2014 Eastern Conference Finals vs Atlanta Hawks
Hicks vs. Knicks: A bitter NBA rivalry born in 1977.
The Knicks–Pacers rivalry is a basketball rivalry between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The rivalry started in 1977 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 between Pacer Reggie Miller and prominent Knick fan Spike Lee.
Lore & Background
The rivalry gave Miller the nickname 'Knick Killer'. His clutch performances were frequently followed by jabs at Lee like the choke sign, adding fuel to the rivalry. The rivalry was briefly renewed during the 2013 NBA playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, with Indiana winning in 6 games. The rivalry was then renewed once again during the 2024 NBA playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals following the Pacers upsetting the Knicks in game 7, and again in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA playoffs. The rivalry has been referred to as the 'Hicks vs. Knicks', arising from the contrasting fanbases and media portrayals of the two teams, with the Pacers often being associated with a 'small town' image and the Knicks representing the 'big city' of New York City.
Reader's Guide
Pre 1990s: Since the creation of the Pacers franchise in the ABA in 1967, the Knicks and Pacers have always been indirectly linked together. In the ABA, the Pacers won championships in 1970, 1972, and 1973. Meanwhile, the Knicks won it all in 1970 and 1973, and went to the Finals in 1972. Before each team's 1971 season, the Pacers and Knicks played an exhibition game in September, with the Knicks winning by two at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum. The game was one of the first ABA vs NBA games ever played. In the ABA, the Pacers biggest rival was the New York Nets. The Knicks and Pacers were also at the center of the controversial 1985 draft lottery. The first year the NBA draft lottery was introduced was in 1985. Prior to 1985, the team with the worst record in each conference would participate in a coin flip to determine the first overall pick in the NBA draft. In 1985, the Pacers and Warriors were tied for the worst record in the league, with the Knicks having the third worst record. Some have argued that NBA Commissioner David Stern fixed the first overall pick to help his hometown team, the struggling New York Knicks. The lottery system used in 1985 involved a random drawing of seven envelopes from a hopper, with each of the then-seven non-playoff teams having an equal chance of obtaining the first pick. Inside each of the envelopes was the logo of a non-playoff team. The team whose envelope was drawn first would get the first pick. The process was then repeated until the rest of the first seven lottery picks were determined. In the U.S., CBS had live coverage of Stern pulling the envelopes from the hopper (as opposed to NBA Draft lotteries today where the actual drawing is held behind closed doors before the results are revealed on TV). The 'frozen envelope theory' suggests that the National Basketball Association rigged its 1985 draft lottery so that Patrick Ewing would join the New York Knicks. Theorists claim that a lottery envelope was chilled so that it could be identified by touch. The Pacers finished second in the draft lottery and took Wayman Tisdale in the draft. 1993 Eastern Conference first round: The two teams first met in the first round of the 1993 NBA Playoffs.
More in Iconic Matches & Moments
Elsewhere in Indiana Pacers
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced