List of New York Knicks seasons

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The New York Knickerbockers, better known as the New York Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City that competes in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team has played in the NBA throughout the league's entire history. The Knicks play in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. In its 79 seasons, the franchise has reached the NBA Finals eight times and won two championships. As of the end of the 2024–25 season, the Knicks have won more than 3,000 regular season games, and the team has the fourth-highest victory total in NBA history.[1] Since 1968, the Knicks have played home games at Madison Square Garden.[2]

The inside of an arena with large scoreboard visible, which is set up for basketball.
Madison Square Garden is the home arena of the Knicks.

One of the Basketball Association of America's (BAA) 11 teams during its inaugural season, the Knicks won the league's first game, defeating the Toronto Huskies 68–66 on November 1, 1946.[3] The team qualified for the playoffs in the league's first three seasons before the BAA merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to form the NBA.[4] Following the merger, the Knicks extended their streak of playoff appearances to nine consecutive years. The team reached the NBA Finals each year from 1952 to 1954. They returned to the Finals in 1970 and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games for the team's first title. The Knicks and Lakers faced each other again in the 1972 Finals, a series that the Lakers won four games to one. The Knicks earned their second NBA championship the following year, as they won a rematch with Los Angeles in five games.

From 1988 to 2001, the franchise made the playoffs in 14 consecutive seasons, a franchise record. The team reached its first NBA Finals in 21 seasons in 1994, losing to the Houston Rockets in seven games. Five years later, the Knicks again lost in the NBA Finals, this time in a five-game series against the San Antonio Spurs. The team struggled during the early years of the 21st century, winning only one playoff series between 2001 and 2022. The Knicks returned to the playoffs in the 2022–23 season where they reached the conference semifinals, and later played in the conference finals in 2024–25.

Table key

A basketball player attempts a jump shot with one arm outstretched. He is wearing a white jersey with "PRINCETON" and "42" in the front.
Bill Bradley was a member of the Knicks' 1969–70 and 1972–73 championship-winning teams.
NBA champions
(1947–present) †
Conference champions
(1971–present) *
Division champions
(1947–present) ^
Playoff berth
(1947–present) ¤
Play-in berth
(2021–present) ×
Conf. finishFinal position in conference standings
Div. finishFinal position in division standings
WNumber of regular season wins
LNumber of regular season losses
Win%Winning percentage
GBGames behind first-place team in division[a]
Ref.Reference
ASG MVPAll-Star Game Most Valuable Player
COYCoach of the Year
DPOYDefensive Player of the Year
FMVPNBA Finals Most Valuable Player
JWKCJ. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
MIPMost Improved Player
MVPMost Valuable Player
ROYRookie of the Year
SIXSixth Man of the Year
SPORSportsmanship Award

Seasons

Note: Statistics are correct as of the 2025–26 season.

