The New York Knickerbockers, better known as the New York Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City that competes in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team has played in the NBA throughout the league's entire history. The Knicks play in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. In its 78 seasons, the franchise has reached the NBA Finals eight times and won two championships. As of the end of the 2023–24 season, New York has won more than 2,900 regular season games, and the team has the fourth-highest victory total in NBA history. [1] Since 1968, the Knicks have played home games at Madison Square Garden. [2]
One of the Basketball Association of America's (BAA) 11 teams during its inaugural season, the Knicks won the league's first game, defeating the Toronto Huskies 68–66 on November 1, 1946. [3] The club qualified for the playoffs in the league's first three seasons before the BAA merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to form the NBA. [4] Following the merger, New York extended its streak of playoff appearances to nine consecutive years. The team reached the NBA Finals each year from 1952 to 1954. The Knicks returned to the Finals in 1970 and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games for the team's first title. New York and Los Angeles faced each other again in the 1972 Finals, a series that the Lakers won four games to one. The Knicks earned their second NBA championship the following year, as they won a rematch with Los Angeles in five games.
From 1988 to 2001, the franchise made the playoffs in 14 consecutive seasons. The team reached its first NBA Finals in 21 seasons in 1994, losing to the Houston Rockets in seven games. Five years later, New York again lost in the NBA Finals, this time in a five-game series against the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks struggled during the early years of the 21st century, winning only one playoff series between 2001 and 2022. In the 2023–24 season, New York posted a 50–32 record and reached the playoffs, losing to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals.
NBA champions (1947–present) † |
Conference champions (1971–present) * |
Division champions (1947–present) ^ |
Playoff berth (1947–present) ¤ |
Conf. finish | Final position in conference standings |
Div. finish | Final position in division standings |
W | Number of regular season wins |
L | Number of regular season losses |
Win% | Winning percentage |
GB | Games behind first-place team in division [lower-alpha 1] |
Ref. | Reference |
ASG MVP | All-Star Game Most Valuable Player |
COY | Coach of the Year |
DPOY | Defensive Player of the Year |
FMVP | NBA Finals Most Valuable Player |
JWKC | J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award |
MIP | Most Improved Player |
MVP | Most Valuable Player |
ROY | Rookie of the Year |
SIX | Sixth Man of the Year |
SPOR | Sportsmanship Award |
Note: Statistics are correct as of the 2023–24 season.
Season | Conf. | Conf. finish [lower-alpha 2] | Div. | Div. finish [lower-alpha 2] | W [lower-alpha 3] | L [lower-alpha 3] | Win% | Playoffs | Awards | Head coach | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1946–47 | — | — | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | 33 | 27 | .550 | Won first round vs. Cleveland Rebels, 2–1 Lost semifinals to Philadelphia Warriors, 2–0 [5] | — | Neil Cohalan | [6] |
1947–48 | — | — | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | 26 | 22 | .542 | Lost first round to Baltimore Bullets, 2–1 [7] | — | Joe Lapchick | [8] |
1948–49 | — | — | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | 32 | 28 | .533 | Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 2–1 Lost division finals to Washington Capitols, 2–1 [9] | — | Joe Lapchick | [10] |
1949–50 | — | — | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | 40 | 28 | .588 | Won division semifinals vs. Washington Capitols, 2–0 Lost division finals to Syracuse Nationals, 2–1 [11] | — | Joe Lapchick | [12] |
1950–51 | — | — | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | 36 | 30 | .545 | Won division semifinals vs. Boston Celtics, 2–0 Won division finals vs. Syracuse Nationals, 3–2 Lost NBA Finals to Rochester Royals, 4–3 [13] | — | Joe Lapchick | [14] |
