due to both boroughs' proximity through theNew York City Subway. Historically, the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn competed via theDodgers–Giants rivalry, when the two teams were known as theBrooklyn Dodgers and theNew York Giants. Like the Knicks and Nets, the Giants and Dodgers played in Manhattan and Brooklyn, respectively, and were fierce divisional rivals.[270] Therivalry between theNew York Islanders andNew York Rangers of theNational Hockey League also had this distinction when the Islanders played in Brooklyn from 2015 to 2020.[271] Due to the Knicks and Nets being located in the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, some media outlets have dubbed this rivalry "Clash of the Boroughs".[272] The Knicks and Nets have met in the playoffs three times, with the Knicks winning two of the three meetings. The Knicks defeated the Nets in the playoffs in1983 and1994, while the Nets won their most recent meeting in2004.
The Knicks have a strong rivalry with theChicago Bulls. The rivalry's most intense period was during the late 1980s and early 90s, when both teams were huge playoff contenders. This intensity was due to a variety of factors: the great frequency in which the teams competed against each other in high-stakes contests and playoff series; well-known players such asMichael Jordan,Scottie Pippen,Patrick Ewing, andJohn Starks; the reputations of the team's respective cities; and personnel changes and conflicts between the teams.
The rivalry was dormant through much of the 2000s, with both teams rebuilding after the retirements ofPatrick Ewing andMichael Jordan. However, with the arrival of future NBA MVPDerrick Rose in 2008, the Chicago Bulls began experiencing success once again. In the summer of 2010, the Bulls signedCarlos Boozer and the Knicks signedAmar'e Stoudemire, making both teams playoff contenders once again.Carmelo Anthony andTyson Chandler joined the Knicks soon after, and the rivalry between the two teams appears to have been reborn.
The rivalry between the New York Knicks and theIndiana Pacers started in 1993 and quickly became one of the most bitter in NBA history. They met in the playoffs 6 times from 1993 to 2000, fueling a rivalry epitomized by the enmity betweenReggie Miller and prominent Knick fanSpike Lee. Miller likened it to theHatfield–McCoy feud, andThe New York Times said in 1998 that it was "as combustible as any in the league".The rivalry gave Miller the nickname "The Knick-Killer". His clutch performances were frequently followed by jabs at Lee like the choke sign, adding fuel to the rivalry. The rivalry renewed during the2013 NBA playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, with Indiana taking the series 4 games to 2, and again in the second round of the2024 NBA playoffs, where the Pacers upset the Knicks in seven games.
The Miami Heat were one of the New York Knicks' strongest inter-divisional foes. The two teams met in the playoffs each year from 1997 to 2000, with all four of those series being played to the maximum number of games.Pat Riley, the head coach of the Miami Heat at the time, served as the head coach of the Knicks from 1991 to 1995 and led the Knicks to the1994 NBA Finals. During this four-year span, the Heat and the Knicks each won two playoff series against each other.
The two teams met again in the first round of the2012 NBA playoffs, for the first time since the 1990s rivalry days. The Heat won the series, 4–1, and later went on to win the2012 NBA Finals.
^"NBA LockerVision - New York Knicks - Association Edition - Story Guide".LockerVision.NBA.com. NBA Properties, Inc.Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. RetrievedDecember 12, 2021.The New York Knicks Association Edition is a white uniform with blue and orange accents, a staple within the Knicks uniform lineup. The jersey honors the city that made us with an electric orange "New York" wordmark outlined in royal and gray.
^Zwerling, Jared (December 11, 2011)."Knicks make flurry of moves". ESPN New York.Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. RetrievedFebruary 21, 2012.
^Begley, Ian (February 6, 2012)."Jeremy Lin starting at PG". ESPN New York.Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. RetrievedFebruary 21, 2012.
^Coon, Larry."NBA Salary Cap FAQ – 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement".CBAFAQ.Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. RetrievedApril 13, 2014.If the player is already under contract to, or signs a contract with a non-NBA team, the team retains the player's draft rights for one year after the player's obligation to the non-NBA team ends. Essentially, the clock stops as long as the player plays pro ball outside the NBA.
Benson, Michael (2007).Everything You Wanted to Know About the New York Knicks: A Who's Who of Everyone Who Ever Played on or Coached the NBA's Most Celebrated Team (First ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Taylor Trade Publishing.ISBN978-1-58979-374-3.
Hahn, Alan (2012).New York Knicks: The Complete Illustrated History (First ed.). Minneapolis: MVP Books.ISBN978-0-7603-4331-9.
Schumacher, Michael (2008).Mr. Basketball: George Mikan, the Minneapolis Lakers, and the Birth of the NBA (Reprint ed.). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.ISBN978-0-8166-5675-2.
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