More information Season, Conf. ...
Season Conf. Conf. finish[b] Div. Div. finish[b] W[c] L[c] Win% Playoffs Awards Head coach Ref.
1946–47 — — Eastern 3rd ¤ 33 27 .550 Won first round vs. Cleveland Rebels, 2–1
Lost semifinals to Philadelphia Warriors, 2–0[5]		 — Neil Cohalan [6]
1947–48 — — Eastern 2nd ¤ 26 22 .542 Lost first round to Baltimore Bullets, 2–1[7] — Joe Lapchick [8]
1948–49 — — Eastern 2nd ¤ 32 28 .533 Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 2–1
Lost division finals to Washington Capitols, 2–1[9]		 — Joe Lapchick [10]
1949–50 — — Eastern 2nd ¤ 40 28 .588 Won division semifinals vs. Washington Capitols, 2–0
Lost division finals to Syracuse Nationals, 2–1[11]		 — Joe Lapchick [12]
1950–51 — — Eastern 3rd ¤ 36 30 .545 Won division semifinals vs. Boston Celtics, 2–0
Won division finals vs. Syracuse Nationals, 3–2
Lost NBA Finals to Rochester Royals, 4–3[13]		 — Joe Lapchick [14]
1951–52 — — Eastern 3rd ¤ 37 29 .561 Won division semifinals vs. Boston Celtics, 2–1
Won division finals vs. Syracuse Nationals, 3–1
Lost NBA Finals to Minneapolis Lakers, 4–3[15]		 — Joe Lapchick [16]
1952–53 — — Eastern ^ 1st ^ 47 23 .671 Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 2–0
Won division finals vs. Boston Celtics, 3–1
Lost NBA Finals to Minneapolis Lakers, 4–1[17]		 — Joe Lapchick [18]
1953–54 — — Eastern ^ 1st ^ 44 28 .611 Lost round-robin to Boston Celtics and Syracuse Nationals, 4–0[19] — Joe Lapchick [20]
1954–55 — — Eastern 2nd ¤ 38 34 .528 Lost division semifinals to Boston Celtics, 2–1[21] — Joe Lapchick [22]
1955–56 — — Eastern 4th[d] ¤ 35 37 .486 Lost division tiebreaker to Syracuse Nationals, 1–0[24] — Joe Lapchick
Vince Boryla		 [23]
1956–57 — — Eastern 4th 36 36 .500 — — Vince Boryla [25]
1957–58 — — Eastern 4th 35 37 .486 — — Vince Boryla
Andrew Levane		 [26]
1958–59 — — Eastern 2nd ¤ 40 32 .556 Lost division semifinals to Syracuse Nationals, 2–0[27] — Andrew Levane [28]
1959–60 — — Eastern 4th 27 48 .360 — — Andrew Levane
Carl Braun		 [29]
1960–61 — — Eastern 4th 21 58 .266 — — Carl Braun [30]
1961–62 — — Eastern 4th 29 51 .363 — — Eddie Donovan [31]
1962–63 — — Eastern 4th 21 59 .263 — — Eddie Donovan [32]
1963–64 — — Eastern 4th 22 58 .275 — — Eddie Donovan [33]
1964–65 — — Eastern 4th 31 49 .388 — Willis Reed[34] (ROY) Eddie Donovan
Harry Gallatin		 [35]
1965–66 — — Eastern 4th 30 50 .375 — — Harry Gallatin
Dick McGuire		 [36]
1966–67 — — Eastern 4th ¤ 36 45 .444 Lost division semifinals to Boston Celtics, 3–1[37] — Dick McGuire [38]
1967–68 — — Eastern 3rd ¤ 43 39 .524 Lost division semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–2[39] — Dick McGuire
Red Holzman		 [40]
1968–69 — — Eastern 3rd ¤ 54 28 .659 Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–0
Lost division finals to Boston Celtics, 4–2[41]		 — Red Holzman [42]
1969–70 † — — Eastern ^ 1st ^ 60 22 .732 Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–3
Won division finals vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 4–1
Won NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 4–3[43] †		 Willis Reed[34]
(MVP, FMVP, ASG MVP)
Red Holzman[44] (COY)		 Red Holzman [45]
1970–71 Eastern 1st ¤ Atlantic[e] ^ 1st ^ 52 30 .634 Won conference semifinals vs. Atlanta Hawks, 4–1
Lost conference finals to Baltimore Bullets, 4–3[48]		 — Red Holzman [49]
1971–72 Eastern * 3rd ¤ Atlantic 2nd 48 34 .585 Won conference semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–2
Won conference finals vs. Boston Celtics, 4–1
Lost NBA Finals to Los Angeles Lakers, 4–1[50] *		 — Red Holzman [51]
1972–73 † Eastern * 3rd ¤ Atlantic 2nd 57 25 .695 Won conference semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–1
