The last decade or so hasn't been kind to the New York Knicks, but things are looking up now that they've finally made the playoffs again for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
The Knicks are trying to get back to when they used to be a hallmark organization that was associated with nothing but winning. There's a reason for New York being called the Mecca of Basketball, anyway.
For this piece, we ranked the five best Knicks teams in franchise history. The top two teams were easy to choose since only two New York clubs have ever won the championship.
However, picking the other three teams wasn't as easy.
5. 1952-53 Knicks
Led by head coach Joe Lapchick, the 1952-53 Knicks won 47 games during the regular season and finished in the top-four in both offense and defense.
At this time in the NBA, there were only 10 teams in the league. The Knicks finished with the best record in the Eastern Division, while the Minneapolis Lakers had the top record in the Western Division.
This Knicks team was led in scoring by Hall of Famer Carl Braun, who averaged 14.0 points per game. New York began the 1953 playoffs by defeating the Baltimore Bullets in the Eastern Division Semifinals, 2-0. Back then, there was no first round of the postseason.
New York advanced to the 1953 NBA Finals after beating the Boston Celtics in the Division Finals. The Lakers were waiting for the Knicks in the Finals and, while the Big Apple franchise was no doubt confident heading into the championship series, their opponent just had too much talent.
Minneapolis won the series in five games behind the stellar play of George Mikan. New York had no answers for the man they used to call “Mr. Basketball.”
4. 1971-72 Knicks
Head coach Red Holzman, who also served as the team's exec, guided New York to 48 wins in the regular season. They were third in the league in defense, giving up only 104.7 points per game.
Hall of Famer Walt Frazier put up 23.2 points a night for the Knicks. New York was the third seed in the Eastern Conference, and they began the postseason by eliminating the Baltimore Bullets in six games.
The 1972 Eastern Conference Finals saw the Knicks take on the Celtics. New York was able to win in a gentleman's sweep, taking the series in five games.
Once again, though, the Lakers — who were now the Los Angeles Lakers — spoiled the Knicks' postseason. L.A. beat New York in the NBA Finals in five games, with Frazier and his team watching their magical season go down the drain.
3. 1993-94 Knicks
With Pat Riley at the helm, the Knicks racked up 57 wins during the regular season to clinch the second-best record in the East. New York had Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing leading the charge, with stars Charles Oakley, John Starks and Anthony Mason serving as great second, third and fourth options, respectively.
The Knicks began the 1994 playoffs by defeating the New Jersey Nets. The second round featured New York going up against the Chicago Bulls. Without Michael Jordan, Chicago fought hard but ended up losing to the ‘Bockers in seven games.
The 1994 Eastern Conference Finals was a bloodbath between the Knicks and Indiana Pacers. Even though New York won in seven games, the players ended up feeling the after-effects of playing the Pacers on their bodies.
The 1994 Finals was one of the best NBA Finals in history. You had two of the best centers in league history going up against each other in Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon, who won the 1994 regular-season MVP award.
The Knicks had two chances to win the series in Houston after taking a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6. However, the Rockets won both games to take home the title, sending Ewing and Co. home heartbroken.
Olajuwon won Finals MVP. He finished the seven-game series with stellar averages of 26.9 points and 9.1 rebounds.
2. 1972-73 Knicks
After losing to the Lakers in the 1972 Finals, the 1972-73 team was out for revenge.
During the regular season, the Knicks won 57 games and had the most devastating defense in the NBA. New York gave up only 98.2 points per game that campaign. That was first in the league.
The Knicks started the 1973 playoffs with an easy five-game series win over the Baltimore Bullets. The Eastern Conference Finals was yet another hard-fought series against the Celtics, just like in the 1972 Conference Finals. Same teams, same result — New York won in seven games to advance to the Finals.
This was the moment that Frazier and Willis Reed were waiting for: a chance to get revenge against the Lakers in the Finals and bring the championship back to New York.
The Knicks won the series in five games, with Reed capturing Finals MVP by averaging 16.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
1. 1969-70 Knicks
This Knicks squad was the first team in franchise history to win it all.
New York won 60 games during the regular season, finishing with the top record in the league. The Knicks started the 1970 playoffs with a 4-3 series win over the Baltimore Bullets. The Division Finals was a little easier for New York, as they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.
In the 1969 Finals, Reed and Frazier captured their first titles apiece, with Reed winning Finals MVP.
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