‘You never get over it’ – Fighting 1990s New York Knicks were toughest crew in NBA history but couldn’t win final battle
Patrick Ewing was the perfect No. 1 pick for New York. Pat Riley came out of retirement to turn Madison Square Garden into the Knicks’ playground. Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing battled each other in the 1990s While the 2024-25 version of the franchise attempts to upset the reigning champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the 1990s Knicks are known as the toughest team in NBA history to never win a championship. Blame Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson and the first era of the Chicago Bulls‘ dynasty. “Anybody that was trying to take something from us, that’s a rivalry,” Jordan told Ahmad Rashad. “Every game, we tried to send a statement. We tried to make sure they don’t gain anything against us.” But also blame Hakeem Olajuwon, the Houston Rockets in the first post-Jordan era, and John Starks shooting 2-of-18 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Knicks led 3-2 in the 1994 Finals, moving one win away from a world championship. The Rockets rode The Dream inside The Summit to back-to-back victories, and a trophy that New York is still seeking more than 30 years later. “You never get over it,” Starks told Sports Illustrated in 2023. “You just kind of put it in a little box in your mind and keep it there. Playoffs come around, it starts to open up a little bit. As a player, you never forget that. “I don’t care what anybody says. When you have a moment like that, and I know a lot of guys had moments like that, let that destroy their lives and never recovered from it. You never forget about it.” youtube@NBA on ESPN The Knicks weren’t afraid to mix it up on the court[/caption] youtube@NBA on ESPN Pat Riley dove on the floor and ended up on the bottom of a pile[/caption] youtube@NBA on ESPN Greg Anthony got involved from the bench[/caption] New York’s stunning 2-0 start in the 2024-25 semifinals had Madison Square Garden buzzing, with the cheapest ticket for Game 3 priced at $600 on the secondary market. As the current Knicks fought off 20-point deficits and humbled the Celtics, echoes of the 1990s team could still be heard. “Going home we realize the opportunity we have. We just have to stay locked in,” New York All-Star guard Jalen Brunson said. Riley created intense belief within the Knicks as the 1990s began, toughening up his Showtime Lakers image and leaving behind the TV booth. The New York native went 223-105 in blue and orange, and collected four consecutive winning seasons. Prior to Riley’s arrival, the Knicks posted just four winning seasons in 10 years. He recorded at least 50 wins in each of his four seasons, topped off by leading New York to its first NBA Finals appearance since 1972-73. Riley won NBA Coach of the Year in 1993, while Ewing was an annual MVP contender and became one of the best big men of all-time. Charles Oakley, Derek Harper, Anthony Mason, Greg Anthony, Doc Rivers, Charles Smith and Jeff Van Gundy became lasting names in New York. But Jordan and Pippen also played in the Eastern Conference, and the Bulls knocked the Knicks out of the playoffs in 1992 and ’93 on the way to world titles. “As long as Patrick was gonna be there, as long as Oakley was gonna be there, as long as Starks was gonna be there, you gotta let them know what they are, this is where you belong,” Jordan said. “I don’t care who you think you are, this is where you belong.” GettyEwing became an all-time great in the paint[/caption] Jordan and Oakley later became friends. Ewing won two gold medals, made the Hall of Fame and coached Georgetown, his alma mater. He also wasn’t afraid to praise Air Jordan, despite his former nemesis going 6-0 in the Finals and getting in the way of a potential Knicks championship in the early 1990s. “Michael Jordan is the best in my era,” Ewing said on The Mark Jackson Show. “The way that he played, everything he brought to the table — not to take anything away from LeBron (James) and Kobe (Bryant).” The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference semis in 1992, advanced to the conference finals in ’93, and were four quarters away from a world championship in ’94. GettyThe Knicks were a tough out and almost won the Finals[/caption] Riley lasted one more year, then got it all right again in Miami. One of the best coaches and front-office leaders in NBA history lured The King out of Cleveland to create the most famous Big 3 in basketball history.
Patrick Ewing was the perfect No. 1 pick for New York.
Pat Riley came out of retirement to turn Madison Square Garden into the Knicks’ playground.
While the 2024-25 version of the franchise attempts to upset the reigning champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the 1990s Knicks are known as the toughest team in NBA history to never win a championship.
Blame Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson and the first era of the Chicago Bulls‘ dynasty.
“Anybody that was trying to take something from us, that’s a rivalry,” Jordan told Ahmad Rashad.
“Every game, we tried to send a statement. We tried to make sure they don’t gain anything against us.”
But also blame Hakeem Olajuwon, the Houston Rockets in the first post-Jordan era, and John Starks shooting 2-of-18 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
The Knicks led 3-2 in the 1994 Finals, moving one win away from a world championship.
The Rockets rode The Dream inside The Summit to back-to-back victories, and a trophy that New York is still seeking more than 30 years later.
“You never get over it,” Starks told Sports Illustrated in 2023.
“You just kind of put it in a little box in your mind and keep it there. Playoffs come around, it starts to open up a little bit. As a player, you never forget that.
“I don’t care what anybody says. When you have a moment like that, and I know a lot of guys had moments like that, let that destroy their lives and never recovered from it. You never forget about it.”
New York’s stunning 2-0 start in the 2024-25 semifinals had Madison Square Garden buzzing, with the cheapest ticket for Game 3 priced at $600 on the secondary market.
As the current Knicks fought off 20-point deficits and humbled the Celtics, echoes of the 1990s team could still be heard.
“Going home we realize the opportunity we have. We just have to stay locked in,” New York All-Star guard Jalen Brunson said.
Riley created intense belief within the Knicks as the 1990s began, toughening up his Showtime Lakers image and leaving behind the TV booth.
The New York native went 223-105 in blue and orange, and collected four consecutive winning seasons.
Prior to Riley’s arrival, the Knicks posted just four winning seasons in 10 years.
He recorded at least 50 wins in each of his four seasons, topped off by leading New York to its first NBA Finals appearance since 1972-73.
Riley won NBA Coach of the Year in 1993, while Ewing was an annual MVP contender and became one of the best big men of all-time.
Charles Oakley, Derek Harper, Anthony Mason, Greg Anthony, Doc Rivers, Charles Smith and Jeff Van Gundy became lasting names in New York.
But Jordan and Pippen also played in the Eastern Conference, and the Bulls knocked the Knicks out of the playoffs in 1992 and ’93 on the way to world titles.
“As long as Patrick was gonna be there, as long as Oakley was gonna be there, as long as Starks was gonna be there, you gotta let them know what they are, this is where you belong,” Jordan said.
“I don’t care who you think you are, this is where you belong.”
Jordan and Oakley later became friends.
Ewing won two gold medals, made the Hall of Fame and coached Georgetown, his alma mater.
He also wasn’t afraid to praise Air Jordan, despite his former nemesis going 6-0 in the Finals and getting in the way of a potential Knicks championship in the early 1990s.
“Michael Jordan is the best in my era,” Ewing said on The Mark Jackson Show.
“The way that he played, everything he brought to the table — not to take anything away from LeBron (James) and Kobe (Bryant).”
The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference semis in 1992, advanced to the conference finals in ’93, and were four quarters away from a world championship in ’94.
Riley lasted one more year, then got it all right again in Miami.
One of the best coaches and front-office leaders in NBA history lured The King out of Cleveland to create the most famous Big 3 in basketball history.
