Established
1946
City
New York
League History
1949 – Present / National Basketball Association
1946 – 1949 / Basketball Association of America
Team History
1946 – Present / New York Knickerbockers
Nickname
Knickerbockers – The New York Knickerbockers, or the Knicks for short, have been a beloved basketball team since their inception in 1946. The name has become synonymous with professional basketball and is one of the most recognizable names in sports. But where did this unique nickname come from?
It turns out that the origin of “Knickerbocker” dates back to pre-Revolutionary War days when Dutch settlers first arrived in what would eventually become New York City. In those days, people who lived near what was then called “New Amsterdam” were known as "Knickers" because they wore knee-length trousers (which we now call knickers). Over time, these same people became known as "Knickerbockers," an Anglicized version of their original Dutch moniker.
In 1946 when Ned Irish founded the Basketball Association of America (the forerunner to today's NBA), he decided to pay homage to his city's rich cultural heritage by naming his new franchise after these early inhabitants - thus giving birth to The New York Knickerbockers! Since then, generations have embraced this unique name and made it part of sports history forever!
Championship
NBA Championships 2
1973, 1970
Arena
1946 – Present / Madison Square Garden
Owner
1999 – Present / James Dolan - The Madison Square Garden Company
1946 – 1999 / Ned Irish - The Madison Square Garden Company
- 1946
- 1968
- 1970
- 1973
- 2011
-
New York Knickerbockers Team Formation
Irish wanted a distinct name for his franchise that was representative of the city of New York. He called together members of his staff for a meeting to cast their votes in a hat. After tallying the votes, the franchise was named the Knickerbockers. The “Knickerbocker” name comes from the pseudonym used by Washington Irving in his book A History ... -
Madison Square Garden Re-opens
On February 11, 1968, the current Madison Square Garden (sometimes referred to as Madison Square Garden IV) opened after Irving M. Felt, who purchased the air rights from the Pennsylvania Railroad, tore down the above-ground portions of the original Pennsylvania Station. The new structure was one of the first of its kind to be built above the platforms of an ... -
NBA Finals Winner 1970
NBA Finals – 1970 The 1970 NBA World Championship Series the championship round of the 1970 NBA Playoffs, which concluded the National Basketball Association 1969 – 1970 season. The Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks faced the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers in a best-of-seven series that the Knicks won 4 games to 3 for their first NBA title. -
NBA Finals Winner 1973
NBA Finals – 1973 The 1973 NBA World Championship Series pitted the New York Knicks of the Eastern Conference against the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference for the NBA championship. The series was an exact reversal of the prior year, with the Lakers winning Game 1 and the Knicks taking the next four games. -
Anthony Acquired from Denver
In spite of the team’s mounting success, New York made a push to acquire Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony. After months of speculation, on February 22, 2011, Anthony was traded to New York, with teammates Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, and former Knick Renaldo Balkman. Denver acquired Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Mozgov, Kosta Koufos, a 2014 first-round draft ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Knicks
The New York Knicks, home to NBA Greatest Players throughout their illustrious history, have a long and storied history in the NBA. Founded in 1946, they are one of the oldest teams in league history. They were also one of the founding members of the Basketball Association of America, which eventually merged with another basketball league to form what we now know as the National Basketball Association (NBA). Over their many years competing at an elite level, they’ve won 8 division titles and 2 championships - both coming during their championship runs from 1969-1973 under legendary coach Red Holzman.
Throughout their existence, some genuinely iconic players have donned a Knicks jersey, including Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, and Patrick Ewing, to name a few. While these players will forever be remembered for helping bring success to Madison Square Garden on numerous occasions over several decades, it was not until recently that this team began its resurgence back into contention for an NBA title once again after nearly two decades without any playoff appearances or winning seasons since 2001-02 season when Hall Of Famer Larry Brown took over as head coach leading them all way up till 2004 where he resigned due his disagreements with Isiah Thomas who later became president/GM before being replaced by Donnie Walsh who brought Carmelo Anthony via trade & drafted Danilo Gallinari & Wilson Chandler among others while signing free agents like Amare Stoudemire ultimately leading The Knickerbockers back into playoffs after 7 straight losing seasons!
Today's era is led by young stars RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson, alongside veterans such as Derrick Rose, Elfrid Payton & Taj Gibson. With Tom Thibodeau at the helm entering the 2020–21 season, expectations are high again as fans look forward to a brighter future filled with postseason glory. It can be said that although there may not yet be another championship banner hanging from MSG rafters if the current core stays together, then indeed, it isn't too far away!
Sports Fan Products
Exploring New York Knicks Team History: Must-Watch Insights
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This video delves into the life and career of the player who became the face of the franchise, defining an era at Madison Square Garden. From his early days in the NBA to his rise as a beloved icon, we explore how Mount Rushmore New York Knicks symbolized determination, skill, and loyalty.
Retired Number
10 / Walt Frazier
12 / Dick Barnett
15 / Earl Monroe
15 / Dick McGuire
19 / Willis Reed
22 / Dave DeBusschere
24 / Bill Bradley
33 / Patrick Ewing
613 / Red Holzman
*Blue is this team’s history