Revisiting the Knicks’ long, winding road back to prominence over the past 27 years
NY Daily News
Last updated: May 26, 2026
The New York Knicks are on the verge of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, marking the culmination of a 27-year journey filled with significant challenges, including poor management decisions, regrettable contracts, and numerous setbacks. This period of rebuilding and struggle has made their current success particularly meaningful for the team's dedicated fanbase.
- The Knicks' path has been characterized by a series of difficult personnel decisions and financial missteps. Key moments include trading away franchise cornerstone Patrick Ewing in 2000, ushering in an era of salary cap mismanagement. The subsequent signing of Allan Houston to a record-breaking contract in 2001, which became a financial burden due to injuries, exemplified these struggles. Under general manager Scott Layden and then president Isiah Thomas, the team experienced further regression, marked by short-lived coaching tenures, poor free-agent signings like Jerome James and Jared Jeffries, and detrimental trades, such as acquiring Steve Francis for Trevor Ariza. A significant draft miss involved trading for Eddy Curry, while the team also failed to secure top free agents like LeBron James in 2010 and later missed out on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in 2019. Despite acquiring Carmelo Anthony in 2011, their playoff success remained limited. Phil Jackson's tenure as president also yielded disappointing results. However, recent moves under president Leon Rose, including hiring coach Tom Thibodeau and acquiring players like Josh Hart and OG Anunoby, alongside the pivotal signing of Jalen Brunson in 2022, have transformed the team, leading to their current period of success.
