The 1986-87 New York Knicks season was marked by a period of transition and rebuilding. Under head coach Hubie Brown, the team struggled to find its footing in the highly competitive NBA landscape. The Knicks ended the regular season with a disappointing 24-58 record, placing them last in the Atlantic Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference. This record was reflective of the team’s ongoing challenges both offensively and defensively, which they were unable to overcome throughout the season.
One of the few bright spots for the Knicks was rookie Patrick Ewing, who had been drafted as the first overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. Despite the team’s struggles, Ewing showcased his potential as a cornerstone player by averaging 21.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. His performances earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team and provided a glimpse of hope for the franchise’s future.
Off the court, the 1986-87 season was also significant as it marked the end of Hubie Brown’s tenure as head coach. Brown was replaced mid-season by Bob Hill, who took over for the final 24 games. However, the coaching change did not translate into improved results. The season underscored the need for strategic changes and player development, setting the stage for future rebuilding efforts centered around Ewing. The Knicks’ struggles this season highlighted the challenges of maintaining competitiveness in the NBA without a deep and cohesive roster.
- Regular Season Record: 24-58
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
New York Knicks Roster and Stats for 1986-87 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bernard King | 6 | 22.7 | 5.3 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Patrick Ewing | 63 | 21.5 | 8.8 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Gerald Wilkins | 80 | 19.1 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 42.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bill Cartwright | 58 | 17.5 | 7.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Trent Tucker | 70 | 11.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 42.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Gerald Henderson | 68 | 10.9 | 2.4 | 6.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 25.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kenny Walker | 68 | 10.4 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Pat Cummings | 49 | 8.6 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rory Sparrow | 80 | 7.6 | 1.4 | 5.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 26.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Louis Orr | 65 | 7.0 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Eddie Lee Wilkins | 24 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jawann Oldham | 44 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Chris McNealy | 59 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Brad Wright | 14 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Stewart Granger | 15 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bill Martin | 8 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bob Thornton | 33 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| McKinley Singleton | 2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
New York Knicks 1986-87 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1986-87 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-97 | |
| Nov 01, 1986 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 108-103 | |
| Nov 03, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 104-95 | |
| Nov 04, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 118-103 | |
| Nov 06, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 106-95 | |
| Nov 08, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-102 | |
| Nov 09, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-88 | |
| Nov 11, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 111-105 | |
| Nov 14, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 106-103 | |
| Nov 15, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 104-97 | |
| Nov 19, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 98-94 | |
| Nov 21, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 101-99 | |
| Nov 22, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 97-93 | |
| Nov 25, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 102-93 | |
| Nov 26, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 101-90 | |
| Nov 29, 1986 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 90-88 | |
| Dec 02, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 124-100 | |
| Dec 04, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 95-91 | |
| Dec 05, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 123-96 | |
| Dec 07, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 107-104 | |
| Dec 09, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-87 | |
| Dec 10, 1986 | @ Washington Bullets | L 106-105 | |
| Dec 13, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 122-110 | |
| Dec 16, 1986 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 107-96 | |
| Dec 18, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 94-93 | |
| Dec 20, 1986 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 123-99 | |
| Dec 22, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 103-99 | |
| Dec 25, 1986 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 86-85 | |
| Dec 27, 1986 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 114-100 | |
| Dec 30, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 103-97 | |
| Jan 03, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 114-92 | |
| Jan 06, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 118-86 | |
| Jan 07, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 122-111 | |
| Jan 09, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 94-84 | |
| Jan 10, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 119-115 | |
| Jan 13, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 108-103 | |
| Jan 17, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 116-110 | |
| Jan 19, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 111-109 | |
| Jan 21, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 113-93 | |
| Jan 23, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | L 109-95 | |
| Jan 24, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 108-101 | |
| Jan 27, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 108-103 | |
| Jan 30, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 106-98 | |
| Jan 31, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 114-113 | |
| Feb 02, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 104-98 | |
| Feb 03, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 110-109 | |
| Feb 05, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 135-118 | |
| Feb 10, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 100-95 | |
| Feb 11, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 127-104 | |
| Feb 14, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 112-108 | |
| Feb 16, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 111-101 | |
| Feb 19, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 120-105 | |
| Feb 21, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-107 | |
| Feb 22, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 122-110 | |
| Feb 24, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 122-109 | |
| Feb 28, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 137-117 | |
| Mar 01, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 122-115 | |
| Mar 03, 1987 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 99-86 | |
| Mar 04, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 102-99 | |
| Mar 06, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 110-109 | |
| Mar 07, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 115-93 | |
| Mar 10, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 116-93 | |
| Mar 13, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 126-121 | |
| Mar 15, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 113-104 | |
| Mar 17, 1987 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 133-111 | |
| Mar 19, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 111-105 | |
| Mar 21, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 97-85 | |
| Mar 23, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 126-121 | |
| Mar 24, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 135-96 | |
| Mar 27, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 100-91 | |
| Mar 29, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 115-96 | |
| Mar 31, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 128-120 | |
| Apr 01, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 121-120 | |
| Apr 03, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 126-89 | |
| Apr 04, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 112-108 | |
| Apr 06, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-101 | |
| Apr 10, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 132-93 | |
| Apr 12, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 119-107 | |
| Apr 13, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 120-100 | |
| Apr 15, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 118-114 | |
| Apr 17, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 142-110 | |
| Apr 18, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 122-113 |