The 1965-66 NBA season marked another challenging year for the New York Knicks. Under the guidance of head coach Harry Gallatin, the team struggled to find its footing in the competitive Eastern Division. The Knicks concluded the season with a disappointing record of 30 wins and 50 losses, placing them sixth in the division and missing the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.
Offensively, the Knicks were led by forward Willie Naulls, who averaged 19.3 points per game. Naulls’ scoring prowess was complemented by the contributions of Howard Komives and Jim Barnes, who provided additional support with their scoring and rebounding efforts. Despite these individual performances, the team faced challenges in maintaining consistency on both ends of the court.
Defensively, the Knicks struggled to contain opposing teams, allowing an average of 113.5 points per game. This defensive shortcoming proved to be a significant barrier in their quest for success. Additionally, the team found it difficult to win on the road, achieving only nine victories away from Madison Square Garden.
Throughout the season, the Knicks experimented with various lineups and strategies, but these adjustments were insufficient to reverse their fortunes. As a result, the 1965-66 season served as a period of rebuilding and reflection, setting the stage for future changes in the franchise’s approach to achieving competitive success in subsequent years.
- Regular Season Record: 30-50
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New York Knicks Roster and Stats for 1965-66 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Walt Bellamy | 72 | 23.2 | 16.1 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dick Barnett | 75 | 23.1 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jim Barnes | 7 | 15.7 | 10.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Willis Reed | 76 | 15.5 | 11.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Johnny Green | 7 | 14.4 | 10.6 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Howard Komives | 80 | 13.9 | 3.2 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dave Stallworth | 80 | 12.6 | 5.9 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dick Van Arsdale | 79 | 12.3 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Em Bryant | 71 | 7.0 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Barry Clemens | 69 | 5.4 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Len Chappell | 46 | 5.3 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tom Gola | 74 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Johnny Egan | 7 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
New York Knicks 1965-66 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1965-66 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 1965 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 111-103 | |
| Oct 20, 1965 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 116-103 | |
| Oct 23, 1965 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 106-101 | |
| Oct 26, 1965 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 104-102 | |
| Oct 28, 1965 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 140-116 | |
| Oct 29, 1965 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 110-100 | |
| Oct 31, 1965 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 104-103 | |
| Nov 03, 1965 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 129-114 | |
| Nov 04, 1965 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 108-107 | |
| Nov 06, 1965 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 114-103 | |
| Nov 10, 1965 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 124-119 | |
| Nov 12, 1965 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-106 | |
| Nov 13, 1965 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 127-119 | |
| Nov 16, 1965 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 120-95 | |
| Nov 18, 1965 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 120-104 | |
| Nov 19, 1965 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 116-109 | |
| Nov 20, 1965 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 122-108 | |
| Nov 23, 1965 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 134-125 | |
| Nov 24, 1965 | @ Boston Celtics | L 125-110 | |
| Nov 26, 1965 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 117-113 | |
| Nov 27, 1965 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 132-129 | |
| Nov 30, 1965 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 138-119 | |
| Dec 01, 1965 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 139-125 | |
| Dec 07, 1965 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 131-127 | |
| Dec 08, 1965 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 104-93 | |
| Dec 10, 1965 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 109-106 | |
| Dec 11, 1965 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 150-127 | |
| Dec 14, 1965 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 141-137 | |
| Dec 15, 1965 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 111-108 | |
| Dec 18, 1965 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 122-114 | |
| Dec 22, 1965 | @ Boston Celtics | L 123-120 | |
| Dec 25, 1965 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 131-111 | |
| Dec 27, 1965 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 138-116 | |
| Dec 29, 1965 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 99-96 | |
| Jan 01, 1966 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 147-122 | |
| Jan 02, 1966 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 133-122 | |
| Jan 04, 1966 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 129-127 | |
| Jan 05, 1966 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 118-117 | |
| Jan 08, 1966 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 133-127 | |
| Jan 09, 1966 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 130-124 | |
| Jan 12, 1966 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 122-114 | |
| Jan 15, 1966 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 152-123 | |
| Jan 17, 1966 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 115-106 | |
| Jan 18, 1966 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 109-107 | |
| Jan 21, 1966 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-98 | |
| Jan 22, 1966 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 119-111 | |
| Jan 25, 1966 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 115-100 | |
| Jan 26, 1966 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 115-103 | |
| Jan 29, 1966 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 119-107 | |
| Jan 30, 1966 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-115 | |
| Feb 01, 1966 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 112-109 | |
| Feb 04, 1966 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 115-113 | |
| Feb 05, 1966 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 120-113 | |
| Feb 08, 1966 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 136-123 | |
| Feb 09, 1966 | @ Boston Celtics | L 121-117 | |
| Feb 11, 1966 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 122-107 | |
| Feb 12, 1966 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 140-127 | |
| Feb 14, 1966 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 138-125 | |
| Feb 15, 1966 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 132-124 | |
| Feb 16, 1966 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 112-108 | |
| Feb 18, 1966 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 120-118 | |
| Feb 19, 1966 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 124-113 | |
| Feb 22, 1966 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 113-108 | |
| Feb 23, 1966 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 100-98 | |
| Feb 25, 1966 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 130-124 | |
| Feb 26, 1966 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 100-95 | |
| Mar 01, 1966 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 114-112 | |
| Mar 02, 1966 | @ Boston Celtics | L 140-104 | |
| Mar 04, 1966 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 121-119 | |
| Mar 05, 1966 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 149-145 | |
| Mar 06, 1966 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 119-106 | |
| Mar 08, 1966 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 133-132 | |
| Mar 11, 1966 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 126-123 | |
| Mar 12, 1966 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 134-126 | |
| Mar 13, 1966 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-113 | |
| Mar 15, 1966 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 125-107 | |
| Mar 16, 1966 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 118-113 | |
| Mar 17, 1966 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-106 | |
| Mar 19, 1966 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 126-113 | |
| Mar 22, 1966 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 126-125 |