1951–52 | — | — | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | 37 | 29 | .561 | Won division semifinals vs. Boston Celtics, 2–1 Won division finals vs. Syracuse Nationals, 3–1 Lost NBA Finals to Minneapolis Lakers, 4–3 [15] | — | Joe Lapchick | [16] |
1952–53 | — | — | Eastern ^ | 1st ^ | 47 | 23 | .671 | Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 2–0 Won division finals vs. Boston Celtics, 3–1 Lost NBA Finals to Minneapolis Lakers, 4–1 [17] | — | Joe Lapchick | [18] |
1953–54 | — | — | Eastern ^ | 1st ^ | 44 | 28 | .611 | Lost round-robin to Boston Celtics and Syracuse Nationals, 4–0 [19] | — | Joe Lapchick | [20] |
1954–55 | — | — | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | 38 | 34 | .528 | Lost division semifinals to Boston Celtics, 2–1 [21] | — | Joe Lapchick | [22] |
1955–56 | — | — | Eastern | 4th [lower-alpha 4] ¤ | 35 | 37 | .486 | Lost division tiebreaker to Syracuse Nationals, 1–0 [24] | — | Joe Lapchick Vince Boryla | [23] |
1956–57 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 36 | 36 | .500 | — | — | Vince Boryla | [25] |
1957–58 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 35 | 37 | .486 | — | — | Vince Boryla Andrew Levane | [26] |
1958–59 | — | — | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | 40 | 32 | .556 | Lost division semifinals to Syracuse Nationals, 2–0 [27] | — | Andrew Levane | [28] |
1959–60 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 27 | 48 | .360 | — | — | Andrew Levane Carl Braun | [29] |
1960–61 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 21 | 58 | .266 | — | — | Carl Braun | [30] |
1961–62 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 29 | 51 | .363 | — | — | Eddie Donovan | [31] |
1962–63 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 21 | 59 | .263 | — | — | Eddie Donovan | [32] |
1963–64 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 22 | 58 | .275 | — | — | Eddie Donovan | [33] |
1964–65 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 31 | 49 | .388 | — | Willis Reed [34] (ROY) | Eddie Donovan Harry Gallatin | [35] |
1965–66 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 30 | 50 | .375 | — | — | Harry Gallatin Dick McGuire | [36] |
1966–67 | — | — | Eastern | 4th ¤ | 36 | 45 | .444 | Lost division semifinals to Boston Celtics, 3–1 [37] | — | Dick McGuire | [38] |
1967–68 | — | — | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | 43 | 39 | .524 | Lost division semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–2 [39] | — | Dick McGuire Red Holzman | [40] |
1968–69 | — | — | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | 54 | 28 | .659 | Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–0 Lost division finals to Boston Celtics, 4–2 [41] | — | Red Holzman | [42] |
1969–70 † | — | — | Eastern ^ | 1st ^ | 60 | 22 | .732 | Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–3 Won division finals vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 4–1 Won NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 4–3 [43] † | Willis Reed [34] (MVP, FMVP, ASG MVP) Red Holzman [44] (COY) | Red Holzman | [45] |
1970–71 | Eastern | 1st ¤ | Atlantic [lower-alpha 5] ^ | 1st ^ | 52 | 30 | .634 | Won conference semifinals vs. Atlanta Hawks, 4–1 Lost conference finals to Baltimore Bullets, 4–3 [48] | — | Red Holzman | [49] |
1971–72 | Eastern * | 3rd ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 48 | 34 | .585 | Won conference semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–2 Won conference finals vs. Boston Celtics, 4–1 Lost NBA Finals to Los Angeles Lakers, 4–1 [50] * | — | Red Holzman | [51] |
1972–73 † | Eastern * | 3rd ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 57 | 25 | .695 | Won conference semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–1 Won conference finals vs. Boston Celtics, 4–3 Won NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 4–1 [52] † | Willis Reed [34] (FMVP) | Red Holzman | [53] |
1973–74 | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 49 | 33 | .598 | Won conference semifinals vs. Capital Bullets, 4–3 Lost conference finals to Boston Celtics, 4–1 [54] | — | Red Holzman | [55] |
