The New York Knicks are a professional basketball team based in New York City. The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The Knicks play their home games at Madison Square Garden, an arena they share with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
The Knicks are one of two original NBA teams still located in its original city (the other being the Boston Celtics). The Knicks were successful during their early years and were constant playoff contenders under the leadership of players such as Willis Reed and Walt Frazier. However, they failed to win an NBA championship during this time.
In the 1970s, the Knicks were a powerhouse, led by Reed and Frazier. The team made the NBA Finals three times, winning it all in 1970. In 1973, the team posted a then-team record 69 wins. However, they lost in the 1974 NBA Finals to the upstart Los Angeles Lakers, who would go on to win five championships in the 1980s.
The Knicks experienced a decline in the late 1970s and early 1980s, missing the playoffs in five of six seasons from 1976 to 1981. They drafted Patrick Ewing with the first overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft. Ewing would lead the Knicks to six playoff appearances, five 50-win seasons, four Atlantic Division titles, and one Eastern Conference title. However, they were again unable to win an NBA championship, losing in the 1994 NBA Finals to the Houston Rockets.
The Knicks returned to prominence in 1999, when they hired former player and head coach Pat Riley. Led by Riley and Ewing, the Knicks made the 2000 NBA Finals, but lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
In recent years, the Knicks have been plagued by poor decisions, bad luck, and a lack of success. The team has not made the playoffs since 2013, and has not won a playoff series since 2000. In 2017, the Knicks hired former head coach Phil Jackson to run the team. Jackson was unable to turn the team around, and was fired after just three seasons.
The Knicks are currently in a rebuilding phase, led by young players such as Kristaps Porzingis and Kevin Knox. The team is hoping to return to prominence in the near future.
