The 1988-89 NBA season marked a significant turning point for the New York Knicks. Under the leadership of head coach Rick Pitino, the team adopted a fast-paced, three-point shooting style that was innovative for its time. The Knicks finished the regular season with a 52-30 record, securing second place in the Atlantic Division. This was a marked improvement from the previous season’s 38-44 record, demonstrating the effectiveness of Pitino’s system.
Key players for the Knicks included Patrick Ewing, who was in his fourth NBA season and continued to establish himself as one of the league’s premier centers. Ewing averaged 22.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game, earning him a spot on the All-NBA Second Team. The backcourt was bolstered by the presence of point guard Mark Jackson, who provided leadership and playmaking abilities, while shooting guard Gerald Wilkins contributed significantly on both ends of the court.
In the playoffs, the Knicks advanced past the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, winning the series 3-0. However, their postseason run was halted in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan. The Bulls defeated the Knicks 4-2 in a highly competitive series. Despite the loss, the season was viewed as a success for the Knicks, as they laid the foundation for future playoff appearances and established a style of play that would influence the NBA in the years to come.
- Regular Season Record: 52-30
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-0, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 2-4
New York Knicks Roster and Stats for 1988-89 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Patrick Ewing | 80 | 22.7 | 9.3 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 9 | 19.9 | 10.0 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Jackson | 72 | 16.9 | 4.7 | 8.6 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 33.8 | 9 | 14.7 | 3.4 | 10.1 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 39.3 |
| Johnny Newman | 81 | 16.0 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 33.8 | 9 | 16.1 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 25.0 |
| Gerald Wilkins | 81 | 14.3 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 29.6 | 9 | 16.1 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 10.0 |
| Charles Oakley | 82 | 12.9 | 10.5 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 25.0 | 9 | 9.7 | 11.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 50.0 |
| Kiki Vandeweghe | 27 | 9.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 30.0 | 9 | 8.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 37.5 |
| Rod Strickland | 81 | 8.9 | 2.0 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 32.2 | 9 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 100.0 |
| Trent Tucker | 81 | 8.5 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 39.9 | 9 | 7.9 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 46.9 |
| Sidney Green | 82 | 6.3 | 4.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 9 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Walker | 79 | 5.3 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 25.0 | 9 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Eddie Lee Wilkins | 71 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 7 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Pete Myers | 29 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Greg Butler | 33 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
New York Knicks in the 1989 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Philadelphia 76ers
In the first round of the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks faced off against the Philadelphia 76ers in a tightly contested series. The Knicks, led by Patrick Ewing, showcased resilience and tenacity, ultimately winning the series 3-2. This victory marked their first playoff series win since 1984, setting the stage for a competitive matchup against the Chicago Bulls in the semifinals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 102-96 | |
| Apr 29, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-106 | |
| May 02, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 116-115 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Chicago Bulls
In the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks faced the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Despite a valiant effort, the Knicks were overpowered by Michael Jordan's brilliance, as the Bulls clinched the series in six games. New York's inability to contain Jordan highlighted the challenges they faced in advancing further, despite a strong regular season.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 09, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 120-109 | |
| May 11, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 114-97 | |
| May 13, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 111-88 | |
| May 14, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 106-93 | |
| May 16, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 121-114 | |
| May 19, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 113-111 |
New York Knicks 1988-89 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1988-89 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 122-115 | |
| Nov 05, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 112-102 | |
| Nov 08, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 126-117 | |
| Nov 09, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | W 117-110 | |
| Nov 11, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 121-120 | |
| Nov 12, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 111-101 | |
| Nov 15, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | W 126-121 | |
| Nov 18, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 137-135 | |
| Nov 19, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 141-122 | |
| Nov 22, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-98 | |
| Nov 23, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 133-111 | |
| Nov 26, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 127-112 | |
| Nov 29, 1988 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 139-119 | |
| Nov 30, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 135-128 | |
| Dec 02, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 104-101 | |
| Dec 03, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 122-109 | |
| Dec 06, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 124-123 | |
| Dec 08, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-109 | |
| Dec 10, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 124-111 | |
| Dec 13, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 121-100 | |
| Dec 15, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 117-116 | |
| Dec 17, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 117-102 | |
| Dec 18, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-104 | |
| Dec 20, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 141-113 | |
| Dec 22, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 88-85 | |
| Dec 27, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 128-126 | |
| Dec 29, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 108-106 | |
| Dec 30, 1988 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 122-111 | |
| Jan 03, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 109-107 | |
| Jan 04, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-96 | |
| Jan 07, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 104-96 | |
| Jan 08, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 134-100 | |
| Jan 11, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 100-93 | |
| Jan 12, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 106-89 | |
| Jan 14, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 132-122 | |
| Jan 16, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 116-106 | |
| Jan 18, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 133-119 | |
| Jan 19, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 112-106 | |
| Jan 21, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-119 | |
| Jan 22, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 120-116 | |
| Jan 24, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 122-117 | |
| Jan 27, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 132-130 | |
| Jan 28, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | L 127-104 | |
| Jan 31, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 120-111 | |
| Feb 02, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 125-109 | |
| Feb 04, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 113-106 | |
| Feb 07, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 117-105 | |
| Feb 08, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 113-101 | |
| Feb 14, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 129-117 | |
| Feb 15, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 129-107 | |
| Feb 18, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 125-115 | |
| Feb 21, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 120-115 | |
| Feb 23, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 139-114 | |
| Feb 24, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 130-127 | |
| Feb 26, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 122-110 | |
| Mar 01, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 121-111 | |
| Mar 02, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 132-123 | |
| Mar 04, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 122-104 | |
| Mar 07, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 124-119 | |
| Mar 11, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 114-95 | |
| Mar 14, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-110 | |
| Mar 16, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 121-112 | |
| Mar 17, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 129-124 | |
| Mar 19, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 128-104 | |
| Mar 20, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 129-109 | |
| Mar 22, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | L 107-103 | |
| Mar 24, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 115-111 | |
| Mar 25, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 115-108 | |
| Mar 27, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 121-105 | |
| Mar 28, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 128-124 | |
| Mar 30, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 99-98 | |
| Mar 31, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 134-114 | |
| Apr 04, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 124-113 | |
| Apr 06, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 112-99 | |
| Apr 07, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-105 | |
| Apr 09, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | W 94-92 | |
| Apr 12, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 104-99 | |
| Apr 14, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 104-100 | |
| Apr 16, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-112 | |
| Apr 17, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 104-100 | |
| Apr 20, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 137-117 | |
| Apr 22, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 109-99 |