1974–75 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 40 | 42 | .488 | Lost first round to Houston Rockets, 2–1 [56] | Walt Frazier [57] (ASG MVP) | Red Holzman | [58] |
1975–76 | Eastern | 7th | Atlantic | 4th | 38 | 44 | .463 | — | — | Red Holzman | [59] |
1976–77 | Eastern | 7th | Atlantic | 3rd | 40 | 42 | .488 | — | — | Red Holzman | [60] |
1977–78 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 43 | 39 | .524 | Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 2–0 Lost conference semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–0 [61] | — | Willis Reed | [62] |
1978–79 | Eastern | 7th | Atlantic | 4th | 31 | 51 | .378 | — | — | Willis Reed Red Holzman | [63] |
1979–80 | Eastern | 7th | Atlantic | 4th [lower-alpha 6] | 39 | 43 | .476 | — | — | Red Holzman | [64] |
1980–81 | Eastern | 4th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 50 | 32 | .610 | Lost first round to Chicago Bulls, 2–0 [65] | Mike Glenn [66] (JWKC) | Red Holzman | [67] |
1981–82 | Eastern | 10th | Atlantic | 5th | 33 | 49 | .402 | — | — | Red Holzman | [68] |
1982–83 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 4th | 44 | 38 | .537 | Won first round vs. New Jersey Nets, 2–0 Lost conference semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–0 [69] | — | Hubie Brown | [70] |
1983–84 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 47 | 35 | .573 | Won first round vs. Detroit Pistons, 3–2 Lost conference semifinals to Boston Celtics, 4–3 [71] | — | Hubie Brown | [72] |
1984–85 | Eastern | 10th | Atlantic | 5th | 24 | 58 | .293 | — | — | Hubie Brown | [73] |
1985–86 | Eastern | 11th | Atlantic | 5th | 23 | 59 | .280 | — | Patrick Ewing [74] (ROY) Rory Sparrow [66] [lower-alpha 7] (JWKC) | Hubie Brown | [75] |
1986–87 | Eastern | 11th | Atlantic | 5th [lower-alpha 8] | 24 | 58 | .293 | — | — | Hubie Brown Bob Hill | [76] |
1987–88 | Eastern | 8th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd [lower-alpha 9] | 38 | 44 | .463 | Lost first round to Boston Celtics, 3–1 [78] | Mark Jackson [79] (ROY) | Rick Pitino | [77] |
1988–89 | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | Atlantic ^ | 1st ^ | 52 | 30 | .634 | Won first round vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 3–0 Lost conference semifinals to Chicago Bulls, 4–2 [80] | — | Rick Pitino | [81] |
1989–90 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 45 | 37 | .549 | Won first round vs. Boston Celtics, 3–2 Lost conference semifinals to Detroit Pistons, 4–1 [82] | — | Stu Jackson | [83] |
1990–91 | Eastern | 8th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 39 | 43 | .476 | Lost first round to Chicago Bulls, 3–0 [84] | — | Stu Jackson John MacLeod | [85] |
1991–92 | Eastern | 4th ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd [lower-alpha 10] | 51 | 31 | .622 | Won first round vs. Detroit Pistons, 3–2 Lost conference semifinals to Chicago Bulls, 4–3 [87] | — | Pat Riley | [86] |
1992–93 | Eastern | 1st ¤ | Atlantic ^ | 1st ^ | 60 | 22 | .732 | Won first round vs. Indiana Pacers, 3–1 Won conference semifinals vs. Charlotte Hornets, 4–1 Lost conference finals to Chicago Bulls, 4–2 [88] | Pat Riley [89] (COY) | Pat Riley | [90] |
1993–94 | Eastern * | 2nd ¤ | Atlantic ^ | 1st ^ | 57 | 25 | .695 | Won first round vs. New Jersey Nets, 3–1 Won conference semifinals vs. Chicago Bulls, 4–3 Won conference finals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–3 Lost NBA Finals to Houston Rockets, 4–3 [91] * | — | Pat Riley | [92] |
1994–95 | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 55 | 27 | .671 | Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 3–1 Lost conference semifinals to Indiana Pacers, 4–3 [93] | Anthony Mason [94] (SIX) | Pat Riley | [95] |
1995–96 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 47 | 35 | .573 | Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 3–0 Lost conference semifinals to Chicago Bulls, 4–1 [96] | — | Don Nelson Jeff Van Gundy | [97] |
1996–97 | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 57 | 25 | .695 | Won first round vs. Charlotte Hornets, 3–0 Lost conference semifinals to Miami Heat, 4–3 [98] | John Starks [94] (SIX) | Jeff Van Gundy | [99] |
