NYKNew York Knicks

Franchise history

The Knickerbockers — shortened to "Knicks" — were founded in 1946 by Madison Square Garden president Ned Irish as one of eleven original BAA franchises. The name references "Knickerbocker," a term tied to early Dutch settlers of New York. The Knicks are one of only two NBA franchises (with Boston) that have operated continuously in the same city under the same name since the league's founding.

The franchise's golden era arrived under coach Red Holzman in the late 1960s, built around Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, and Earl Monroe. New York won its first championship in 1970, punctuated by Reed's iconic Game 7 return against the Lakers despite a torn thigh muscle. A second title followed in 1973, again against the Lakers. Since 1973, the Knicks have not won another championship — a drought now exceeding five decades, the longest active title drought among the NBA's original franchises. New York reached the Finals twice more, in 1994 and 1999, losing both times.

Sources

• New York Knicks — Wikipedia
• 1970 NBA Finals — Wikipedia

NBA Champions won (3)

• 1969-70
• 1972-73
• 2025-26

Runner-up finishes (6)

• 1950-51
• 1951-52
• 1952-53
• 1971-72
• 1993-94
• 1998-99

See the full nba champions list for the winner each of these years.