NBA · Atlantic · New York, New York, US · Madison Square Garden
New York Knicks
Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena, and the Knicks, the NBA's most tortured blue-blood franchise - New York's basketball team has not won a championship since 1973, but the Garden on a good night remains the most electric environment in professional sports, a cathedral where the faithful gather to suffer beautifully.
1946–1979
The Championship Years
Two titles and the golden age of Knicks basketball
The New York Knickerbockers were founded in 1946 as a charter member of the BAA and have been synonymous with basketball in the world's most famous city ever since. The early decades were competitive but lacked championship success - that changed in the late 1960s when Red Holzman assembled one of the most intelligent and unselfish teams in NBA history.
The 1969-70 Knicks, led by Willis Reed, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, and Dick Barnett, won the franchise's first NBA championship. Reed's iconic appearance in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals - hobbling onto the court at Madison Square Garden with a torn muscle in his leg to inspire his teammates - remains one of the most dramatic moments in sports history. The Knicks won again in 1973, defeating the Lakers behind Frazier's brilliance.
The two championships established a standard of excellence that the franchise - and its passionate, demanding fanbase - has been chasing ever since. The post-championship 1970s brought decline, setting the stage for a long drought.
Key Facts
- Founded in 1946 as a charter BAA member
- Won NBA Championships in 1970 and 1973
- Willis Reed's Game 7 entrance in 1970 is one of sports' most iconic moments
- Walt Frazier was the face of the championship teams
1985–2000
The Patrick Ewing Era
So close, so many times
The Knicks won the 1985 NBA Draft Lottery - the first in league history - and selected Patrick Ewing, the dominant center from Georgetown. Ewing became one of the greatest players in franchise history, a fierce competitor whose mid-range jumper and defensive intensity made the Knicks relevant again. Under coaches Rick Pitino and then Pat Riley, the Knicks became one of the toughest, most physical teams in the NBA.
The Riley-era Knicks of the early-to-mid 1990s were defined by their brutal defensive style and their rivalry with the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers. The 1994 NBA Finals - played with Michael Jordan in retirement - saw the Knicks reach the championship series for the first time in 21 years, losing to the Houston Rockets in seven games. The Knicks-Heat playoff battles of the late 1990s were among the most physical and intense series in NBA history.
In 1999, the Knicks became the first eighth seed to reach the NBA Finals, led by an aging Ewing, Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell, and Larry Johnson. They fell to the Spurs in five games. Ewing was traded the following year, and the franchise entered a dark period that would last nearly two decades.
Key Facts
- Patrick Ewing selected #1 overall in the first-ever NBA Draft Lottery in 1985
- Reached the 1994 NBA Finals, losing to Houston in seven games
- Became the first #8 seed to reach the Finals in 1999
- Pat Riley's physical defensive style defined the 1990s Knicks
2001–2019
The Dolan Years
Dysfunction under the bright lights
The 2000s and 2010s were a painful period for the Knicks, as owner James Dolan's management of the franchise drew constant criticism. The team cycled through coaches, overpaid for free agents, and made shortsighted trades that depleted the roster's depth and draft capital. The Carmelo Anthony era (2011-2017) produced one genuine highlight - the 2012-13 season, when the Knicks won 54 games behind Anthony's scoring and made the second round of the playoffs.
But that season proved to be an outlier. The Knicks' combination of Dolan's meddling, questionable personnel decisions, and the allure (and curse) of the New York market produced a franchise that was consistently in the spotlight and consistently disappointing. The Knicks missed the playoffs in every season from 2014 to 2020, a drought that tested the patience of even the most devoted fans.
Through it all, Madison Square Garden remained packed - a testament to the Knicks' enduring cultural significance and the bottomless passion of New York basketball fans.
Key Facts
- James Dolan's ownership drew constant criticism
- Carmelo Anthony era produced one 54-win season in 2012-13
- Missed the playoffs every year from 2014 to 2020
- Madison Square Garden remained full despite the futility
2020–Present
The Brunson Revival
The Garden is rocking again
The modern Knicks renaissance began with the coaching hire of Tom Thibodeau in 2020 and accelerated with the signing of Jalen Brunson in 2022. Brunson, the point guard from the Dallas Mavericks, transformed the Knicks' offense with his mid-range mastery, clutch shot-making, and leadership. Under Thibodeau's demanding coaching style, the Knicks returned to their defensive identity and became one of the most physical teams in the league.
The 2022-23 Knicks made the second round of the playoffs - with Madison Square Garden's atmosphere reaching legendary levels during the playoff run. The following season, they acquired OG Anunoby and traded for Karl-Anthony Towns, building a roster that combined toughness, talent, and the Garden's unique home-court advantage.
The Knicks' resurgence has reminded the basketball world why New York matters. When the Knicks are good, the NBA is more compelling - the Garden's electricity, the city's passion, and the franchise's legacy combine to create something that no other team can replicate. The current Knicks are building toward the franchise's first championship in over 50 years, and the entire basketball world is paying attention.
Key Facts
- Jalen Brunson signed in 2022, transformed the offense
- Tom Thibodeau restored the franchise's defensive identity
- OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns acquired to bolster the roster
- Madison Square Garden atmosphere reached legendary levels in the playoffs