The New York Knickerbockers, better known as the New York Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City that competes in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team has played in the NBA throughout the league's entire history. The Knicks play in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. In its 80 seasons, the franchise has reached the NBA Finals nine times and won three championships. As of the end of the 2025–26 season, the Knicks have won more than 3,000 regular season games, and the team has the fourth-highest victory total in NBA history. Since 1968, the Knicks have played home games at Madison Square Garden.
One of the Basketball Association of America's (BAA) 11 teams during its inaugural season, the Knicks won the league's first game, defeating the Toronto Huskies 68–66 on November 1, 1946. The team qualified for the playoffs in the league's first three seasons before the BAA merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to form the NBA. Following the merger, the Knicks extended their streak of playoff appearances to nine consecutive years. The team reached the NBA Finals each year from 1952 to 1954. They returned to the Finals in 1970 and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games for the team's first title. The Knicks and Lakers faced each other again in the 1972 Finals, a series that the Lakers won four games to one. The Knicks earned their second NBA championship the following year, as they won a rematch with Los Angeles in five games.
From 1988 to 2001, the franchise made the playoffs in 14 consecutive seasons, a franchise record. The team reached its first NBA Finals in 21 seasons in 1994, losing to the Houston Rockets in seven games. Five years later, the Knicks again lost in the NBA Finals, this time in a five-game series against the San Antonio Spurs. The team struggled during the early years of the 21st century, winning only one playoff series between 2001 and 2022. The Knicks returned to the playoffs in the 2022–23 season where they reached the conference semifinals, and later played in the conference finals in 2024–25. During the 2025–26 season, the Knicks returned to the NBA Finals and won the series in five games against the Spurs, claiming the team's first championship in 53 years.
Table key
NBA champions(1947–present) †Conference champions(1971–present) *Division champions(1947–present) ^Playoff berth(1947–present) ¤Play-in berth(2021–present) × Conf. finishFinal position in conference standingsDiv. finishFinal position in division standingsWNumber of regular season winsLNumber of regular season lossesWin%Winning percentageGBGames behind first-place team in divisionRef.ReferenceASG MVPAll-Star Game Most Valuable PlayerCOYCoach of the YearDPOYDefensive Player of the YearFMVPNBA Finals Most Valuable PlayerJWKCJ. Walter Kennedy Citizenship AwardMIPMost Improved PlayerMVPMost Valuable PlayerROYRookie of the YearSIXSixth Man of the YearSPORSportsmanship Award
Seasons Note: Statistics are correct as of the . SeasonConf. Conf. finishDiv. Div. finish W L Win%PlayoffsAwardsHead coachRef.1946–47——Eastern3rd ¤3327Won first round vs. Cleveland Rebels, 2–1Lost semifinals to Philadelphia Warriors, 2–0—Neil Cohalan1947–48——Eastern2nd ¤2622Lost first round to Baltimore Bullets, 2–1—Joe Lapchick1948–49——Eastern2nd ¤3228Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 2–1Lost division finals to Washington Capitols, 2–1—Joe Lapchick1949–50——Eastern2nd ¤4028Won division semifinals vs. Washington Capitols, 2–0Lost division finals to Syracuse Nationals, 2–1—Joe Lapchick1950–51——Eastern3rd ¤3630Won division semifinals vs. Boston Celtics, 2–0Won division finals vs. Syracuse Nationals, 3–2Lost NBA Finals to Rochester Royals, 4–3—Joe Lapchick1951–52——Eastern3rd ¤3729Won division semifinals vs. Boston Celtics, 2–1Won division finals vs. Syracuse Nationals, 3–1Lost NBA Finals to Minneapolis Lakers, 4–3—Joe Lapchick1952–53——Eastern ^1st ^4723Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 2–0Won division finals