One of the most recognized names in professional sports, the New York Knickerbockers—or simply the Knicks—have a history dating back to 1946 as a founding member of the Basketball Association of America, which later merged with the National Basketball League to become the NBA. Today, the team is synonymous with New York City itself as one of the only 2 original NBA teams, along with the Boston Celtics, to still be located in the city where it was founded. Whether the Knicks are making playoffs or having a tougher season, they remain a symbol of pride for the people of NYC, and fans clamor to grab affordable tickets for games at Madison Square Garden.
Beginning with a debut win against the former Toronto Huskies, the Knicks have been on a rollercoaster ride from the 1940s through today. The early years saw frequent success with 3 consecutive appearances at the NBA Finals starting in 1951. Though they didn’t bring home a title, it was an important time for building the loyal fan base that still exists today. Fans later got exactly what they wanted when the team took home 2 championships in 1970 and 1973.
In 1985, after a decade of ups and downs, the Knicks signed future Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing. The legendary center brought about an era marked by new records, 2 more appearances in the Finals, and intense rivalries with Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, Reggie Miller’s Indiana Pacers, and Tim Hardaway’s Miami Heat. A period of mixed success began after 2000 when Ewing left the Knicks for a stint with the Seattle Sonics. Since then, the New York-based team has battled to reclaim its place at the top, but started to see significant gains with the signing of players like Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. In 2013, they took home their first Atlantic Division title in 19 years.
Today, under Head Coach Jeff Hornacek, the team boasts a roster that includes Michael Beasley, Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Tim Hardaway Jr. Currently considered the most financially valuable team in the NBA, it’s no shock that fans continue to flock to Madison Square Garden to see the Knicks shoot for new levels of success. Don’t wait long to grab your ticket to watch them face off against long-standing rivals like the Celtics, Pacers, and fellow New York-based Brooklyn Nets.
The Knicks entered the draft holding one first round picks and one second round picks. The Knicks used their 11th overall pick to select Ousmane Dieng who was then traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the 42nd overall pick was used to select Trevor Keels. The 2022–23 New York Knicks season will be the 77th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association.