1997–98 | Eastern | 7th ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 43 | 39 | .524 | Won first round vs. Miami Heat, 3–2 Lost conference semifinals to Indiana Pacers, 4–1 [100] | — | Jeff Van Gundy | [101] |
1998–99 [lower-alpha 11] | Eastern * | 8th ¤ | Atlantic | 4th | 27 | 23 | .540 | Won first round vs. Miami Heat, 3–2 Won conference semifinals vs. Atlanta Hawks, 4–0 Won conference finals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–2 Lost NBA Finals to San Antonio Spurs, 4–1 [104] * | — | Jeff Van Gundy | [103] |
1999–00 | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 50 | 32 | .610 | Won first round vs. Toronto Raptors, 3–0 Won conference semifinals vs. Miami Heat, 4–3 Lost conference finals to Indiana Pacers, 4–2 [105] | — | Jeff Van Gundy | [106] |
2000–01 | Eastern | 4th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 48 | 34 | .585 | Lost first round to Toronto Raptors, 3–2 [107] | — | Jeff Van Gundy | [108] |
2001–02 | Eastern | 13th | Atlantic | 7th | 30 | 52 | .366 | — | — | Jeff Van Gundy Don Chaney | [109] |
2002–03 | Eastern | 10th | Atlantic | 6th [lower-alpha 12] | 37 | 45 | .451 | — | — | Don Chaney | [110] |
2003–04 | Eastern | 7th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 39 | 43 | .476 | Lost first round to New Jersey Nets, 4–0 [111] | — | Don Chaney Herb Williams Lenny Wilkens | [112] |
2004–05 | Eastern | 12th | Atlantic | 5th [lower-alpha 13] | 33 | 49 | .402 | — | — | Lenny Wilkens Herb Williams | [113] |
2005–06 | Eastern | 15th | Atlantic | 5th | 23 | 59 | .280 | — | — | Larry Brown | [114] |
2006–07 | Eastern | 12th | Atlantic | 4th | 33 | 49 | .402 | — | — | Isiah Thomas | [115] |
2007–08 | Eastern | 14th | Atlantic | 5th | 23 | 59 | .280 | — | — | Isiah Thomas | [116] |
2008–09 | Eastern | 14th | Atlantic | 5th | 32 | 50 | .390 | — | — | Mike D'Antoni | [117] |
2009–10 | Eastern | 11th | Atlantic | 3rd | 29 | 53 | .354 | — | — | Mike D'Antoni | [118] |
2010–11 | Eastern | 6th ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 42 | 40 | .512 | Lost first round to Boston Celtics, 4–0 [119] | — | Mike D'Antoni | [120] |
2011–12 [lower-alpha 14] | Eastern | 7th ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 36 | 30 | .545 | Lost first round to Miami Heat, 4–1 [123] | Tyson Chandler [124] (DPOY) | Mike D'Antoni Mike Woodson | [122] |
2012–13 | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | Atlantic ^ | 1st ^ | 54 | 28 | .659 | Won first round vs. Boston Celtics, 4–2 Lost conference semifinals to Indiana Pacers, 4–2 | J. R. Smith [94] (SIX) Jason Kidd [125] (SPOR) | Mike Woodson | [126] |
2013–14 | Eastern | 9th | Atlantic | 3rd | 37 | 45 | .451 | — | — | Mike Woodson | [127] |
2014–15 | Eastern | 15th | Atlantic | 5th | 17 | 65 | .207 | — | — | Derek Fisher | [128] |
2015–16 | Eastern | 13th | Atlantic | 3rd | 32 | 50 | .390 | — | — | Derek Fisher Kurt Rambis | [129] |
2016–17 | Eastern | 12th | Atlantic | 3rd | 31 | 51 | .378 | — | — | Jeff Hornacek | [130] |
2017–18 | Eastern | 11th | Atlantic | 4th | 29 | 53 | .354 | — | — | Jeff Hornacek | [131] |
2018–19 | Eastern | 15th | Atlantic | 5th | 17 | 65 | .207 | — | — | David Fizdale | [132] |
2019–20 [lower-alpha 15] | Eastern | 12th | Atlantic | 5th | 21 | 45 | .318 | — | — | David Fizdale Mike Miller | [134] |
2020–21 [lower-alpha 16] | Eastern | 4th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 41 | 31 | .569 | Lost first round to Atlanta Hawks, 4–1 | Julius Randle [136] (MIP) Tom Thibodeau [137] (COY) | Tom Thibodeau | [138] |
2021–22 | Eastern | 11th | Atlantic | 5th | 37 | 45 | .451 | — | — | Tom Thibodeau | [139] |
2022–23 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 47 | 35 | .573 | Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4–1 Lost conference semifinals vs. Miami Heat, 4–2 | — | Tom Thibodeau | [140] |
2023–24 | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 50 | 32 | .610 | Won first round vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 4–2 Lost conference semifinals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–3 | — | Tom Thibodeau | [141] |
Statistic | Wins | Losses | W–L% |
---|---|---|---|
New York Knicks regular season record (1946–present) | 2,974 | 3,131 | .487 |
New York Knicks postseason record (1946–present) | 200 | 204 | .495 |