vs. Boston Celtics, 3–1Lost NBA Finals to Minneapolis Lakers, 4–1—Joe Lapchick1953–54——Eastern ^1st ^4428Lost round-robin to Boston Celtics and Syracuse Nationals, 4–0—Joe Lapchick1954–55——Eastern2nd ¤3834Lost division semifinals to Boston Celtics, 2–1—Joe Lapchick1955–56——Eastern4th ¤3537Lost division tiebreaker to Syracuse Nationals, 1–0—Joe LapchickVince Boryla1956–57——Eastern4th3636——Vince Boryla1957–58——Eastern4th3537——Vince BorylaAndrew Levane1958–59——Eastern2nd ¤4032Lost division semifinals to Syracuse Nationals, 2–0—Andrew Levane1959–60——Eastern4th2748——Andrew LevaneCarl Braun1960–61——Eastern4th2158——Carl Braun1961–62——Eastern4th2951——Eddie Donovan1962–63——Eastern4th2159——Eddie Donovan1963–64——Eastern4th2258——Eddie Donovan1964–65——Eastern4th3149—Willis Reed (ROY)Eddie DonovanHarry Gallatin1965–66——Eastern4th3050——Harry GallatinDick McGuire1966–67——Eastern4th ¤3645Lost division semifinals to Boston Celtics, 3–1—Dick McGuire1967–68——Eastern3rd ¤4339Lost division semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–2—Dick McGuireRed Holzman1968–69——Eastern3rd ¤5428Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–0Lost division finals to Boston Celtics, 4–2—Red Holzman1969–70 ——Eastern ^1st ^6022Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–3Won division finals vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 4–1Won NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 4–3 Willis Reed(MVP, FMVP, ASG MVP)Red Holzman (COY)Red Holzman1970–71Eastern1st ¤Atlantic ^1st ^5230Won conference semifinals vs. Atlanta Hawks, 4–1Lost conference finals to Baltimore Bullets, 4–3—Red Holzman1971–72Eastern *3rd ¤Atlantic2nd4834Won conference semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–2Won conference finals vs. Boston Celtics, 4–1Lost NBA Finals to Los Angeles Lakers, 4–1 *—Red Holzman1972–73 Eastern *3rd ¤Atlantic2nd5725Won conference semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–1Won conference finals vs. Boston Celtics, 4–3Won NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 4–1 Willis Reed (FMVP)Red Holzman1973–74Eastern3rd ¤Atlantic2nd4933Won conference semifinals vs. Capital Bullets, 4–3Lost conference finals to Boston Celtics, 4–1—Red Holzman1974–75Eastern5th ¤Atlantic3rd4042Lost first round to Houston Rockets, 2–1Walt Frazier (ASG MVP)Red Holzman1975–76Eastern7thAtlantic4th3844——Red Holzman1976–77Eastern7thAtlantic3rd4042——Red Holzman1977–78Eastern5th ¤Atlantic2nd4339Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 2–0Lost conference semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–0—Willis Reed1978–79Eastern7thAtlantic4th3151——Willis ReedRed Holzman1979–80Eastern7thAtlantic4th3943——Red Holzman1980–81Eastern4th ¤Atlantic3rd5032Lost first round to Chicago Bulls, 2–0Mike Glenn (JWKC)Red Holzman1981–82Eastern10thAtlantic5th3349——Red Holzman1982–83Eastern5th ¤Atlantic4th4438Won first round vs. New Jersey Nets, 2–0Lost conference semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–0—Hubie Brown1983–84Eastern5th ¤Atlantic3rd4735Won first round vs. Detroit Pistons, 3–2Lost conference semifinals to Boston Celtics, 4–3—Hubie Brown1984–85Eastern10thAtlantic5th2458——Hubie Brown1985–86Eastern11thAtlantic5th2359—Patrick Ewing (ROY)Rory Sparrow (JWKC)Hubie Brown1986–87Eastern11thAtlantic5th2458——Hubie BrownBob Hill1987–88Eastern8th ¤Atlantic3rd3844Lost first round to Boston Celtics, 3–1Mark Jackson (ROY)Rick Pitino1988–89Eastern2nd ¤Atlantic ^1st ^5230Won first round vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 3–0Lost conference semifinals to Chicago Bulls, 4–2—Rick Pitino1989–90Eastern5th ¤Atlantic3rd4537Won first round vs. Boston Celtics, 3–2Lost conference semifinals to Detroit Pistons, 4–1—Stu Jackson1990–91Eastern8th ¤Atlantic3rd3943Lost first round to Chicago Bulls, 3–0—Stu JacksonJohn MacLeod1991–92Eastern4th ¤Atlantic2nd5131Won first round vs. Detroit Pistons, 3–2Lost conference semifinals to Chicago Bulls, 4–3—Pat Riley1992–93Eastern1st ¤ Atlantic ^1st ^6022Won first round vs. Indiana Pacers, 3–1Won conference