New York Knicks Timeline

(1946 - Present)

The New York Knicks are one of the NBA's founding franchises, established in 1946. Based at Madison Square Garden in New York City, they won championships in 1970 and 1973, featured legends like Walt Frazier, Patrick Ewing, and Carmelo Anthony, and remain one of basketball's most iconic teams. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Founding and Early Years

Knicks founded as a charter BAA member

Jun 6, 1946

The New York Knicks were established as one of the founding franchises of the Basketball Association of America, joining the league at its creation in New York City.

Knicks win first game in franchise history

Nov 1, 1946

The Knicks defeated the Toronto Huskies 68–66 on the road, marking the first victory in franchise history during the BAA's inaugural season.

Knicks reach first NBA Finals appearance

Apr 1951

New York reached the NBA Finals for the first time but fell to the Rochester Royals in seven games despite a valiant effort led by Harry Gallatin and Carl Braun.

Second consecutive NBA Finals loss to Minneapolis

Apr 1952

The Knicks made back-to-back Finals appearances, losing in seven games to George Mikan's dominant Minneapolis Lakers.

Third straight NBA Finals defeat

Apr 1953

The Knicks lost their third consecutive NBA Finals, once again falling to the Minneapolis Lakers, this time in five games.

Championship Era

Red Holzman hired as head coach

Feb 1968

Red Holzman took over as head coach midway through the season and transformed the Knicks into a defense-first team built on unselfish ball movement.

Image source: Red Holzman

Walt Frazier named NBA Finals MVP

May 1970

Walt Frazier's legendary Game 7 performance with 36 points and 19 assists earned him Finals MVP honors during the Knicks' first championship run.

Image source: Walt Frazier

Knicks win first NBA championship

May 8, 1970

Led by Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Bill Bradley, the Knicks beat the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games to capture their first NBA title. Willis Reed's dramatic Game 7 entrance became an iconic moment in sports history.

Earl Monroe traded to the Knicks

Nov 1971

New York acquired 'Black Jesus' Earl Monroe from Baltimore, adding a dynamic scorer who meshed perfectly with Frazier and helped power the second title run.

Image source: Earl Monroe

Knicks lose NBA Finals to Lakers

May 1972

The Knicks returned to the Finals but lost in five games to Wilt Chamberlain's record-setting Los Angeles Lakers, who won 33 straight regular-season games that year.

Knicks win second NBA championship

May 12, 1973

The Knicks avenged their previous Finals loss by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, capturing their second NBA championship behind Frazier, Monroe, Reed, and Bradley.

Willis Reed retires due to knee injuries

Mar 1974

Captain Willis Reed retired after chronic knee injuries ended his playing career, closing an era for the Knicks' first great champion.

Image source: Willis Reed

Modern Era

Bernard King scores 60 points on Christmas Day

Dec 25, 1984

Bernard King exploded for 60 points against the New Jersey Nets at Madison Square Garden, one of the greatest scoring performances in Christmas Day history.

Image source: Bernard King

Patrick Ewing drafted first overall

Jun 25, 1985

The Knicks won the inaugural NBA Draft Lottery and selected Georgetown center Patrick Ewing with the first pick, launching a new era around a franchise cornerstone.

Image source: 1985 NBA draft

Pat Riley becomes head coach

Jun 1991

Pat Riley arrived from Los Angeles and instilled a bruising defensive identity that turned the Knicks into Eastern Conference heavyweights.

Image source: Pat Riley

Knicks win 70-loss era high 55 games

Apr 1997

Roster additions like Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, and John Starks kept the Knicks competitive, finishing with a strong 57-win campaign in 1996–97.

Patrick Ewing traded to Seattle

Sep 20, 2000

After 15 seasons, Patrick Ewing was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics, ending an iconic era and ushering in a difficult rebuilding stretch.

Image source: Patrick Ewing

Latrell Sprewell and Knicks miss playoffs amid decline

Apr 2002

The Knicks finished below .500 and missed the postseason for the first time since 1987, beginning a prolonged playoff drought.