Won conference finals vs. Boston Celtics, 4–3
Won NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 4–1[52] †		 Willis Reed[34] (FMVP) Red Holzman [53]
1973–74 Eastern 3rd ¤ Atlantic 2nd 49 33 .598 Won conference semifinals vs. Capital Bullets, 4–3
Lost conference finals to Boston Celtics, 4–1[54]		 — Red Holzman [55]
1974–75 Eastern 5th ¤ Atlantic 3rd 40 42 .488 Lost first round to Houston Rockets, 2–1[56] Walt Frazier[57] (ASG MVP) Red Holzman [58]
1975–76 Eastern 7th Atlantic 4th 38 44 .463 — — Red Holzman [59]
1976–77 Eastern 7th Atlantic 3rd 40 42 .488 — — Red Holzman [60]
1977–78 Eastern 5th ¤ Atlantic 2nd 43 39 .524 Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 2–0
Lost conference semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–0[61]		 — Willis Reed [62]
1978–79 Eastern 7th Atlantic 4th 31 51 .378 — — Willis Reed
Red Holzman		 [63]
1979–80 Eastern 7th Atlantic 4th[f] 39 43 .476 — — Red Holzman [64]
1980–81 Eastern 4th ¤ Atlantic 3rd 50 32 .610 Lost first round to Chicago Bulls, 2–0[65] Mike Glenn[66] (JWKC) Red Holzman [67]
1981–82 Eastern 10th Atlantic 5th 33 49 .402 — — Red Holzman [68]
1982–83 Eastern 5th ¤ Atlantic 4th 44 38 .537 Won first round vs. New Jersey Nets, 2–0
Lost conference semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–0[69]		 — Hubie Brown [70]
1983–84 Eastern 5th ¤ Atlantic 3rd 47 35 .573 Won first round vs. Detroit Pistons, 3–2
Lost conference semifinals to Boston Celtics, 4–3[71]		 — Hubie Brown [72]
1984–85 Eastern 10th Atlantic 5th 24 58 .293 — — Hubie Brown [73]
1985–86 Eastern 11th Atlantic 5th 23 59 .280 — Patrick Ewing[74] (ROY)
Rory Sparrow[66][g] (JWKC)		 Hubie Brown [75]
1986–87 Eastern 11th Atlantic 5th[h] 24 58 .293 — — Hubie Brown
Bob Hill		 [76]
1987–88 Eastern 8th ¤ Atlantic 3rd[i] 38 44 .463 Lost first round to Boston Celtics, 3–1[78] Mark Jackson[79] (ROY) Rick Pitino [77]
1988–89 Eastern 2nd ¤ Atlantic ^ 1st ^ 52 30 .634 Won first round vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 3–0
Lost conference semifinals to Chicago Bulls, 4–2[80]		 — Rick Pitino [81]
1989–90 Eastern 5th ¤ Atlantic 3rd 45 37 .549 Won first round vs. Boston Celtics, 3–2
Lost conference semifinals to Detroit Pistons, 4–1[82]		 — Stu Jackson [83]
1990–91 Eastern 8th ¤ Atlantic 3rd 39 43 .476 Lost first round to Chicago Bulls, 3–0[84] — Stu Jackson
John MacLeod		 [85]
1991–92 Eastern 4th ¤ Atlantic 2nd[j] 51 31 .622 Won first round vs. Detroit Pistons, 3–2
Lost conference semifinals to Chicago Bulls, 4–3[87]		 — Pat Riley [86]
1992–93 Eastern 1st ¤ Atlantic ^ 1st ^ 60 22 .732 Won first round vs. Indiana Pacers, 3–1
Won conference semifinals vs. Charlotte Hornets, 4–1
Lost conference finals to Chicago Bulls, 4–2[88]		 Pat Riley[89] (COY) Pat Riley [90]
1993–94 Eastern * 2nd ¤ Atlantic ^ 1st ^ 57 25 .695 Won first round vs. New Jersey Nets, 3–1
Won conference semifinals vs. Chicago Bulls, 4–3
Won conference finals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–3
Lost NBA Finals to Houston Rockets, 4–3[91] *		 — Pat Riley [92]
1994–95 Eastern 3rd ¤ Atlantic 2nd 55 27 .671 Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 3–1
Lost conference semifinals to Indiana Pacers, 4–3[93]		 Anthony Mason[94] (SIX) Pat Riley [95]
1995–96 Eastern 5th ¤ Atlantic 2nd 47 35 .573 Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 3–0
Lost conference semifinals to Chicago Bulls, 4–1[96]		 — Don Nelson
Jeff Van Gundy		 [97]
1996–97 Eastern 3rd ¤ Atlantic 2nd 57 25 .695 Won first round vs. Charlotte Hornets, 3–0
Lost conference semifinals to Miami Heat, 4–3[98]		 John Starks[94] (SIX) Jeff Van Gundy [99]
