1970 NBA Championship

Lore & Background

Under head coach Red Holzman, the Knicks captured their first NBA title in 1970, ending a championship drought that had lasted since the franchise's founding in 1946. The team had previously reached the NBA Finals three consecutive times from 1951 to 1953 but had never won a championship before 1970.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Madison Square Garden was thick enough to choke on, a volatile mix of humidity, sweat, and five decades of frustration. Willis Reed stood at the tunnel entrance, his left leg throbbing with a fire that threatened to stop him cold. The Lakers were already warming up, their stars smiling with the arrogance of a team certain of victory. Then, the crowd began to murmur, a low rumble building into a thunderous roar as the small figure emerged from the shadows. Reed limped forward, one step at a time, his face a mask of pain and determination. The noise was deafening, drowning out the squeak of sneakers on hardwood. Walt Frazier watched from the bench, eyes wide, realizing that whatever happened next would define them all. As Reed stepped onto the court, the game changed before a single whistle blew.

Reader's Guide

The 1970 championship was the first of two NBA titles won by the Knicks under Holzman, the second coming in 1973. The team's victory in 1970 marked the end of a 24-year wait for a championship since the franchise's establishment.

Did You Know?

• The Knicks' 1970 championship was their first NBA title in franchise history.
• The Knicks had previously reached the NBA Finals in 1951, 1952, and 1953 but lost each time.
• The team won its second NBA championship in 1973, also under head coach Red Holzman.

Foundational Origins

The New York Knicks trace their roots to a pivotal meeting on June 6, 1946, at the Commodore Hotel, where seventeen individuals founded the Basketball Association of America. While sportswriter Max Kase initially envisioned owning the franchise, Ned Irish, president of Madison Square Garden, secured the charter by leveraging arena ownership rules that mandated local control. Seeking a name reflecting New York's heritage, Irish’s staff voted to adopt 'Knickerbockers,' a term derived from Washington Irving's writings on Dutch settlers. The team's first head coach was Joe Lapchick, hired with a promise of being the league's highest-paid, though he delayed his start by one season to finish at St. John's University. In that interim year, Neil Cohalan led an inaugural roster assembled without a draft, relying heavily on local college talent. This team played its historic first game against the Toronto Huskies in November 1946, winning 68–66 before finishing their debut season with a 33–27 record and a playoff berth despite poor shooting.

The Lapchick Era and Early Struggles

Upon Joe Lapchick's official arrival in 1947, the Knicks adopted an up-tempo style emphasizing rapid ball movement. His tenure marked a period of significant contention, highlighted by nine consecutive playoff appearances starting in 1948. The team reached three straight NBA Finals between 1951 and 1953, establishing themselves as a perennial power alongside the Boston Celtics. Lapchick also made history by signing Wataru Misaka, the first non-Caucasian player in the BAA. However, despite these deep runs, the franchise could not secure a championship during this golden window. Following Lapchick's resignation in 1956, the organization entered a prolonged period of decline that lasted a decade. Between 1956 and 1966, the Knicks managed only a single playoff appearance, struggling to maintain relevance as other franchises rose. This era defined the early volatility of the franchise, oscillating between championship aspirations and significant mediocrity before finding stability again in the late 1960s.

The Red Holzman Renaissance

After years of stagnation, the Knicks returned to prominence under head coach Red Holzman, who revitalized the program in the late 1960s. This resurgence culminated in the franchise winning its first NBA championship in 1970, a historic achievement that broke their long title drought. The team would add another championship ring three years later in 1973, cementing Holzman's legacy as a transformative figure who built a defense-oriented powerhouse capable of defeating elite competition. This era marked the beginning of sustained success, though it was not without future challenges; the 1980s saw six playoff appearances but no return to the Finals. The team's identity continued to evolve in the 1990s under coaches Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy, featuring Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing. Despite reaching the Finals in 1994 and 1999 with a physical style reminiscent of their earlier glory days, they fell short of another title, leaving the franchise to endure another long wait for victory.

The Long Wait and Modern Triumph

Following the departure of Patrick Ewing, the Knicks entered another extended period of playoff absences that lasted decades. Although the team found brief success in 2013 by winning a division title with stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, this was followed by their worst-ever regular season records. The franchise's fortunes finally turned again after signing guard Jalen Brunson in 2022. A strategic rebuild involving the acquisitions of Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns between 2023 and 2024 propelled the team back into serious contention. This modern roster finally ended a 53-year championship drought by winning the NBA title in 2026. This victory marked a historic resurgence for one of the league's original franchises, restoring their status as champions alongside the Boston Celtics, who remain the only other founding team still located in its original city.