The 1969-70 New York Knicks season was a standout campaign in the franchise’s history, marking their first NBA Championship victory. Under the leadership of head coach Red Holzman, the team utilized a strong defensive approach and a deep roster that emphasized teamwork and versatility.
The Knicks finished the regular season with an impressive 60-22 record, earning them the top spot in the Eastern Division. The team’s success was largely attributed to their balanced lineup, featuring key players such as Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, and Bill Bradley. Reed’s leadership and all-around play earned him the NBA MVP award for the season.
In the playoffs, the Knicks continued their dominant performance. They defeated the Baltimore Bullets in the Eastern Division Semifinals and the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Division Finals. The stage was then set for an intense NBA Finals clash with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 1970 NBA Finals are particularly memorable for Willis Reed’s heroic return in Game 7, despite sustaining a significant thigh injury earlier in the series. Reed’s inspirational appearance and early baskets galvanized the Knicks, who went on to secure a 113-99 victory over the Lakers at Madison Square Garden. Walt Frazier’s outstanding performance, with 36 points and 19 assists in the decisive game, was crucial to the team’s success. The Knicks’ triumph in the Finals solidified their place in NBA history as one of the most cohesive and resilient teams of their era.
- Regular Season Record: 60-22
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 4-3, Division Finals: 4-1, NBA Finals: 4-3
New York Knicks Roster and Stats for 1969-70 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Willis Reed | 81 | 21.7 | 13.9 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 18 | 23.7 | 13.8 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walt Frazier | 77 | 20.9 | 6.1 | 8.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 19 | 16.0 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Barnett | 82 | 14.9 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 19 | 16.9 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave DeBusschere | 79 | 14.6 | 9.9 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 19 | 16.1 | 11.6 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Bradley | 67 | 14.5 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 19 | 12.4 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cazzie Russell | 78 | 11.5 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 19 | 9.4 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Stallworth | 82 | 7.8 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 19 | 7.2 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Riordan | 81 | 7.7 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 19 | 6.9 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Hosket | 36 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Nate Bowman | 81 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 18 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don May | 37 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Warren | 44 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New York Knicks in the 1970 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Baltimore Bullets
In the 1970 NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks showcased their prowess in the second round by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in a grueling five-game series. Led by Walt Frazier and Willis Reed, the Knicks' tenacious defense and balanced offense managed to outmaneuver the Bucks and their star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, propelling them to the Eastern Division Finals. This victory was a crucial step in their journey towards their first NBA Championship.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 120-117 | |
| Mar 27, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 106-99 | |
| Mar 29, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 127-113 | |
| Mar 31, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 102-92 | |
| Apr 02, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 101-80 | |
| Apr 05, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 96-87 | |
| Apr 06, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 127-114 |
1970 Conference Championship vs. Milwaukee Bucks
In the 1970 NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals, showcasing a balanced team effort led by the likes of Willis Reed and Walt Frazier. They faced the Milwaukee Bucks and their towering center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but the Knicks' cohesive defense and strategic gameplay secured their victory in five games. This triumph propelled them to the NBA Finals, where they ultimately captured their first championship, solidifying their place in basketball history.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 1970 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 110-102 | |
| Apr 13, 1970 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 112-111 | |
| Apr 17, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 101-96 | |
| Apr 19, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 117-105 | |
| Apr 20, 1970 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 132-96 |
1970 NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 124-112 | |
| Apr 27, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 105-103 | |
| Apr 29, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 111-108 | |
| May 01, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-115 | |
| May 04, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 107-100 | |
| May 06, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 135-113 | |
| May 08, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-99 |
New York Knicks 1969-70 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1969-70 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 1969 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 126-101 | |
| Oct 15, 1969 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 94-89 | |
| Oct 17, 1969 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 116-87 | |
| Oct 18, 1969 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 99-96 | |
| Oct 21, 1969 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 140-116 | |
| Oct 23, 1969 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 112-109 | |
| Oct 24, 1969 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 116-92 | |
| Oct 25, 1969 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 128-99 | |
| Oct 28, 1969 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 128-104 | |
| Oct 30, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 123-110 | |
| Nov 01, 1969 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 112-108 | |
| Nov 03, 1969 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-93 | |
| Nov 04, 1969 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 116-99 | |
| Nov 07, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 129-111 | |
| Nov 09, 1969 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 112-102 | |
| Nov 11, 1969 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 116-103 | |
| Nov 13, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 114-99 | |
| Nov 15, 1969 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 113-98 | |
| Nov 18, 1969 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 112-94 | |
| Nov 21, 1969 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 98-94 | |
| Nov 22, 1969 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 128-114 | |
| Nov 25, 1969 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 103-96 | |
| Nov 26, 1969 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 138-108 | |
| Nov 28, 1969 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 106-105 | |
| Nov 29, 1969 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 110-98 | |
| Dec 02, 1969 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 129-109 | |
| Dec 05, 1969 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 116-107 | |
| Dec 06, 1969 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 124-99 | |
| Dec 09, 1969 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 103-101 | |
| Dec 10, 1969 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 96-95 | |
| Dec 11, 1969 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-105 | |
| Dec 13, 1969 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 100-93 | |
| Dec 16, 1969 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 125-124 | |
| Dec 19, 1969 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 108-99 | |
| Dec 20, 1969 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 128-91 | |
| Dec 25, 1969 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 112-111 | |
| Dec 26, 1969 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-106 | |
| Dec 27, 1969 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 119-117 | |
| Dec 28, 1969 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 135-116 | |
| Dec 30, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 116-96 | |
| Jan 02, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 118-105 | |
| Jan 03, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 111-104 | |
| Jan 06, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 129-99 | |
| Jan 07, 1970 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 99-94 | |
| Jan 09, 1970 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 123-93 | |
| Jan 10, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 123-115 | |
| Jan 12, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 130-114 | |
| Jan 16, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 104-102 | |
| Jan 18, 1970 | @ Boston Celtics | L 109-102 | |
| Jan 23, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 120-117 | |
| Jan 24, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 127-114 | |
| Jan 25, 1970 | @ Boston Celtics | W 102-96 | |
| Jan 27, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 133-100 | |
| Jan 29, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 127-106 | |
| Jan 30, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 104-100 | |
| Jan 31, 1970 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 123-104 | |
| Feb 01, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 117-111 | |
| Feb 03, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 118-98 | |
| Feb 04, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 111-96 | |
| Feb 06, 1970 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 135-92 | |
| Feb 07, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 121-114 | |
| Feb 11, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 125-118 | |
| Feb 13, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 151-106 | |
| Feb 14, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 116-114 | |
| Feb 17, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 114-93 | |
| Feb 21, 1970 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 122-106 | |
| Feb 22, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 110-104 | |
| Feb 24, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 121-105 | |
| Feb 28, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 115-101 | |
| Mar 03, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 115-100 | |
| Mar 06, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 107-103 | |
| Mar 07, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-104 | |
| Mar 08, 1970 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 133-116 | |
| Mar 10, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 117-99 | |
| Mar 13, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 115-103 | |
| Mar 14, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 119-103 | |
| Mar 15, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-101 | |
| Mar 17, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 122-106 | |
| Mar 18, 1970 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 116-108 | |
| Mar 20, 1970 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 110-102 | |
| Mar 21, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 136-120 | |
| Mar 22, 1970 | @ Boston Celtics | L 115-112 |