1997–98 Eastern 7th ¤ Atlantic 2nd 43 39 .524 Won first round vs. Miami Heat, 3–2
Lost conference semifinals to Indiana Pacers, 4–1[100]		 — Jeff Van Gundy [101]
1998–99[k] Eastern * 8th ¤ Atlantic 4th 27 23 .540 Won first round vs. Miami Heat, 3–2
Won conference semifinals vs. Atlanta Hawks, 4–0
Won conference finals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–2
Lost NBA Finals to San Antonio Spurs, 4–1[104] *		 — Jeff Van Gundy [103]
1999–00 Eastern 3rd ¤ Atlantic 2nd 50 32 .610 Won first round vs. Toronto Raptors, 3–0
Won conference semifinals vs. Miami Heat, 4–3
Lost conference finals to Indiana Pacers, 4–2[105]		 — Jeff Van Gundy [106]
2000–01 Eastern 4th ¤ Atlantic 3rd 48 34 .585 Lost first round to Toronto Raptors, 3–2[107] — Jeff Van Gundy [108]
2001–02 Eastern 13th Atlantic 7th 30 52 .366 — — Jeff Van Gundy
Don Chaney		 [109]
2002–03 Eastern 10th Atlantic 6th[l] 37 45 .451 — — Don Chaney [110]
2003–04 Eastern 7th ¤ Atlantic 3rd 39 43 .476 Lost first round to New Jersey Nets, 4–0[111] — Don Chaney
Herb Williams
Lenny Wilkens		 [112]
2004–05 Eastern 12th Atlantic 5th[m] 33 49 .402 — — Lenny Wilkens
Herb Williams		 [113]
2005–06 Eastern 15th Atlantic 5th 23 59 .280 — — Larry Brown [114]
2006–07 Eastern 12th Atlantic 4th 33 49 .402 — — Isiah Thomas [115]
2007–08 Eastern 14th Atlantic 5th 23 59 .280 — — Isiah Thomas [116]
2008–09 Eastern 14th Atlantic 5th 32 50 .390 — — Mike D'Antoni [117]
2009–10 Eastern 11th Atlantic 3rd 29 53 .354 — — Mike D'Antoni [118]
2010–11 Eastern 6th ¤ Atlantic 2nd 42 40 .512 Lost first round to Boston Celtics, 4–0[119] — Mike D'Antoni [120]
2011–12[n] Eastern 7th ¤ Atlantic 2nd 36 30 .545 Lost first round to Miami Heat, 4–1[123] Tyson Chandler[124] (DPOY) Mike D'Antoni
Mike Woodson		 [122]
2012–13 Eastern 2nd ¤ Atlantic ^ 1st ^ 54 28 .659 Won first round vs. Boston Celtics, 4–2
Lost conference semifinals to Indiana Pacers, 4–2		 J. R. Smith[94] (SIX)
Jason Kidd[125]
(SPOR)		 Mike Woodson [126]
2013–14 Eastern 9th Atlantic 3rd 37 45 .451 — — Mike Woodson [127]
2014–15 Eastern 15th Atlantic 5th 17 65 .207 — — Derek Fisher [128]
2015–16 Eastern 13th Atlantic 3rd 32 50 .390 — — Derek Fisher
Kurt Rambis		 [129]
2016–17 Eastern 12th Atlantic 3rd 31 51 .378 — — Jeff Hornacek [130]
2017–18 Eastern 11th Atlantic 4th 29 53 .354 — — Jeff Hornacek [131]
2018–19 Eastern 15th Atlantic 5th 17 65 .207 — — David Fizdale [132]
2019–20[o] Eastern 12th Atlantic 5th 21 45 .318 — — David Fizdale
Mike Miller		 [134]
2020–21[p] Eastern 4th ¤ Atlantic 3rd 41 31 .569 Lost first round to Atlanta Hawks, 4–1 Julius Randle[136] (MIP)
Tom Thibodeau[137] (COY)		 Tom Thibodeau [138]
2021–22 Eastern 11th Atlantic 5th 37 45 .451 — — Tom Thibodeau [139]
2022–23 Eastern 5th ¤ Atlantic 3rd 47 35 .573 Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4–1
Lost conference semifinals vs. Miami Heat, 4–2		 — Tom Thibodeau [140]
2023–24 Eastern 2nd ¤ Atlantic 2nd 50 32 .610 Won first round vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 4–2
Lost conference semifinals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–3		 — Tom Thibodeau [141]
2024–25 Eastern 3rd ¤ Atlantic 2nd 51 31 .622 Won first round vs. Detroit Pistons, 4–2
Won conference semifinals vs. Boston Celtics, 4–2
Lost conference finals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–2		 — Tom Thibodeau [142]
2025–26 Eastern * 3rd ¤ Atlantic 2nd 53 29 .646 Won first round vs. Atlanta Hawks, 4–2
Won conference semifinals vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 4–0
Won conference finals vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4–0
TBD NBA Finals vs. San Antonio Spurs *		 — Mike Brown [143]
Close

