The 1969–70 New York Knicks season was the 24th season of NBA basketball in New York City. The Knicks had a then single-season NBA record 18 straight victories en route to 60–22 record, which was the best regular season record in the team's history. They set the record for the best start in the first 24 games of a season at 23–1 before the Golden State Warriors surpassed it in 2015. After defeating the Bullets in the Eastern Division semifinals and the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Division finals, the Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games to capture their first NBA title.

The 1969–70 Knicks are considered to be among New York City's finest sporting championship teams, and are considered the greatest team in Knicks history and among the best in NBA history. Their journey was chronicled in various books and films, most recently in When the Garden was Eden for ESPN's 30 for 30 series.

NBA draft

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 11 John Warren G/F St. John's 2 26 Bill Bunting F/C North Carolina 3 40 Eddie Mast G Temple 4 54 Elnardo Webster Saint Peter's College 5 68 Gene Littles High Point 6 82 Dwight Durante Catawba College 7 96 Chris Thomforde Princeton 8 110 Jim Healey Rockhurst 9 124 Roger Walaszak Columbia 10 138 Frank McLaughlin Fordham 11 152 Marvin Lewis Long Island University, Southampton Campus 12 165 Bill O'Rourke St. John Fisher College 13 177 James Wyatt Northwestern State 14 186 Rich Travis Oklahoma City

Roster

Preseason

Game log

All times are EASTERN time

Regular season

Standings

x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 || October 14, 1969 || || Seattle || 126–101 || Madison Square Garden || || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 || October 15, 1969 || || @ Cincinnati || 94–89 || Cincinnati Gardens || || 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 || October 17, 1969 || || @ Chicago || 116–87 || Chicago Stadium || || 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 || October 18, 1969 || || Los Angeles || 99–96 || Madison Square Garden || || 4–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 || October 21, 1969 || || Phoenix || 140–116 || Madison Square Garden || || 5–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 || October 23, 1969 || || San Francisco || 109–112 || Madison Square Garden || || 5–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 || October 24, 1969 || || @ Detroit || 116–92 || Cobo Center || || 6–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 || October 25, 1969 || || Baltimore || 128–99 || Madison Square Garden || || 7–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 || October 28, 1969 || || Atlanta || 128–104 || Madison Square Garden || || 8–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 || October 30, 1969 || || San Diego || 123–110 || Madison Square Garden || || 9–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 || November 1, 1969 || || Milwaukee || 112–108 || Madison Square Garden || || 10–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 || November 3, 1969 || || @ Milwaukee || 109–93 || MECCA Arena || || 11–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 || November 4, 1969 || || @ Phoenix || 116–99 || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum || || 12–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 || November 7, 1969 || || @ San Diego || 129–111 || San Diego Sports Arena || || 13–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 || November 9, 1969 || || @ Los Angeles || 112–102 || The Forum || || 14–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 || November 11, 1969 || || @ San Francisco || 116–103 || Cow Palace || || 15–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 || November 13, 1969 || || Chicago || 114–99 || Madison Square Garden || || 16–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 || November 15, 1969 || || Boston || 113–98 || Madison Square Garden || || 17–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 || November 18, 1969 || || Cincinnati || 112–94 || Madison Square Garden || || 18–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 || November 21, 1969 || || @ Philadelphia || 98–94 || The Spectrum || || 19–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 || November 22, 1969 || || Phoenix || 128–114 || Madison Square Garden || || 20–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 || November 25, 1969 || || Los Angeles || 103–96 || Madison Square Garden || || 21–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 || November 26, 1969 || || @ Atlanta || 138–108 || Alexander Memorial Coliseum || || 22–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 || November 28, 1969 || || vs. Cincinnati(at Cleveland, OH) || 106–105 || Cleveland Arena || || 23–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 25 || November 29, 1969 || || Detroit || 98–110 || Madison Square Garden || || 23–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 || December 2, 1969 || || Seattle || 129–109 || Madison Square Garden || || 24–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 || December 5, 1969 || || @ Baltimore || 116–107 || Baltimore Civic Center || || 25–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 || December 6, 1969 || || Milwaukee || 124–99 || Madison Square Garden || || 26–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 || December 9, 1969 || || Cincinnati || 101–103 || Madison Square Garden || || 26–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 || December 10, 1969 || || @ Milwaukee || 96–95 || MECCA Arena || || 26–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 || December 11, 1969 || || @ Seattle || 105–112 || Seattle Center Coliseum || || 27–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 || December 13, 1969 || || Philadelphia || 93–100 || Madison Square Garden || || 27–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 || December 16, 1969 || || Atlanta || 124–125 (OT) || Madison Square Garden || || 27–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 || December 19, 1969 || || @ Chicago || 108–99 || Chicago Stadium || || 28–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 || December 20, 1969 || || Baltimore || 128–91 || Madison Square Garden || || 29–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 || December 25, 1969 || || Detroit || 112–111 || Madison Square Garden || || 30–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 || December 26, 1969 || || @ Los Angeles || 106–114 || The Forum || || 30–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 || December 27, 1969 || || vs. Seattle(at Vancouver, BC) || 119–117 || Pacific Coliseum || || 31–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 || December 28, 1969 || || @ Phoenix || 135–116 || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum || || 32–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 || December 30, 1969 || || Chicago || 116–96 || Madison Square Garden || || 33–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 41 || January 2, 1970 || || @ Milwaukee || 105–118 || MECCA Arena || || 33–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 || January 3, 1970 || || Boston || 104–111 || Madison Square Garden || || 33–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 || January 6, 1970 || || @ Baltimore || 129–99 || Baltimore Civic Center || || 34–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 || January 7, 1970 || || @ San Francisco || 99–94 || Cow Palace || || 35–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 || January 9, 1970 || || @ San Francisco || 123–93 || Cow Palace || || 36–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 || January 10, 1970 || || @ San Diego || 115–123 || San Diego Sports Arena || || 36–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 || January 12, 1970 || || vs. Phoenix(at Salt Lake City, UT) || 130–114 || Salt Palace Acord Arena || || 37–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 || January 16, 1970 || || @ Detroit || 104–102 || Cobo Center || || 38–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 || January 18, 1970 || || @ Boston || 102–109 || Boston Garden || || 38–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 || January 23, 1970 || || @ Chicago || 120–117 || Chicago Stadium || || 39–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 || January 24, 1970 || || San Diego || 127–114 || Madison Square Garden || || 40–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 || January 25, 1970 || || @ Boston || 102–96 || Boston Garden || || 41–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 || January 27, 1970 || || Boston || 133–100 || Madison Square Garden || || 41–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 || January 29, 1970 || || Detroit || 127–106 || Madison Square Garden || || 43–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 || January 30, 1970 || || @ Philadelphia || 104–100 || The Spectrum || || 44–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 || January 31, 1970 || || Chicago || 123–104 || Madison Square Garden || || 45–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 || February 1, 1970 || || @ Detroit || 117–111 || Cobo Center || || 46–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 || February 3, 1970 || || San Francisco || 118–98 || Madison Square Garden || || 47–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 || February 4, 1970 || || @ Atlanta || 96–111 || Alexander Memorial Coliseum || || 47–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 || February 6, 1970 || || @ Cincinnati || 135–92 || Cincinnati Gardens || || 48–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 || February 7, 1970 || || Cincinnati || 121–114 || Madison Square Garden || || 49–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 || February 11, 1970 || || Boston || 118–125 (OT) || Madison Square Garden || || 49–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 || February 13, 1970 || || @ Philadelphia || 151–106 || The Spectrum || || 50–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 || February 14, 1970 || || Philadelphia || 116–114 || Madison Square Garden || || 51–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 || February 17, 1970 || || Los Angeles || 114–93 || Madison Square Garden || || 52–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 || February 21, 1970 || || Atlanta || 106–122 || Madison Square Garden || || 52–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 || February 22, 1970 || || @ Baltimore || 104–110 || Baltimore Civic Center || || 52–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 68 || February 24, 1970 || || Phoenix || 121–105 || Madison Square Garden || || 53–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 || February 28, 1970 || || Baltimore || 115–101 || Madison Square Garden || || 54–15

