Jump to content

1996–97 New York Knicks season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 125.60.240.233 (talk) at 07:18, 24 November 2010. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

1996–97 New York Knicks season
Head coachJeff Van Gundy
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record57–25 (.695)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast Semifinals
(eliminated 3-4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionMSG Network, WBIS, EMI
RadioWFAN
< 1995–96 1997–98 >

The 1996–97 New York Knicks season was the 51st season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Knicks finished in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 57–25 record,[1] and made the NBA Playoffs for the 10th consecutive year.[2]

The Knicks entered the summer of 1996 looking to revamp their line-up. Larry Johnson, a two-time NBA All-Star and the 1991 NBA Rookie of the Year, came from the Hornets in exchange for Anthony Mason and Brad Lohaus. Allan Houston and Chris Childs were signed to start in the backcourt.[3]

The Knicks enjoyed a successful season, with their 57 wins tied for the third-most in franchise history;[2] they finished second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. John Starks was named the Sixth Man of the Year and Patrick Ewing was selected to the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, earned All-NBA Second Team honors,[4] and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.[5] In the last game of the season, at the United Center, the Knicks defeated the then-69–12 Chicago Bulls, preventing them from posting two consecutive 70-win seasons in a row and tying the best home record (40–1 set by the 1985–86 Boston Celtics).[6]

During the playoffs, New York defeated the Charlotte Hornets in a three-game sweep in the first round and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals,[1] where they faced the Miami Heat in what would eventually become the first chapter of one of the fiercest NBA rivalries of the period.[7] After jumping to a 3-1 lead in the series, the Knicks were eliminated by the Heat in seven games,[4] after a brawl erupted at the end of Game 5 that led to the suspensions of five key Knicks players: Ewing, Houston, Johnson, Starks and Charlie Ward.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "1996–97 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  3. ^ Wise, Mike (July 15, 1996). "Pro Basketball;It's a Blockbuster Day for Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "1996–97 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  5. ^ "NBA History: The NBA's 50 Greatest Players". National Basketball Association. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  6. ^ Brown, Clifton (April 20, 1997). "When a Knick Victory Is Not Just a Victory". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  7. ^ Sheridan, Chris (May 7, 2000). "Knicks, Heat continue their simmering rivalry". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  8. ^ Isola, Frank (May 16, 1997). "NBA – No Brawls Allowed Ewing Among Five Suspended Knicks". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=1996–97_New_York_Knicks_season&oldid=398592280"