The 1976-77 New York Knicks season marked a period of transition for the franchise. After missing the playoffs the previous season, the Knicks looked to improve their performance under head coach Red Holzman. The team played their home games at Madison Square Garden and competed in the NBA’s Atlantic Division.
The Knicks finished the regular season with a 40-42 record, placing them fourth in the Atlantic Division. This record was not sufficient to secure a playoff spot, marking the second consecutive season the team missed the postseason. The Knicks struggled with consistency throughout the season, particularly on the defensive end, which contributed to their sub-.500 record.
Key players for the Knicks during this season included Earl Monroe, who was the team’s leading scorer, and Bob McAdoo, who provided a strong inside presence. Despite their individual contributions, the team struggled to find a cohesive rhythm. Walt Frazier, a cornerstone of the team’s early 1970s success, was traded mid-season to the Cleveland Cavaliers, signaling a shift in the team’s strategy and personnel.
Overall, the 1976-77 season was a challenging one for the New York Knicks, as they attempted to rebuild and reestablish themselves as a competitive force in the NBA. The lack of playoff success and the departure of key players highlighted the need for strategic changes moving forward.
- Regular Season Record: 40-42
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New York Knicks Roster and Stats for 1976-77 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bob McAdoo | 52 | 26.7 | 12.6 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Earl Monroe | 77 | 19.9 | 2.9 | 4.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Walt Frazier | 76 | 17.4 | 3.8 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Spencer Haywood | 31 | 16.5 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Lonnie Shelton | 82 | 11.6 | 7.7 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | |||||||
| John Gianelli | 19 | 10.9 | 9.4 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jim McMillian | 67 | 9.9 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Tom McMillen | 56 | 9.4 | 5.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Mo Layton | 56 | 5.8 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ticky Burden | 61 | 5.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Neal Walk | 11 | 5.6 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Butch Beard | 70 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Mel Davis | 22 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bill Bradley | 67 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Phil Jackson | 76 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Dean Meminger | 32 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
New York Knicks 1976-77 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1976-77 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 1976 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-97 | |
| Oct 23, 1976 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 117-98 | |
| Oct 26, 1976 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 118-104 | |
| Oct 28, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 114-90 | |
| Oct 30, 1976 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | L 115-112 | |
| Nov 01, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 105-101 | |
| Nov 03, 1976 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 119-110 | |
| Nov 05, 1976 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 126-121 | |
| Nov 06, 1976 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 112-111 | |
| Nov 07, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 119-93 | |
| Nov 09, 1976 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 106-97 | |
| Nov 12, 1976 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-97 | |
| Nov 13, 1976 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 110-97 | |
| Nov 16, 1976 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 100-97 | |
| Nov 17, 1976 | @ Washington Bullets | L 111-97 | |
| Nov 20, 1976 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 120-115 | |
| Nov 23, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 100-98 | |
| Nov 26, 1976 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-103 | |
| Nov 27, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 123-109 | |
| Nov 30, 1976 | vs. New York Nets | L 104-103 | |
| Dec 03, 1976 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 135-112 | |
| Dec 04, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-96 | |
| Dec 07, 1976 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 111-94 | |
| Dec 08, 1976 | @ New York Nets | W 105-95 | |
| Dec 11, 1976 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 112-96 | |
| Dec 14, 1976 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 111-98 | |
| Dec 17, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | W 123-109 | |
| Dec 18, 1976 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 115-113 | |
| Dec 21, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 133-103 | |
| Dec 25, 1976 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 105-104 | |
| Dec 26, 1976 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 103-98 | |
| Dec 28, 1976 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 111-99 | |
| Jan 01, 1977 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 121-110 | |
| Jan 04, 1977 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 120-110 | |
| Jan 05, 1977 | @ Houston Rockets | L 108-107 | |
| Jan 07, 1977 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 108-88 | |
| Jan 08, 1977 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 102-95 | |
| Jan 11, 1977 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 131-111 | |
| Jan 14, 1977 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 127-107 | |
| Jan 16, 1977 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 111-97 | |
| Jan 19, 1977 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 97-90 | |
| Jan 21, 1977 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-94 | |
| Jan 23, 1977 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 111-102 | |
| Jan 25, 1977 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-91 | |
| Jan 27, 1977 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 113-111 | |
| Jan 29, 1977 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 112-105 | |
| Feb 01, 1977 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 108-107 | |
| Feb 03, 1977 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 108-90 | |
| Feb 05, 1977 | @ Houston Rockets | L 105-103 | |
| Feb 06, 1977 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 119-96 | |
| Feb 08, 1977 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 125-107 | |
| Feb 09, 1977 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 110-109 | |
| Feb 11, 1977 | @ Boston Celtics | L 119-111 | |
| Feb 16, 1977 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 123-103 | |
| Feb 18, 1977 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 124-123 | |
| Feb 19, 1977 | vs. New York Nets | L 86-85 | |
| Feb 20, 1977 | @ New York Nets | W 100-80 | |
| Feb 22, 1977 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 119-102 | |
| Feb 24, 1977 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 101-98 | |
| Feb 25, 1977 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 124-107 | |
| Feb 26, 1977 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 129-115 | |
| Mar 01, 1977 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 132-127 | |
| Mar 05, 1977 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 117-114 | |
| Mar 06, 1977 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 110-102 | |
| Mar 08, 1977 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 114-108 | |
| Mar 10, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 108-104 | |
| Mar 12, 1977 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 91-88 | |
| Mar 16, 1977 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 124-91 | |
| Mar 17, 1977 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 115-107 | |
| Mar 19, 1977 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 107-101 | |
| Mar 22, 1977 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 125-115 | |
| Mar 25, 1977 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 105-87 | |
| Mar 26, 1977 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 98-92 | |
| Mar 27, 1977 | @ Washington Bullets | W 109-95 | |
| Mar 29, 1977 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 132-126 | |
| Mar 31, 1977 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 135-131 | |
| Apr 01, 1977 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 116-109 | |
| Apr 03, 1977 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 130-111 | |
| Apr 05, 1977 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 121-113 | |
| Apr 07, 1977 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 114-100 | |
| Apr 08, 1977 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 104-102 | |
| Apr 10, 1977 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 144-126 |