The 1977-78 New York Knicks season marked a period of transition and rebuilding for the franchise. Under the leadership of head coach Willis Reed, the Knicks aimed to improve on their previous season’s performance. The team played their home games at Madison Square Garden, a venue synonymous with basketball history.
Throughout the season, the Knicks struggled to find consistency, finishing with a record of 43-39. This performance placed them third in the Atlantic Division, showcasing a modest improvement from their 40-42 finish in the 1976-77 season. Despite their efforts, the Knicks were unable to make a significant impact in the playoffs, exiting in the first round. They faced the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing the series 2-0 in a best-of-three format.
The roster featured standout players such as Bob McAdoo, who was acquired during the season and made an immediate impact as a scoring leader. McAdoo’s presence was complemented by Earl Monroe and Walt Frazier, both of whom provided veteran leadership. However, the team faced challenges with injuries and inconsistency, which hindered their overall performance.
Ultimately, the 1977-78 season was a reflection of the Knicks’ ongoing efforts to rebuild and compete at a higher level. While they showed promise in certain areas, the need for further development and strategic adjustments was evident as they looked toward future seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 43-39
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-0, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 0-4
New York Knicks Roster and Stats for 1977-78 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bob McAdoo | 79 | 26.5 | 12.8 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 6 | 23.8 | 9.7 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Earl Monroe | 76 | 17.8 | 2.4 | 4.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 9.8 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lonnie Shelton | 82 | 14.9 | 7.1 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 6 | 11.0 | 7.3 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Spencer Haywood | 67 | 13.7 | 6.6 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 6 | 16.2 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Butch Beard | 79 | 9.4 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 9.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Ray Williams | 81 | 9.3 | 2.6 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 17.5 | 2.5 | 5.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim McMillian | 81 | 8.5 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 8.8 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Cleamons | 79 | 6.5 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 5.7 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Toby Knight | 80 | 6.3 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 6 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Glen Gondrezick | 72 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Phil Jackson | 63 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 6 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ticky Burden | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
New York Knicks in the 1978 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
In the 1978 NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks faced a challenging first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite a strong effort, the Knicks were unable to advance, losing the series 1-2. This marked a period of struggle for the franchise, as they were unable to replicate the success of their early 1970s championship teams.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 1978 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 132-114 | |
| Apr 14, 1978 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 109-107 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Philadelphia 76ers
In the 1978 NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks faced the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Despite a valiant effort, the Knicks were overpowered by a strong 76ers squad led by Julius Erving, ultimately losing the series 4-0. This defeat highlighted the need for New York to strengthen their roster to compete with the elite teams of the era.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 1978 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 130-90 | |
| Apr 18, 1978 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-100 | |
| Apr 20, 1978 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 137-126 | |
| Apr 23, 1978 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-107 |
New York Knicks 1977-78 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1977-78 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1977 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 120-113 | |
| Oct 22, 1977 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 141-115 | |
| Oct 25, 1977 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 117-112 | |
| Oct 26, 1977 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 123-106 | |
| Oct 29, 1977 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 124-117 | |
| Nov 01, 1977 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 113-104 | |
| Nov 04, 1977 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 95-92 | |
| Nov 06, 1977 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 106-102 | |
| Nov 08, 1977 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 123-117 | |
| Nov 09, 1977 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 124-113 | |
| Nov 11, 1977 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 127-119 | |
| Nov 12, 1977 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 101-90 | |
| Nov 15, 1977 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 108-105 | |
| Nov 18, 1977 | @ Washington Bullets | L 123-103 | |
| Nov 19, 1977 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 129-127 | |
| Nov 22, 1977 | vs. Buffalo Braves | L 102-101 | |
| Nov 25, 1977 | @ Boston Celtics | L 121-119 | |
| Nov 26, 1977 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 112-106 | |
| Nov 28, 1977 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 104-86 | |
| Nov 29, 1977 | @ Houston Rockets | L 120-103 | |
| Dec 01, 1977 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 120-116 | |
| Dec 03, 1977 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-108 | |
| Dec 06, 1977 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 122-119 | |
| Dec 09, 1977 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 103-84 | |
| Dec 10, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 107-106 | |
| Dec 13, 1977 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 107-106 | |
| Dec 14, 1977 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 101-98 | |
| Dec 16, 1977 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 152-150 | |
| Dec 17, 1977 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 112-103 | |
| Dec 20, 1977 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 110-99 | |
| Dec 22, 1977 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 112-100 | |
| Dec 25, 1977 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 113-110 | |
| Dec 29, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-101 | |
| Dec 30, 1977 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 118-116 | |
| Jan 01, 1978 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 96-87 | |
| Jan 03, 1978 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-117 | |
| Jan 06, 1978 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 99-97 | |
| Jan 07, 1978 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 100-93 | |
| Jan 10, 1978 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 126-113 | |
| Jan 13, 1978 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 109-96 | |
| Jan 15, 1978 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-102 | |
| Jan 17, 1978 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-108 | |
| Jan 19, 1978 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 134-114 | |
| Jan 22, 1978 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 143-141 | |
| Jan 24, 1978 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 99-97 | |
| Jan 26, 1978 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 112-105 | |
| Jan 27, 1978 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 105-96 | |
| Jan 28, 1978 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-96 | |
| Jan 31, 1978 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 119-115 | |
| Feb 02, 1978 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 123-113 | |
| Feb 03, 1978 | @ Houston Rockets | L 112-102 | |
| Feb 09, 1978 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 126-117 | |
| Feb 11, 1978 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 133-122 | |
| Feb 12, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-110 | |
| Feb 14, 1978 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 136-127 | |
| Feb 17, 1978 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 128-108 | |
| Feb 18, 1978 | vs. Buffalo Braves | L 122-112 | |
| Feb 21, 1978 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 122-120 | |
| Feb 25, 1978 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 122-115 | |
| Feb 28, 1978 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 138-123 | |
| Mar 02, 1978 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 128-117 | |
| Mar 04, 1978 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 99-91 | |
| Mar 05, 1978 | @ Boston Celtics | L 112-94 | |
| Mar 07, 1978 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 112-101 | |
| Mar 08, 1978 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 127-125 | |
| Mar 10, 1978 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 122-115 | |
| Mar 11, 1978 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 126-117 | |
| Mar 14, 1978 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 135-117 | |
| Mar 17, 1978 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 129-117 | |
| Mar 18, 1978 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 141-127 | |
| Mar 19, 1978 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 125-118 | |
| Mar 21, 1978 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 115-114 | |
| Mar 23, 1978 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-108 | |
| Mar 25, 1978 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 133-123 | |
| Mar 28, 1978 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 106-103 | |
| Mar 30, 1978 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 123-108 | |
| Mar 31, 1978 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 117-116 | |
| Apr 02, 1978 | @ Washington Bullets | W 114-109 | |
| Apr 04, 1978 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 105-101 | |
| Apr 06, 1978 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 129-125 | |
| Apr 07, 1978 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 125-112 | |
| Apr 08, 1978 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 118-107 |