New York Knicks
Original. Knickerbocker. Champion.
The New York Knickerbockers, commonly called 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 it shares with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). They are one of two NBA teams in New York City, the other being the Brooklyn Nets. Alongside the Boston Celtics, the Knicks are one of two original NBA teams still in their original cities.
- Era
- Late 1980s to Early 1990s
- Key Figures
- Isiah Thomas vs. Patrick Ewing
- Home Venues
- The Palace of Auburn Hills / Madison Square Garden
- Conference
- Eastern Conference
- Status
- Historical Rivalry
- Peak Series
- 1986 and 1990s Playoff Meetings
Lore & Background
Established in 1946 by Ned Irish, the New York Knicks were among the founding members of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949 to form the NBA. Under their first head coach, Joe Lapchick, the Knicks were a perennial playoff contender, reaching three consecutive NBA Finals between 1951 and 1953 but never winning a championship. After Lapchick resigned in 1956, the franchise entered a prolonged decline, reaching the playoffs once between 1956 and 1966. The Knicks returned to prominence in the late 1960s under head coach Red Holzman, winning their first NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. They made six playoff appearances in the 1980s but did not reach the NBA Finals. In the 1990s, led by Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing and the team's physical, defense-oriented style under head coaches Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy, the Knicks reached the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999, but did not win a championship. After Ewing's departure, the Knicks entered another prolonged period of playoff absences, and although Hall of Fame forwards Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire led the team to a division title in 2013 (their first in 19 years), the team suffered their worst-ever regular season records thereafter. After signing guard Jalen Brunson in 2022, and acquiring Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns between 2023 and 2024, the Knicks returned to playoff contention and won the NBA championship in 2026, ending their 53-year championship drought.
In Their Own Story
The air inside The Palace was thick with anticipation and sweat. Isiah Thomas adjusted his headband, eyes locked on the opposing center warming up. Across the court, Patrick Ewing bounced the ball, the sound echoing off the rafters. It was Game Seven territory, though the scoreboard didn't show it yet. Every dribble felt heavier than the last. The crowd roared as the referee called for the tip-off, marking another chapter in a war fought on hardwood.
Reader's Guide
The Knicks' history includes early success under Joe Lapchick, three consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 1951 to 1953, championships in 1970 and 1973 under Red Holzman, and Finals appearances in 1994 and 1999. The team won its most recent championship in 2026.
Did You Know?
- The Knicks were among the founding members of the Basketball Association of America in 1946.
- The Knicks won their first NBA championships in 1970 and 1973.
- The Knicks ended a 53-year championship drought by winning the NBA championship in 2026.
More in Great Rivalries & Feuds
Elsewhere in the Detroit Pistons universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record