New York Knicks Playoff History

The illustrious history of the New York Knicks traces back to the year 1946, when they emerged as one of the two founding member franchises of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Since their inception, the Knicks have established themselves as one of the most popular teams across the NBA.

During the 1970s, the Knicks teams led by Walt "Clyde'' Frazier, Willis Reed, and Earl Monroe dazzled the crowds at Madison Square Garden with their amazing performances as the Knicks won two NBA Championships in 1970 and 1973. The 90s was another decade when the Knicks were a force under the leadership of Hall of Fame Center Patrick Ewing as they reached the NBA finals in 1994 and 1999.

Despite facing adversity in the subsequent years, including periods of rebuilding, the Knicks remained the premier franchises of the NBA in the heart of the Big Apple. Today, players such as Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle are leading the New York Knicks as they continue to strive for greatness on the hardwood.

How many times have the New York Knicks made the playoffs?

The New York Knicks have reached the NBA playoffs 40 times out of the 77 seasons they have graced the league. The Knicks are one of only two teams who have played every NBA season since the league’s inception in 1946, the second team being the Boston Celtics.

From their inception in the 1946-1947 season until the 1952-1953 season, they consistently made the playoffs. Although they faced a decade of challenges thereafter, their fortunes changed dramatically during the 1966-1967 to 1974-1975 NBA seasons, widely regarded as the golden period of the Knicks franchise.

With the likes of Hall of Fame players such as Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere and Walt Frazier leading the charge, the Knicks secured two NBA titles in 1970 and 1973.

Following this successful era, the Knicks franchise again encountered difficulties until the arrival of Patrick Ewing who was drafted in 1985. From the 1987-1988 season until the 2000-2001 season, the Knicks reached the playoffs every year and they were actually one of the biggest rivals for the legendary Chicago Bulls teams led by Michael Jordan.

However, the 21st century yet again brought significant challenges for the franchise. After reaching the playoffs in 2001, the Knicks only made it to the postseason six times in the following 22 seasons up to 2022-2023. So overall, the New York Knicks have had a storied history in the NBA, marked by periods of both triumph and struggle.

New York Knicks Playoff Record

The New York Knicks have an overall playoff record of 193-198 in their franchise history, as of April 2024. The Knicks’ first outstanding playoff campaign dates back to 1951 when they reached the NBA finals but were beaten by the Rochester Royals in a thrilling seven-game finals series.

The Knicks continued their playoff success as they reached the NBA finals in 1952 and 1953, only to be thwarted by the dominant Minneapolis Lakers led by the legendary George Mikan, widely regarded as the NBA's first superstar. This first successful era of Knicks basketball featured first franchise star players such as Harry Gallatin, Dick McGuire, Carl Braun Jr and Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton.

Despite a period of struggle for a decade or so, the Knicks started contending for the NBA title in late 1960s and early 1970s as the new wave of stars such as Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere and Walt Frazier took the center stage. The Knicks had an amazing win-loss record of 55 wins and 40 losses in the playoffs from 1966-67 to 1974-1975.

Throughout their NBA playoff history, the New York Knicks have forged fierce rivalries with several Eastern Conference teams across different eras. The Boston Celtics have been the formidable adversaries for the Knicks since the NBA began, with intense matchups spanning decades. Next rival for the Knicks is the Brooklyn Nets as their rivalry stems from nearby geographical location. It is one of those cross-borough rivalries of New York sports. The Battle of the Boroughs is always intense.

During the 1990s, the Knicks found themselves in brutal playoff battles with the Chicago Bulls, led by basketball legends Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. These matchups had many memorable moments, solidifying the Bulls as one of the Knicks' greatest rivals. Simultaneously during the same era, the Knicks also faced off against the Indiana Pacers, led by original 3-point sharpshooter Reggie Miller.

Their playoff clashes also had many intense showdowns and unforgettable performances. Lastly, the Miami Heat, featuring stars like Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway Jr, also emerged as formidable opponents for the Knicks from 1997 to 2000 as the Heat-Knicks playoff matchups during this time were easily fiercest battles in Knicks history, and the boiling point of their rivalry reached in 1998 when the infamous Alonzo Mourning vs Larry Johnson brawl took place.

Number of conference finals won by New York Knicks

The Knicks have clinched the Eastern Conference championship four times in the years 1972, 1973, 1994, and 1999.

In 1972, New York Knicks bested the Boston Celtics in Eastern conference finals in a convincing 4-1 series victory. This was followed by a hard-fought seven game series win against the similar rivals, the Boston Celtics in 1973 Eastern conference finals.

In 1994, New York the Knicks were engaged in an intense battle with the Indiana Pacers led by Reggie Miller in the Eastern Conference Finals (ECF) but they ultimately prevailed with a 4-3 series victory. Then, the Knicks were again a problem for the Pacers in 1999 as the Knicks won 1999 ECF with a 4-2 series score.

However, alongside their four eastern conference championships triumphs, the Knicks have also lost four eastern conference finals matchups. These ECF losses for the New York Knicks came in 1971, 1974, 1993, and 2000. So overall, the New York Knicks record in the Eastern Conference Finals is 4-4.