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 || March 3, 1970 || || San Francisco || 115–100 || Madison Square Garden || || 55–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 || March 6, 1970 || || San Diego || 107–103 || Madison Square Garden || || 56–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 || March 7, 1970 || || @ Philadelphia || 111–104 || The Spectrum || || 57–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 73 || March 8, 1970 || || Philadelphia || 116–133 || Madison Square Garden || || 57–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 || March 10, 1970 || || Seattle || 117–99 || Madison Square Garden || || 58–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 || March 13, 1970 || || vs. Seattle(at Portland, OR) || 103–115 || Memorial Coliseum || || 58–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 || March 14, 1970 || || @ San Diego || 119–103 || San Diego Sports Arena || || 59–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 77 || March 15, 1970 || || @ Los Angeles || 101–106 || The Forum || || 59–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 || March 17, 1970 || || @ Detroit || 122–106 || Cobo Center || || 60–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 79 || March 18, 1970 || || Milwaukee || 108–116 || Madison Square Garden || || 60–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 80 || March 20, 1970 || || @ Atlanta || 102–110 || Alexander Memorial Coliseum || || 60–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 || March 21, 1970 || || Cincinnati || 120–136 || Madison Square Garden || || 60–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 82 || March 22, 1970 || || @ Boston || 112–115 || Boston Garden || || 60–22

| 1969–70 Schedule

All times are EASTERN time

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | March 26 | Baltimore | W 120–117 | Willis Reed (30) | Dave DeBusschere (24) | Walt Frazier (8) | Madison Square Garden19,500 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"