History Of The New York Knicks

The New York Knicks, short for "Knickerbockers",Square Garden history. The entire starting five
play in New York City's famous Madison Squarefrom the 1970 Knicks team has had their jersey
Garden. The Knicks were members of thenumbers retired. The team failed to return to the
now-defunct Basketball Association of America,NBA Championships in 1971. They played in the
which merged with the National Basketball LeagueNBA Championship again in 1972, but this time the
to form the National Basketball Association inKnicks lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five
1949. In the NBA's first ten years, the Knicksgames. The following year, the Knicks turned the
played in three straight NBA Finals games, fromtables on the Lakers and defeated them in five
1951-1953. They are one of only two teams fromgames to win their second NBA Championship in
the original NBA that are still located in the samethree years. 1973-1974 was another impressive
city. The Knicks won their first game against theyear for the Knicks; they reached the Eastern
Toronto Huskies, 68-66. The Knicks continued toConference finals where they were defeated by
field respectable teams in the 1950s, butthe Celtics in five games. Willis Reed retired after
witnessed a marked decline in the 1960s. Fromthis season, placing the Knicks' future in jeopardy.
1960-1966, the Knicks finished in last place in theirThe rest of the 1970s were pretty unremarkable
division each year. Two of the worst losses infor the New York Knicks, except to mention that
Knicks history happened during this time: aa young bench player and defensive specialist
162-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and Wiltnamed Phil Jackson was a member of those
Chamberlain's famous 100 point game was againstteams; Jackson went on to coach the Chicago
the Knicks on March 3, 1962. Over the next fewBulls and Los Angeles Lakers to a total of nine
years, the Knicks drafted some quality players:championships; tied with professional basketball
Willis Reed, the future NBA Rookie of the Year,coaching legend Red Auerbach. After a
Bill Bradley, and Dave Stallworth. After showingdisappointing 1984-1985 season, the Knicks won
promise in 1967, the Knicks General Manager hiredthe first pick in the first-ever NBA Draft Lottery;
Red Holzman to be their head coach; the Knicksthey chose center Patrick Ewing from
made the playoffs again that year. In 1969, theGeorgetown University. Ewing won the NBA
Knicks made it to the finals but lost to the BostonRookie of the Year Award in 1986; however, the
Celtics. The Knicks won an impressive 18 gamesteam did not fare as well that year. The Knicks
in a row during the 1969-1970 season; theywent on to win four division titles with Ewing, as
finished that year with a 60-22 record-the best inwell as two Conference titles. Today, it seems
the team's history. The Knicks would meet thethat the Knicks are in another one of their
Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Championship inmulti-year declines. If history is any indication,
1970. They won in dramatic fashion in gamesome new blood will shake up the organization
seven, when an injured Willis Reed walked on theagain and put the Knicks on the road to winning
court and shot two baskets-this incident was lateranother NBA Championship.
voted one of the greatest moments in Madison