In 1971, the Knicks suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Bullets in a tightly contested 3-4 series. The Bullets were led by the dynamic duo of Earl “the Pearl” Monroe and Wes Unsled. In 1974, the Boston Celtics exacted revenge for their previous two losses in the Eastern conference finals (1972 & 1973) to the Knicks as the Celtics dominated the 1973 ECF with a 4-1 victory led by emerging superstar Dave Cowens.

In the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the Chicago Bulls, the New York Knicks took an early 2-0 series lead. However, the Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant, rallied to win the next four games, ending the Knicks' championship aspirations for that season.

Lastly, in 2000, the Knicks faced another bitter defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals, this time at the hands of the Indiana Pacers. Despite Knicks valiant efforts, the Pacers, led by Reggie Miller, Rik Smits, and Jalen Rose, emerged victorious with a 4-2 series win.

Number of NBA championships won by New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have won two NBA championships in their 78 year history, as of April 2024. The Knicks' both NBA championship wins came against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1970 and 1973.

The 1970 NBA finals are iconic to this day as the Knicks faced a ton of adversity but they overcame it. With series being tied at 2-2, the Game 5 of the 1970 finals was dramatic as their captain Willis Reed tore a muscle in his right leg during the second quarter, and Knicks fell behind Lakers, but the Knicks showed resilience, and behind 21 points but Walt Frazier, they mounted an impressive comeback from a 16-point deficit to secured a crucial Game 5 victory.

However, captain Willis Reed's absence was felt in Game 6 as Wilt Chamberlain dominated with 45 points and tied the 1970 Finals at 3-3. Then, it was time for the Game 7 that would forever etch itself into NBA history as the “Willis Reed Game”.

Despite his injury, Reed made a dramatic appearance on the court, limping onto the hardwood determined to contribute and most importantly, motivate his Knicks team to victory as the captain of the team. While his scoring was limited, Reed's mere presence proved to be a catalyst for the Knicks, who went on to secure a resounding 113–99 victory in Game 7 and won 1970 NBA finals.

This triumph not only secured the championship that had long eluded the Knicks franchise but also cemented Willis Reed's status as a legendary figure in NBA as well as Knicks lore.

After facing a setback in the 1971 NBA playoffs, the New York Knicks acquired stars like Jerry Lucas and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe which instantly made them contenders. However, the success didn't come right away but three years after their first championship, the Knicks faced off against the Lakers in the 1973 NBA finals, and this finals was a one-sided affair as the Knicks dominated the Lakers to the 1973 NBA finals series 4-1.

New York Knicks Last Playoff Appearance

The New York Knicks last NBA playoffs appearance was in 2023. It was the Knicks second postseason appearance in three years, marking a significant return to contention after missing out on seven consecutive NBA playoffs from 2014 to 2020.

In the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs, the Knicks faced a tough matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by star players Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and promising youngsters Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Despite the challenge, the Knicks won the series in five games, thanks in large part to the terrific performances of Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.

The two-way monster Josh Hart and the contributions of several other role players further bolstered the Knicks success in the first of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the solid Cavs team.

However, their momentum was halted in the eastern conference semifinals as they faced the gritty, defensive-minded Miami Heat, led by stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, supported by a deep and in-form cast.

This series marked the modern rekindling of the famous Knicks vs Heat rivalry. Despite putting up a great fight in all the games, the Knicks struggled against the relentless zone defense and tenacity of the Miami Heat, ultimately losing the series in six games.

The 2023 playoffs showcased the Knicks' ability to compete at a higher level after years of absence from postseason contention. While they fell short of their ultimate goal, the experience gained and the strides made in the playoffs provided valuable lessons for the team as they looked ahead to future seasons.

What is the biggest playoff series comeback in the New York Knicks history?

The biggest NBA playoff series comeback in New York Knicks history occurred during the 1990 playoffs against the Boston Celtics. The iconic “Big 3” of Celtics — Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish had a great start to the series as they had the playoffs experience and knew how to rise to the occasion in the clutch playoffs game. However, the Knicks, led by young superstar center Patrick Ewing, Kiki Vandeweghe, and Charles Oakley, found their rhythm in Game 3, and momentum suddenly shifted towards the Knicks.

In a closely contested Game 3, the Knicks emerged victorious with a nerve-wracking 102-99 win, fueled by Ewing's impressive 33-point performance. Ewing continued to dominate in Game 4 as he dropped a 44 points bomb on the Celtics with 18-of-24 field goal shooting, leading the Knicks to another crucial victory and tying up the series at 2-2.

Then, Game 5 saw Ewing continuing his masterful performances by scoring 31 points against the Cetlics veteran star forwards Parish and McHale, and led the Knicks to a famous 3-2 series win. It was an amazing turnaround for the Knicks from a 2-0 deficit to take the series lead at 3-2.

Additionally, in the 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals against archrivals Indiana Pacers, the Knicks found themselves trailing 3-2 in the series. However, they rallied back with two consecutive wins, clinching the series and advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in 21 years.

Lastly, it's also worth noting the Knicks' valiant effort in the 1951 NBA Finals. Despite trailing 3-0 in the series against the Rochester Royals, they mounted an extraordinary comeback to tie the series at 3-3. Unfortunately, they fell short in Game 7, coming agonizingly close to a historic turnaround but ultimately faltering at the last hurdle.