The 1981-82 New York Knicks season was a challenging period for the franchise. The team finished with a record of 33-49, placing them fourth in the Atlantic Division and preventing them from reaching the playoffs. This marked the second consecutive year the Knicks failed to qualify for the postseason, reflecting a period of struggle and transition for the team.
Throughout the season, the Knicks were led by Bill Cartwright, who was the team’s leading scorer, averaging 20.1 points per game. His performance was a bright spot in an otherwise tough season. Additionally, forward Truck Robinson contributed significantly, providing strength on the boards with an average of 9.3 rebounds per game. Despite these individual efforts, the team struggled to find consistent success on the court.
Head coach Red Holzman, who had led the Knicks to two NBA Championships in the early 1970s, faced difficulties in replicating past successes. The team struggled defensively, allowing opponents to score an average of 109.5 points per game, which was a critical factor in their inability to compete effectively in many matches.
Overall, the 1981-82 season highlighted the need for restructuring and improvement within the Knicks organization. The results led to significant changes in the following offseason as the team sought to rebuild and return to its former glory in the NBA. This season remains a pivotal point in the franchise’s history, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining competitiveness in the league.
- Regular Season Record: 33-49
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New York Knicks Roster and Stats for 1981-82 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Michael Ray Richardson | 82 | 17.9 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 26.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Maurice Lucas | 80 | 15.8 | 11.3 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bill Cartwright | 72 | 14.4 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Campy Russell | 77 | 13.9 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 53.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Sly Williams | 60 | 13.9 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Paul Westphal | 18 | 11.7 | 1.2 | 5.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Randy Smith | 82 | 10.0 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 42.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mike Newlin | 76 | 9.3 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 35.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Marvin Webster | 82 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Toby Knight | 40 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Reggie Carter | 75 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Alex Bradley | 39 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Hollis Copeland | 18 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Larry Demic | 48 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| DeWayne Scales | 3 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
New York Knicks 1981-82 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1981-82 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-99 | |
| Oct 31, 1981 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 106-99 | |
| Nov 03, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | L 101-98 | |
| Nov 06, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 104-95 | |
| Nov 07, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 103-96 | |
| Nov 10, 1981 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 111-99 | |
| Nov 13, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 95-85 | |
| Nov 14, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-102 | |
| Nov 17, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 124-110 | |
| Nov 19, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 89-84 | |
| Nov 21, 1981 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 118-112 | |
| Nov 24, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 127-112 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 116-95 | |
| Nov 28, 1981 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 101-90 | |
| Dec 01, 1981 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 112-100 | |
| Dec 03, 1981 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 114-88 | |
| Dec 05, 1981 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 103-83 | |
| Dec 08, 1981 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 135-122 | |
| Dec 10, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 106-101 | |
| Dec 12, 1981 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-86 | |
| Dec 15, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 111-98 | |
| Dec 16, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 117-115 | |
| Dec 18, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 121-106 | |
| Dec 19, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 132-104 | |
| Dec 22, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-105 | |
| Dec 23, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 115-99 | |
| Dec 25, 1981 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 96-95 | |
| Dec 26, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 112-106 | |
| Dec 29, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 111-108 | |
| Dec 30, 1981 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 110-108 | |
| Jan 02, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 121-108 | |
| Jan 05, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 112-102 | |
| Jan 07, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 107-103 | |
| Jan 09, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 102-89 | |
| Jan 10, 1982 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 129-126 | |
| Jan 12, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | W 129-121 | |
| Jan 14, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 90-89 | |
| Jan 15, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 104-102 | |
| Jan 19, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 111-107 | |
| Jan 21, 1982 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 104-101 | |
| Jan 23, 1982 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 140-139 | |
| Jan 25, 1982 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-99 | |
| Jan 27, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 131-99 | |
| Jan 28, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | W 102-98 | |
| Feb 02, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 128-117 | |
| Feb 03, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 98-94 | |
| Feb 05, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 90-85 | |
| Feb 07, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 100-98 | |
| Feb 09, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-105 | |
| Feb 11, 1982 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 120-117 | |
| Feb 13, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-107 | |
| Feb 14, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 117-105 | |
| Feb 16, 1982 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 112-110 | |
| Feb 19, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 104-90 | |
| Feb 21, 1982 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 122-106 | |
| Feb 23, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-110 | |
| Feb 24, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 118-87 | |
| Feb 27, 1982 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 107-105 | |
| Feb 28, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | L 113-109 | |
| Mar 02, 1982 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 108-101 | |
| Mar 04, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 129-119 | |
| Mar 06, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 115-111 | |
| Mar 07, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 107-106 | |
| Mar 09, 1982 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 126-112 | |
| Mar 13, 1982 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 109-99 | |
| Mar 16, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 114-91 | |
| Mar 20, 1982 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 104-98 | |
| Mar 21, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | L 110-109 | |
| Mar 23, 1982 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 120-97 | |
| Mar 26, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 131-107 | |
| Mar 28, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 113-106 | |
| Mar 30, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 108-104 | |
| Apr 01, 1982 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 111-110 | |
| Apr 04, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 127-106 | |
| Apr 06, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 106-104 | |
| Apr 08, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 110-106 | |
| Apr 10, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 117-114 | |
| Apr 11, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 97-89 | |
| Apr 13, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 104-102 | |
| Apr 14, 1982 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 120-116 | |
| Apr 16, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 112-99 | |
| Apr 18, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 119-99 |