NBA Champions ·
1970 New York Knicks
The 1969-70 Knicks won the franchise's first title, going 60-22 and beating the Lakers in seven. Willis Reed took home MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals MVP in the same year. His limping entrance before Game 7, two baskets and then little else, remains the most replayed moment in team history.
Red Holzman's Knicks built their season on defense and ball movement, and they ripped off an 18-game winning streak, then a league record. They finished 60-22, the best mark the franchise has ever posted.
Reed was the center and the leader, but Walt Frazier ran the show. After Reed tore a muscle in his thigh in Game 5, the Lakers blew out New York in Game 6 with Chamberlain dominating inside. Reed hobbled out for Game 7 and hit his first two shots, and the Garden erupted. Frazier did the actual damage that night: 36 points and 19 assists.
The series went the distance against a Lakers team with West, Chamberlain, and Baylor. New York's edge was depth and a shared style, with Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, and Dick Barnett rounding out a starting five that moved the ball as well as any group of its time.
The roster also carried a young forward named Phil Jackson, who missed the entire season recovering from spinal fusion surgery and watched from the bench. He would coach eleven championship teams of his own.
Championship roster
Featured in Ring Holders Club
| Player | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Walt Frazier | PG | 91 |
| Dick Barnett | SG | 80 |
| Bill Bradley | SF | 82 |
| Dave DeBusschere | PF | 86 |
| Willis Reed | C | 90 |
| Mike Riordan | 6th man | 74 |
| Red Holzman | Coach | 90 |
Ratings are year-specific curated estimates for Ring Holders Club, not official NBA stats.
Rest of the roster
| Player | Pos | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cazzie Russell | F | instant scoring off the bench |
| Dave Stallworth | F | reserve forward back after a heart scare |
| Nate Bowman | C | backup center behind Reed |
| Don May | F | |
| Bill Hosket | F | |
| John Warren | G |