All-time records

More information Statistic, Wins ...
Statistic Wins Losses W–L%
New York Knicks regular season record (1946–present) 3,025 3,162 .489
New York Knicks postseason record (1946–present) 210 212 .498
All-time regular and postseason record 3,235 3,374 .489
Close

Notes

  1. [a]
    The formula is as follows:
  2. [b]
    The Finish columns for both conference and division list regular season results and exclude postseason play.
  3. [c]
    The Wins and Losses columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play. Regular and postseason records are combined only below the table.
  4. [d]
    Though the Knicks had the same record as Syracuse in the Eastern Division, they lost the tiebreaker and finished fourth.[23]
  5. [e]
    Before the 1970–71 season, the NBA realigned into Eastern and Western conferences, with four divisions between them.[46] As a result of the realignment, New York was placed in the Eastern Conference as a member of the Atlantic Division.[47]
  6. [f]
    Though the Knicks had the same record as Washington in the Atlantic Division, they lost the tiebreaker and finished fourth.[64]
  7. [g]
    Sparrow and Michael Cooper were co-winners of the award.[66]
  8. [h]
    Though the Knicks had the same record as New Jersey in the Atlantic Division, they lost the tiebreaker and finished fifth.[76]
  9. [i]
    Though the Knicks had the same record as Washington in the Atlantic Division, they lost the tiebreaker and finished third.[77]
  10. [j]
    Though the Knicks had the same record as Boston in the Atlantic Division, they lost the tiebreaker and finished second.[86]
  11. [k]
    Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened 50-game regular season schedule.[102][103]
  12. [l]
    Though the Knicks had the same record as the Washington Wizards in the Atlantic Division, they lost the tiebreaker and finished sixth.[110]
  13. [m]
    Though the Knicks had the same record as Toronto in the Atlantic Division, they lost the tiebreaker and finished fifth.[113]
  14. [n]
    Due to a lockout, the season did not start until December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened 66-game regular season schedule.[121][122]
  15. [o]
    Regular season incomplete due to COVID-19 pandemic.[133]
  16. [p]
    Regular season shortened to 72 games due to COVID-19 pandemic.[135]

References

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