New York Knicks History: From the 1946 BAA to the Garden
The Knicks are one of the oldest franchises in professional basketball. Here is the story, era by era.
1946: a charter franchise
The New York Knickerbockers were founded in 1946 by Ned Irish as a charter member of the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The name comes from "Knickerbocker," a nickname for New Yorkers that traces back to the Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam and to Washington Irving's fictional historian Diedrich Knickerbocker.
On November 1, 1946, the Knicks beat the Toronto Huskies 68-66 in Toronto. The NBA recognizes that game as the first in its history. In 1949 the BAA merged with the National Basketball League to form the NBA, and the Knicks are one of the few original franchises still playing in the same city.
The 1950s: three straight Finals
Under coach Joe Lapchick, the Knicks reached the NBA Finals in 1951, 1952 and 1953 but lost all three: to the Rochester Royals in 1951 and to George Mikan's Minneapolis Lakers in 1952 and 1953. In 1950 the Knicks signed Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, one of the first Black players to sign an NBA contract.
The Holzman years: 1970 and 1973
The franchise's golden era came under coach William "Red" Holzman. Built around team defense and ball movement, the late-1960s and early-1970s Knicks featured Willis Reed, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Dick Barnett and, later, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and Jerry Lucas.
1970: Willis Reed walks out
In Game 7 of the 1970 Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden, captain Willis Reed, who had torn a thigh muscle earlier in the series, limped out of the tunnel during warmups. He hit the game's first two baskets, and Walt Frazier finished with 36 points and 19 assists. The Knicks won their first NBA championship, and Reed was named Finals MVP.
1973: the second title
After losing the 1972 Finals to the Lakers, the Knicks beat them in five games in 1973 for their second championship. Reed was again Finals MVP. Members of those two teams account for most of the numbers the franchise has retired (see the roster guide).
The Ewing era
In 1985 the NBA held its first draft lottery, and the Knicks won it, selecting Georgetown center Patrick Ewing first overall. Ewing spent 15 seasons in New York and left as the franchise's all-time leader in points and rebounds.
Under Pat Riley (1991-1995) the Knicks became known for physical, defense-first basketball. They reached the 1994 Finals and lost to the Houston Rockets in seven games. Under Jeff Van Gundy they made an unlikely run to the 1999 Finals as the eighth seed in the East after a lockout-shortened season, losing to the San Antonio Spurs. That spring produced two of the franchise's most replayed shots: Allan Houston's series-winning runner against the Miami Heat and Larry Johnson's four-point play against the Indiana Pacers.
Rivalries
- Indiana Pacers: a string of 1990s playoff series, including Reggie Miller's eight points in about nine seconds in Game 1 of the 1995 conference semifinals.
- Miami Heat: four straight playoff meetings from 1997 to 2000, shaped by Riley's move from New York to Miami.
- Chicago Bulls: repeated playoff battles with Michael Jordan's Bulls in the early 1990s.
- Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets: Atlantic Division rivals, and in Brooklyn's case a crosstown one.
Home courts
The Knicks played their early home games at the old Madison Square Garden on Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, with some games at the 69th Regiment Armory. The current Garden, above Penn Station, opened in 1968, and the Knicks have played there ever since. Read our Madison Square Garden guide before your next game.
This guide covers well-documented franchise history. For recent seasons, records and current personnel, use the team's official site.