New York Knicks

The New York Knicks, one of the oldest and most storied franchises in the National Basketball Association, have a rich and fascinating history that spans over 70 years. From their humble beginnings as a member of the Basketball Association of America in 1946 to their present status as a premier NBA team, the Knicks have had their share of ups and downs, triumphs and setbacks.

The Knicks were founded by Ned Irish, a former sports journalist who was instrumental in the creation of the BAA. Irish was a visionary who believed that professional basketball had the potential to become a major sport in the United States. In 1946, he convinced the BAA to award a franchise to New York City, and the Knicks were born.

The team's early years were marked by struggles on and off the court. In their first season, the Knicks finished with a record of 22-22, and they struggled to draw fans to Madison Square Garden. However, the team slowly began to improve, and by the 1949-50 season, they had become a contender in the BAA.

In 1950, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League to form the NBA, and the Knicks were among the teams that joined the new league. In their first NBA season, the Knicks finished with a winning record and made it to the playoffs. The following year, the team reached the NBA Finals, but they were swept by the Minneapolis Lakers.

The Knicks continued to be a competitive team in the 1950s, but they were unable to win a championship. In 1954, the team acquired center and future Hall of Famer Harry Gallatin, who would become one of the team's most important players. In 1959, the Knicks drafted forward Richie Guerin, who would go on to become the team's all-time leading scorer.

In the 1960s, the Knicks began to emerge as a dominant force in the NBA. In the 1963-64 season, the team won a franchise-record 55 games and reached the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games. The following year, the Knicks finally broke through and won their first NBA championship, defeating the San Francisco Warriors in five games.

The Knicks remained a contender in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but they were unable to win another championship. In 1970, the team acquired center Willis Reed, who would become one of the team's most iconic players. Reed was named the NBA Most Valuable Player in 1970 and led the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1972, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

In the mid-1970s, the Knicks began to decline, and the team struggled to remain competitive. In 1978, the team hired Red Holzman as head coach, and Holzman would go on to become one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. Under Holzman, the Knicks became a defensive powerhouse and made it to the NBA Finals in both 1979 and 1980, but they were unable to win a championship.

In the 1980s, the Knicks continued to be a dominant defensive team, but they were unable to win another championship. In 1985, the team acquired center Patrick Ewing, who would become one of the greatest players in Knicks history. Ewing led the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999, but the team was unable to win a championship.

In the 2000s, the Knicks struggled to remain competitive, and the team went through a series of coaching changes and roster overhauls. In 2010, the team hired former player and coach Derek Fisher as head coach, and Fisher led the Knicks to the playoffs in his first season. However, the team struggled in subsequent years and failed to make the playoffs.

In 2011, the Knicks hired Phil Jackson as their team president. Jackson, who had won 11 NBA championships as a coach, was tasked with rebuilding the team and bringing success back to New York. In his first few seasons, Jackson made a number of trades and acquisitions that helped the Knicks improve their record.

In 2013, the Knicks hired former NBA player and coach Mike Woodson as their head coach. Woodson led the team to their first division title in 19 years, and the Knicks made the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

The Knicks play their home games at 'World's Most Famous Arena' the Madison Square Garden, a place they share with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Alongside the Boston Celtics, the Knicks are one of two original NBA teams still located in its original city. 

The team has retired 10 different jersey numbers in their history, from players like Clyde Frazier, Richard Barnett, Vernon Monroe, Richard McGuire, Willis Reed Jr., Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Patrick Ewing and William Holzman. Ewing is the team's all-time leading scorer, with 2,787.

Championships: 2 (1970, 1973)

Conference titles: 8 (1951, 1952, 1953, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1994, 1999)

Division titles: 5 (1971, 1989, 1993, 1994, 2013)