As I sit here watching the Golden State Warriors dominate another playoff game, I can't help but reflect on how far the NBA has come since its humble beginnings. Having followed basketball for over two decades, I've developed a particular fascination with the league's origin story and the team that started it all - the New York Knicks. Founded in 1946 as part of the Basketball Association of America, which later became the NBA, the Knicks hold the distinction of being the league's oldest continuously operating franchise. What many casual fans don't realize is that while several teams existed before the Knicks in various leagues, no other organization has maintained such consistent presence and influence throughout NBA history.
The early years of the Knicks were nothing short of remarkable, making three consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 1951 to 1953 under the legendary coach Joe Lapchick. I've always been particularly drawn to this era, when basketball was played with a different kind of grit and determination. The team's signature style - characterized by tough defense and methodical offense - became the blueprint for success in those formative years. Though they fell short in all three finals series, their consistent competitiveness laid the foundation for what would become one of sports' most iconic franchises. Looking at today's game, I sometimes miss that raw, unfiltered approach to basketball that defined those early Knicks teams.
When we talk about the Knicks' golden era, we inevitably arrive at the championship years of 1970 and 1973. As a basketball historian, I consider Willis Reed's dramatic entrance before Game 7 of the 1970 Finals to be one of the most courageous moments in sports history. The image of Reed limping onto the court, defying a serious thigh injury to inspire his team to victory, still gives me chills. That team, featuring Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Bill Bradley, and Dave DeBusschere, wasn't just talented - they embodied the spirit of New York City itself: resilient, flashy, and uncompromising. The 1973 championship team, while sometimes overlooked, demonstrated remarkable consistency by capturing their second title in four years with largely the same core group.
The 1990s brought another fascinating chapter with Pat Riley's arrival as head coach in 1991. I remember watching those physical, defense-oriented teams with Patrick Ewing, John Starks, and Charles Oakley, and thinking they represented the purest form of Eastern Conference basketball. Their rivalry with the Chicago Bulls and particularly their heartbreaking Game 7 loss in the 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals remains, in my opinion, one of the most compelling what-if scenarios in NBA history. Had they overcome Michael Jordan's Bulls, I believe they would have captured at least one championship during that era. The statistics from their 1993-94 season tell the story: 60 regular-season wins, allowing just 91.5 points per game defensively, with Ewing averaging 24.5 points and 11.2 rebounds.
In recent years, the Knicks have experienced what I'd characterize as the franchise's most challenging period, with only 3 playoff appearances in the last 10 seasons. Yet even during these lean years, the team's historic legacy continues to resonate throughout the league. When I visit Madison Square Garden, often called "The World's Most Famous Arena," I'm always struck by how the building itself serves as a living museum of basketball history. From the championship banners hanging from the rafters to the retired numbers of legends like Reed, Frazier, and Ewing, the atmosphere reminds you that you're standing on hallowed ground. The current rebuilding effort under team president Leon Rose gives me hope that we might witness a return to relevance sooner rather than later.
What makes the Knicks' story so compelling, in my view, is how it mirrors the evolution of professional basketball itself. From the early days of set shots and deliberate offenses to the modern era of three-point shooting and positionless basketball, the franchise has witnessed and contributed to every significant development in the game. While they haven't won a championship since 1973, their 8 conference titles and 20 division championships speak to remarkable consistency across different eras. As we look toward the future, I'm optimistic that this historic franchise will once again rise to championship contention, adding new chapters to its already rich legacy. The Knicks aren't just a basketball team - they're a living chronicle of the NBA itself, and their continued relevance ensures that their historic impact will be felt for generations to come.