New York Knicks

The New York Knickerbockers, universally known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in Manhattan. Founded in 1946 by college basketball promoter Ned Irish, the franchise was a charter member of the Basketball Association of America, which later merged to form the NBA. Alongside the Boston Celtics, the Knicks are one of only two original NBA teams still located in their original city. The team name honors New York's Dutch heritage, originating from Washington Irving's 1809 work A History of New York.

The Knicks play at Madison Square Garden, an iconic arena with a capacity of 19,812 shared with the New York Rangers. Known as "The World's Most Famous Arena," the Garden has hosted countless historic moments. The team is owned by Madison Square Garden Sports and is the NBA's most financially successful franchise, valued at an estimated $7.4 billion in 2024.

The Knicks have won three NBA championships: 1970, 1973, and 2026. The 2026 title run included erasing a 29-point deficit in Game 4 of the Finals, the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Patrick Ewing remains the team's all-time leading scorer, while Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP in 2026 after averaging 32.6 points in the series. [edit]

The Knicks were founded in 1946 as a charter member of the BAA. Under first head coach Joe Lapchick, they made three straight NBA Finals from 1951 to 1953 but lost all three. After a period of decline, Red Holzman took over in the late 1960s and led the team to championships in 1970 and 1973, with stars Willis Reed and Walt Frazier. The 1970 team is remembered for Reed's dramatic Game 7 return from injury.

The 1990s Knicks, led by Patrick Ewing and coached by Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy, were known for tough defense and intense rivalries with the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and Miami Heat. They reached the Finals in 1994 and 1999, losing both times. The 1999 team remains the only eighth seed to reach the NBA Finals.

The franchise struggled after 2000, enduring eight straight playoff misses before returning under Tom Thibodeau in 2021. Thibodeau won Coach of the Year in 2020-21 and posted a 226-174 record, leading the team to four playoff appearances. After his firing in 2025, Mike Brown took over and led the team to a 53-29 record and the 2026 NBA championship, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games. The title was the Knicks' first in 53 years. [edit]