New York Knicks · Franchise era 3 of 7
From the champions to Bernard King: the New York Knicks story
Franchise era
1973–74—1984–85
From the champions to Bernard King
New York Knicks
The story in one sentence
The title core aged out before King's spectacular 1984 postseason briefly returned the Garden to center stage.
01
A scoring masterpiece bridges eras
02
Bernard King, Bill Cartwright and Michael Ray Richardson gave the era its recognizable core.
03
Its ending created the conditions for the ewing era.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 1973–74
What came before
A smart, selfless roster won championships in 1970 and 1973 and created the franchise's enduring ideal.
1974
Eastern Conference Semifinals: New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics
1983
Eastern Conference Semifinals: New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers
1984
Eastern Conference Semifinals: New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics
After 1984–85
What came next
Ewing anchored thirteen straight playoff teams and two Finals runs in an era defined by physical defense and narrow margins.
The core