The Knicks have a rich history, featuring three championship teams that bring back amazing memories tied to iconic players.
Let’s delve into each of these championship squads.
1969-1970
Coach: Red Holtzman
Regular season record: 60-22
Playoff record: 12-7 (4-3 against the Bullets in Eastern semifinals, 4-1 against the Bucks in Eastern finals, 4-3 against the Lakers in NBA Finals)
Playoff stats: Willis Reed was a force with averages of 23.7 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. He received significant contributions from Dave DeBusschere, who averaged 16.1 points and 11.6 rebounds. Clyde Frazier rounded out the trio with 16 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Memory: One of the most iconic moments in Knicks lore is when Reed limped onto the court before Game 7 of the Finals. After missing Game 6 due to a torn thigh muscle, his teammates weren’t sure if he would even play. Reed scored just four points initially, but Frazier elevated the team’s performance, finishing Game 7 with 36 points, 19 assists, seven rebounds, and five steals.
This squad overcame a buzzer-beater from Jerry West in Game 2 to reach the Finals, and they defeated the Bullets by 28 points in Game 7 and then tackled the Bucks, who had a rookie named Lou Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). The Knicks also set a franchise record with 18 consecutive regular-season wins during this season.
1972-1973
Coach: Red Holtzman
Regular season record: 57-25
Playoff record: 12-5 (4-1 against the Bullets in Eastern Conference semifinals, 4-3 against the Celtics in Eastern Conference finals, 4-1 against the Lakers in NBA Finals)
Playoff stats: Frazier was pivotal, leading the Knicks in scoring (21.9 points per game) and assists (6.2 assists per game), averaging nearly 45 minutes of play per night. Earl Monroe contributed 16.1 points and 3.2 assists. Although some key players weren’t as dominant as before, DeBusschere (10.5 rebounds) and Reed (7.6 rebounds) still made their presence felt.
Memory: The Knicks made history as the first road team to win a Game 7 at the Boston Garden, clinching a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. In a nail-biting Game 4 of the Finals against the Lakers, the Knicks narrowly held on to a lead thanks to DeBusschere, who made a critical offensive rebound and added points to secure a 103-98 win.
Interestingly, this 1973 team remains the last NBA squad to have every single starter inducted into the Hall of Fame.
2025-26
Coach: Mike Brown
Regular season record: 53-29
Playoff record: 16-3 (4-2 against the Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round, 4-0 against the 76ers in semifinals, 4-0 against the Cavaliers in conference finals, 4-1 against the Spurs in the Finals)
Playoff stats: Jalen Brunson shone, averaging 28.4 points and earning the nickname “Captain Clutch.” OG Anunoby added 20.1 points per game while Karl-Anthony Towns was formidable on rebounds with 10.6 per game. Brunson and Towns also shared playmaking duties, averaging 6.1 and 4.9 assists, respectively.
Memory: A spectacular 22-point comeback in just eight minutes during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers stands out, as does a historic 29-point second-half rally capped by Anunoby’s dramatic game-winning tip-in in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Spurs.
During these playoffs, the Knicks not only matched an NBA record for winning streaks with 13 wins, but they also achieved it with a historic performance, winning 11 games by double digits. Their incredible journey saw them triumph with a final game score of 94-90 in San Antonio, featuring an astounding 45-point effort from Brunson.
