New York
KnickS
Madison square garden
HOme of Basketball
The New York Knickerbockers, better known as the New York Knicks, were founded in 1946 and are one of three teams that have been in the NBA since its inception (also in 1946). Their home games are played in the legendary Madison Square Garden, right in the heart of the Big Apple. The franchise and its community are as big as the city of New York. It is one of the NBA's most popular and valuable franchises worldwide. And this despite the fact that the recent franchise history hasn't been very successful.
Until now, the championship went to the Mecca of basketball only twice. In 1970 and 1973, the team led by championship coach Red Holzmann beat the L.A. Lakers in both finals. Players such as Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, and in 1973 Jerry Lucas and Earl Monroe wore the orange/blue kit. After successes in the early '70s, years of mediocrity followed. The Knicks then became a title contender with the No. 1 pick in the first NBA DRAFT lottery in 1985, where the Knickerbockers were able to secure future two time Basketball Hall Of Fame inductee Patrick Ewing and form a team around his exceptional talent. However, this did not succeed immediately, only with the arrival of coach Pat Riley they managed the desired turnaround.
The Knicks managed to reach the NBA Finals in 1994. In 7 games, however, they lost to the Rockets from Houston. The following year, they only made it to the semifinals, where they lost to the Pacers. Ewing's prime was at its peak by the mid-nineties and the Knicks sank back into mediocrity. But in 1999 they surprised the whole basketball world by advancing to the Finals as the eighth-seeded team, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs. In 2000, Ewing was traded to Seattle and the Knicks' rebuild began. The following years were marked by changes, both within the team and in the front office. Since then the Knicks unfortunately haven't been able to get back to this kind of success again. The only playoffs participation they could give their loyal fans was in 2013. And even then, it was already over in the second round.
