The 1982-83 New York Knicks experienced a challenging season, marked by inconsistency and a struggle to find a winning formula. Under the guidance of head coach Hubie Brown, who was in his first year with the team, the Knicks ended the regular season with a record of 44 wins and 38 losses. This performance was sufficient to secure the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, allowing them to advance to the playoffs.
During the regular season, the Knicks were led by standout performances from players such as Bernard King, who was acquired in a trade with the Golden State Warriors. King emerged as the team’s leading scorer, providing a much-needed offensive boost. Additionally, the Knicks benefited from contributions by Bill Cartwright and Trent Tucker, who played pivotal roles in their overall strategy.
In the playoffs, the Knicks faced the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. The 76ers, who were one of the strongest teams that season, presented an overwhelming challenge. The Knicks were swept in the best-of-three series, failing to advance past the first round. Despite the early exit, the season laid the groundwork for future improvements under Brown’s leadership, showcasing potential that would be further developed in subsequent seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 44-38
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-0, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 0-4
New York Knicks Roster and Stats for 1982-83 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bernard King | 68 | 21.9 | 4.8 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 6 | 23.5 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Bill Cartwright | 82 | 15.7 | 7.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 6 | 11.2 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Sly Williams | 68 | 11.9 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 13.3 | 5 | 7.2 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 100.0 |
| Rory Sparrow | 32 | 10.0 | 2.8 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 6 | 13.0 | 2.2 | 7.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 20.0 |
| Paul Westphal | 80 | 10.0 | 1.4 | 5.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 41.2 | 6 | 9.5 | 1.3 | 5.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 37.5 |
| Truck Robinson | 81 | 9.5 | 8.1 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 6 | 15.7 | 11.0 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Trent Tucker | 78 | 8.4 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 58.3 | 6 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Louis Orr | 82 | 8.4 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 6 | 7.7 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Ed Sherod | 64 | 6.2 | 2.3 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 10.0 | 4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Marvin Webster | 82 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Ernie Grunfeld | 77 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 8.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Vince Taylor | 31 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Mike Davis | 8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Scott Hastings | 21 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
New York Knicks in the 1983 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. New Jersey Nets
In the 1983 NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks faced a formidable challenge against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. Despite their efforts, the Knicks were swept in the best-of-three series, unable to overcome the dominant presence of Julius Erving and Moses Malone, who eventually led the 76ers to win the championship that year. The Knicks' exit underscored the gap between their squad and the league's elite teams at the time.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 118-107 | |
| Apr 21, 1983 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 105-99 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Philadelphia 76ers
In the 1983 NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks made it to the second round, where they faced the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite a spirited effort, the Knicks were overpowered by a dominant 76ers team led by Moses Malone and Julius Erving, resulting in a clean sweep for Philadelphia. The Knicks' playoff run highlighted their need to bolster their roster to compete with the league's elite teams.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-102 | |
| Apr 27, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 98-91 | |
| Apr 30, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-105 | |
| May 01, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 105-102 |
New York Knicks 1982-83 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1982-83 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-89 | |
| Oct 30, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 108-86 | |
| Nov 03, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 99-97 | |
| Nov 05, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-103 | |
| Nov 06, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 110-102 | |
| Nov 09, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 84-82 | |
| Nov 10, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 99-90 | |
| Nov 12, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | W 88-87 | |
| Nov 13, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 112-100 | |
| Nov 16, 1982 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 120-93 | |
| Nov 18, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 89-77 | |
| Nov 20, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 97-83 | |
| Nov 23, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 94-90 | |
| Nov 27, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-96 | |
| Nov 30, 1982 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 124-93 | |
| Dec 01, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 101-84 | |
| Dec 03, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | L 105-98 | |
| Dec 04, 1982 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 80-79 | |
| Dec 07, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 91-85 | |
| Dec 08, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 120-109 | |
| Dec 10, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 108-100 | |
| Dec 11, 1982 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 85-79 | |
| Dec 14, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 104-99 | |
| Dec 16, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 113-105 | |
| Dec 17, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-95 | |
| Dec 21, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 101-94 | |
| Dec 25, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 112-110 | |
| Dec 26, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 87-81 | |
| Dec 29, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 91-87 | |
| Dec 30, 1982 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 94-89 | |
| Jan 01, 1983 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 98-77 | |
| Jan 04, 1983 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 97-85 | |
| Jan 06, 1983 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 99-98 | |
| Jan 08, 1983 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-90 | |
| Jan 11, 1983 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 103-79 | |
| Jan 14, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 88-80 | |
| Jan 15, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-96 | |
| Jan 17, 1983 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 119-109 | |
| Jan 19, 1983 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 91-88 | |
| Jan 21, 1983 | @ Utah Jazz | L 108-93 | |
| Jan 22, 1983 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 102-98 | |
| Jan 25, 1983 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 111-78 | |
| Jan 28, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 93-91 | |
| Jan 29, 1983 | vs. San Diego Clippers | L 106-97 | |
| Jan 31, 1983 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 114-97 | |
| Feb 02, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 109-98 | |
| Feb 04, 1983 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 120-101 | |
| Feb 05, 1983 | @ Houston Rockets | W 102-101 | |
| Feb 07, 1983 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 105-99 | |
| Feb 09, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 106-96 | |
| Feb 17, 1983 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-92 | |
| Feb 19, 1983 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 124-115 | |
| Feb 20, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-89 | |
| Feb 22, 1983 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 108-106 | |
| Feb 23, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 120-107 | |
| Feb 25, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 113-101 | |
| Feb 26, 1983 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 94-79 | |
| Mar 01, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 106-94 | |
| Mar 05, 1983 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 105-98 | |
| Mar 08, 1983 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-98 | |
| Mar 09, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-92 | |
| Mar 12, 1983 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 97-95 | |
| Mar 13, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | W 122-110 | |
| Mar 15, 1983 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 119-97 | |
| Mar 16, 1983 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 105-93 | |
| Mar 18, 1983 | @ Washington Bullets | W 106-100 | |
| Mar 19, 1983 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 96-90 | |
| Mar 22, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 89-76 | |
| Mar 23, 1983 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 84-81 | |
| Mar 25, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 104-87 | |
| Mar 26, 1983 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 89-81 | |
| Mar 30, 1983 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 103-97 | |
| Apr 01, 1983 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 102-88 | |
| Apr 02, 1983 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 115-108 | |
| Apr 05, 1983 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 110-107 | |
| Apr 06, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 102-98 | |
| Apr 08, 1983 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 102-100 | |
| Apr 10, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 113-97 | |
| Apr 11, 1983 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 121-92 | |
| Apr 13, 1983 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 108-100 | |
| Apr 15, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 100-83 | |
| Apr 17, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 120-103 |