Isiah Thomas era begins with Marbury trade

Jan 5, 2004

Isiah Thomas took over basketball operations and acquired Stephon Marbury in January 2004, though his tenure was later marred by costly contracts and controversy.

Image source: Isiah Thomas

Mike D'Antoni hired; Knicks sign Amar'e Stoudemire

Jul 2010

Amar'e Stoudemire signed a max contract and Mike D'Antoni brought his run-and-gun offense to MSG, briefly reviving the franchise's fortunes.

Image source: Amar'e Stoudemire

Carmelo Anthony traded to the Knicks

Feb 22, 2011

New York landed superstar Carmelo Anthony from Denver, forming a potent duo with Stoudemire and returning to the playoffs after a seven-year absence.

Image source: Carmelo Anthony

Jeremy Lin sparks Linsanity

Feb 4, 2012

Undrafted Harvard graduate Jeremy Lin erupted with a string of spectacular performances, including a 38-point game against Kobe Bryant's Lakers, captivating the city and the world.

Image source: Jeremy Lin

Knicks win 54 games, second-round exit

2013

Behind Carmelo Anthony's scoring title, Jason Kidd's leadership, and J.R. Smith's Sixth Man award, the Knicks won 54 games and their first playoff series since 2000 before falling to Indiana.

Phil Jackson becomes team president

Mar 18, 2014

Eleven-time champion Phil Jackson was hired as president of basketball operations, bringing the triangle offense but overseeing several turbulent seasons.

Image source: Phil Jackson

Kristaps Porzingis drafted fourth overall

Jun 25, 2015

The Latvian 'Unicorn' Kristaps Porzingis was selected fourth overall, quickly becoming a fan favorite with his unique blend of size and skill.

Image source: Kristaps Porziņģis

Porzingis traded to Dallas Mavericks

Jan 31, 2019

New York dealt Porzingis to Dallas for Dennis Smith Jr. and draft picks, committing to cap space and a full rebuild under GM Scott Perry.

Julius Randle signs and leads Knicks back to playoffs

Nov 2020

Julius Randle signed in free agency and won Most Improved Player while leading the Knicks to a 41-31 record and their first playoff berth since 2013 under coach Tom Thibodeau.

Playoffs and Rivalries

Knicks upset Celtics in playoffs

Apr 1990

Under coach Stu Jackson, the underdog Knicks stunned Larry Bird's Boston Celtics in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

Image source: 1990 NBA playoffs

Knicks reach Eastern Conference Finals

May 1993

New York pushed Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls to six games in the East Finals, winning the first two games at home before falling in a hard-fought series.

Image source: 1993 NBA playoffs

Knicks reach fourth NBA Finals appearance

Jun 1994

With Jordan retired, Ewing's Knicks battled past the Bulls and Pacers to reach the Finals, where they lost a grueling seven-game series to Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston Rockets.

Image source: 1994 NBA Finals

Allan Houston buzzer-beater stuns Heat

May 16, 1999

In a lockout-shortened season, the eighth-seeded Knicks eliminated top-seeded Miami when Allan Houston's running floater dropped through as time expired in Game 5.

Image source: 1999 NBA playoffs

Eighth-seeded Knicks reach NBA Finals

Jun 1999

New York became the first No. 8 seed ever to reach the NBA Finals, upsetting Miami, Atlanta, and Indiana before losing in five games to the San Antonio Spurs.

Image source: 1999 NBA Finals

Key Facts

The New York Knicks were founded in 1946 as a charter member of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which merged with the NBL to form the NBA in 1949.
The Knicks have won two NBA championships, in 1970 and 1973, led by stars such as Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Bill Bradley.
Madison Square Garden has been the team's home arena since 1968, making it one of the most famous venues in all of sports.
Patrick Ewing, drafted first overall in 1985, became the franchise's all-time leading scorer and led the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999.
The Knicks are one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world, playing in the largest media market in the United States with a passionate fanbase.

Source

This New York Knicks timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

Want a timeline like this one?

Generate yours with AI or build it from scratch, for free.

Try It for Free