semifinals vs. Charlotte Hornets, 4–1Lost conference finals to Chicago Bulls, 4–2Pat Riley (COY)Pat Riley1993–94Eastern *2nd ¤Atlantic ^1st ^5725Won first round vs. New Jersey Nets, 3–1Won conference semifinals vs. Chicago Bulls, 4–3Won conference finals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–3Lost NBA Finals to Houston Rockets, 4–3 *—Pat Riley1994–95Eastern3rd ¤Atlantic2nd5527Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 3–1Lost conference semifinals to Indiana Pacers, 4–3Anthony Mason (SIX)Pat Riley1995–96Eastern5th ¤Atlantic2nd4735Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 3–0Lost conference semifinals to Chicago Bulls, 4–1—Don NelsonJeff Van Gundy1996–97Eastern3rd ¤Atlantic2nd5725Won first round vs. Charlotte Hornets, 3–0Lost conference semifinals to Miami Heat, 4–3John Starks (SIX)Jeff Van Gundy1997–98Eastern7th ¤Atlantic2nd4339Won first round vs. Miami Heat, 3–2Lost conference semifinals to Indiana Pacers, 4–1—Jeff Van Gundy1998–99Eastern *8th ¤Atlantic4th2723Won first round vs. Miami Heat, 3–2Won conference semifinals vs. Atlanta Hawks, 4–0Won conference finals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–2Lost NBA Finals to San Antonio Spurs, 4–1 *—Jeff Van Gundy1999–00Eastern3rd ¤Atlantic2nd5032Won first round vs. Toronto Raptors, 3–0Won conference semifinals vs. Miami Heat, 4–3Lost conference finals to Indiana Pacers, 4–2—Jeff Van Gundy2000–01Eastern4th ¤Atlantic3rd4834Lost first round to Toronto Raptors, 3–2—Jeff Van Gundy2001–02Eastern13thAtlantic7th3052——Jeff Van GundyDon Chaney2002–03Eastern10thAtlantic6th3745——Don Chaney2003–04Eastern7th ¤Atlantic3rd3943Lost first round to New Jersey Nets, 4–0—Don ChaneyHerb WilliamsLenny Wilkens2004–05Eastern12thAtlantic5th3349——Lenny WilkensHerb Williams2005–06Eastern15thAtlantic5th2359——Larry Brown2006–07Eastern12thAtlantic4th3349——Isiah Thomas2007–08Eastern14thAtlantic5th2359——Isiah Thomas2008–09Eastern14thAtlantic5th3250——Mike D'Antoni2009–10Eastern11thAtlantic3rd2953——Mike D'Antoni2010–11Eastern6th ¤Atlantic2nd4240Lost first round to Boston Celtics, 4–0—Mike D'Antoni2011–12Eastern7th ¤Atlantic2nd3630Lost first round to Miami Heat, 4–1Tyson Chandler (DPOY)Mike D'AntoniMike Woodson2012–13Eastern2nd ¤Atlantic ^1st ^5428Won first round vs. Boston Celtics, 4–2Lost conference semifinals to Indiana Pacers, 4–2J. R. Smith (SIX)Jason Kidd(SPOR)Mike Woodson2013–14Eastern9thAtlantic3rd3745——Mike Woodson2014–15Eastern15thAtlantic5th1765——Derek Fisher2015–16Eastern13thAtlantic3rd3250——Derek FisherKurt Rambis2016–17Eastern12thAtlantic3rd3151——Jeff Hornacek2017–18Eastern11thAtlantic4th2953——Jeff Hornacek2018–19Eastern15thAtlantic5th1765——David Fizdale2019–20Eastern12thAtlantic5th2145——David FizdaleMike Miller2020–21Eastern4th ¤Atlantic3rd4131Lost first round to Atlanta Hawks, 4–1Julius Randle (MIP)Tom Thibodeau (COY)Tom Thibodeau2021–22Eastern11thAtlantic5th3745——Tom Thibodeau2022–23Eastern5th ¤Atlantic3rd4735 Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4–1Lost conference semifinals vs. Miami Heat, 4–2—Tom Thibodeau2023–24Eastern2nd ¤Atlantic2nd5032 Won first round vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 4–2Lost conference semifinals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–3—Tom Thibodeau2024–25Eastern3rd ¤Atlantic2nd5131 Won first round vs. Detroit Pistons, 4–2Won conference semifinals vs. Boston Celtics, 4–2Lost conference finals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–2—Tom Thibodeau2025–26 Eastern *3rd ¤Atlantic2nd5329Won first round vs. Atlanta Hawks, 4–2Won conference semifinals vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 4–0Won conference finals vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4–0Won NBA Finals vs. San Antonio Spurs, 4–1 Jalen Brunson (FMVP)Mike Brown
All-time records StatisticWinsLossesW–L%New York Knicks regular season record (1946–present)3,0783,191New York Knicks postseason record (1946–present)226215All-time regular and postseason record3,3043,406
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