New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are one of the marquee franchises in American sports, let alone in the NBA. The Knicks play at the so-called home of basketball, Madison Square Garden, helping to create a world famous brand.

The New York Knickerbockers play in the Atlantic Division of the NBA's Eastern Conference. In their franchise history the Knicks have won two NBA Championships, 8 conference titles, and 8 Division titles. The team name is taken from the fictional character, and New York City symbol of Father Knickerbocker, who, in urban legend, was said to be the head of the Knickerbocker family, the first, famous and respected family in the history of New York

The Knicks started their history on November 1, 1946, and would wait only five short years before making their first trip to the NBA Finals. Throughhout the 1950's, the Knicks would have a strong decade, making seven trips to the NBA Playoffs, and three trips to the NBA Finals.

The 1960's would be an up and down decade for the Knicks. From 1960-66, the Knicks would finish dead last in their division. In 1967, the Knicks hired coach Red Holzman. With his mentoring, young stars Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, and Willis Reed would lead the Knicks back to the Playoffs. Two more playoff appearances would lead the Knicks into 1970.

In 1970, the Knicks would record their first NBA Championship. The Knicks would stroll through the regular season, recording a 60-22 record, whilst recording a then best, 18 straight regular season victories. They would go on and defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. The Knicks would make the playoffs the next two years, but were knocked out each year. However in 1973, the Knicks would win their second title, again defeating the Lakers, this time in five games.

The next 12 years would be something of a daze for Knicks fans as they were a mediocre team for this time. Although they did post a 50-32 record in 1980/81 season, the Chicago Bulls would sweep them in two games. In 1984/85, the Knicks fortunes would change.

After a dismal 1984/85 season, the Knicks were entered into the NBA's first ever NBA Draft Lottery. The team ended up winning the Number one draft pick, and in the draft, they would pick star center, Patrick Ewing of Georgetown University. Unfortunately for Ewing and the Knicks, Michael Jordan would enter the league the same season, joining Magic Johnson and the Detroit Pistons 'bad boys' to make it virtually impossible for the Knicks to get out of the East.

The Knicks would get a break in 1993/94 when Jordan retired to play baseball. The Knicks would make the NBA Finals, but would eventually lose to Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and the Houston Rockets in seven games. The Knicks would not return to the Finals unitl the shortened lockout season of 1998/99 where they would fall to the San Antonio Spurs.

The last decade has not been good for Knicks fans. They have been on the wrong side of winning records, they have signed average players to max contracts, they have made dubious trades, and gone through several coaches. The Knicks will be looking forward to the next decade to try and mastermind their third NBA Championship.

Stephon Marbury. This is the year when they were finally able to rid themselves of Marbury. Although Marbury was a very good player with his earlier teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, and the Phoenix Suns, something would go wrong when he came to New York.

This seemed like the perfect fit with Marbury growing up in New York and being a lifelong Knicks fan, however when he came in 2004, things would start to go wrong. Firstly he would have a public fued with coach Larry Brown, which resulted in Brown getting fired at the end of the 2005/06 Season.

Isiah Thomas was next in line and Marbury would again fued with the coach. It was even rumoured that they came to blows on the team plane and that Marbury threatened to blackmail Thomas because he left Marbury out of the starting lineup. In April 2008, Thomas would eventually be fired.

The next coach was Mike D'Antoni, and with Chris Duhon taking over at point guard, Marbury would be placed on the inactive list. After a disagreement between D'Antoni and Marbury, Marbury was banned from attending any Knicks practices or games.

On February 24, 2009, the Knicks were finally able to rid themselves of Marbury and start the new decade with a clean sheet.