All-time regular and postseason record | 3,174 | 3,335 | .488 |
The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Madison Square Garden, an arena they share with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). They are one of two NBA teams located in New York City; the other team is the Brooklyn Nets. Alongside the Boston Celtics, the Knicks are one of two original NBA teams still located in its original city.
The Celtics–Lakers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics and the Lakers are the two most storied franchises in the NBA, and the rivalry has been called the greatest in the league. The teams have met a record 12 times in the NBA Finals, with their first such meeting being in 1959. They would both go on to dominate the league in the 1960s and 1980s, facing each other in the Finals six times in the 1960s, three times in the 1980s, and twice since the year 2000.
The 1971–72 New York Knicks season was the 26th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Knicks compiled a 48–34 record in the regular season to finish second in the Atlantic Division and earn a berth in the NBA Playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. New York had acquired Earl Monroe in a trade with the Baltimore Bullets in November 1971.
The 1952–53 New York Knicks season was the seventh season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With a 47–23 record, the Knicks won the regular season Eastern Division title by a half-game over the Syracuse Nationals and made the NBA Playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.
The 1951–52 New York Knicks season was the sixth season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Knicks finished third in the Eastern Division with a 37–29 record, and advanced to the NBA Playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.
The 1947–48 New York Knicks season was the second season for the team in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which later merged with the National Basketball League to become the National Basketball Association. The Knicks finished in second place in the Eastern Division with a 26–22 record and qualified for the BAA Playoffs. In the first round, New York was eliminated by the Baltimore Bullets in a best-of-three series, two games to one. Carl Braun was the team's scoring leader during the season.
The 1948–49 New York Knicks season was the third season for the team in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which later became the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Knicks had a 32–28 record in 1948–49 and finished second in the Eastern Division, six games behind the Washington Capitols. New York qualified for the playoffs, and defeated the Baltimore Bullets 2–1 in a best-of-three series to earn a place in the Eastern Division finals. In the division championship series, the Knicks lost to the Capitols, two games to one. Before the 1949–50 season, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League to form the NBA.
The 1973–74 New York Knicks season was the 28th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Knicks entered the season as the defending NBA champions, having defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1973 NBA Finals in five games to win their second championship. In the regular season, the Knicks finished in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 49–33 record, and qualified for the NBA Playoffs for the eighth consecutive year.
The 1983–84 New York Knicks season was the 38th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Knicks had a 47–35 record, and qualified for the NBA playoffs as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. New York was led by small forward Bernard King, who averaged 26.3 points per game (PPG) in the regular season and 34.8 PPG in the playoffs. In early 1984, King scored 50 points in consecutive games, against the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.
The Basketball Association of America (BAA) was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. Following its third season, 1948–49, the BAA absorbed most of National Basketball League (NBL) and rebranded as the National Basketball Association (NBA).