The 1987-88 NBA season was a transitional period for the New York Knicks. Under the leadership of head coach Rick Pitino, the team sought to rejuvenate its roster and playing style. The most significant change came with the drafting of future Hall of Famer, Patrick Ewing, who continued to establish himself as a dominant force in the league. Ewing averaged 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game, anchoring the team’s defense and contributing significantly on offense.
The Knicks finished the regular season with a 38-44 record, which placed them third in the Atlantic Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference. This record was sufficient to secure a playoff berth, marking a return to the postseason after missing out the previous year. The team’s playing style under Pitino was characterized by an up-tempo offense, which was a departure from the slower pace of previous seasons.
In the playoffs, the Knicks faced the Boston Celtics in the first round. Despite a valiant effort, New York was eliminated in four games, losing the series 3-1. The team’s performance, however, showed promise, with young talents like Mark Jackson, who won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, and Ewing providing a solid foundation for future success. The 1987-88 season was a stepping stone for the Knicks, setting the stage for their competitive resurgence in the years to follow.
- Regular Season Record: 38-44
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-3
New York Knicks Roster and Stats for 1987-88 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Patrick Ewing | 82 | 20.2 | 8.2 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 18.8 | 12.8 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 0.0 |
| Gerald Wilkins | 81 | 17.4 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 30.2 | 4 | 20.0 | 2.0 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Mark Jackson | 82 | 13.6 | 4.8 | 10.6 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 25.4 | 4 | 14.3 | 4.8 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 41.7 |
| Bill Cartwright | 82 | 11.1 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 4 | 7.3 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Walker | 82 | 10.1 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 4 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Johnny Newman | 77 | 10.0 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 28.0 | 4 | 19.0 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Sidney Green | 82 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 4 | 4.0 | 8.3 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Trent Tucker | 71 | 7.1 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 41.3 | 4 | 6.3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 46.2 |
| Pat Cummings | 62 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ray Tolbert | 11 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tony White | 12 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Chris McNealy | 19 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rory Sparrow | 3 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rick Carlisle | 26 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 35.3 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sedric Toney | 21 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 35.7 | 3 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Bob Thornton | 7 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Billy Donovan | 44 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Gerald Henderson | 6 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Louis Orr | 29 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Carey Scurry | 4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
New York Knicks in the 1988 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Boston Celtics
In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks faced a tough first-round matchup against the Boston Celtics. Despite the efforts of star player Patrick Ewing, the Knicks were unable to overcome the experience and depth of the Celtics, ultimately falling in four games in the best-of-five series. The series highlighted the Knicks' need for more consistent support around Ewing to compete with the elite teams in the Eastern Conference.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 112-92 | |
| May 01, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 128-102 | |
| May 04, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 109-100 | |
| May 06, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 102-94 |
New York Knicks 1987-88 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1987-88 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 06, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 110-99 | |
| Nov 07, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 108-95 | |
| Nov 09, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 96-87 | |
| Nov 11, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 94-93 | |
| Nov 13, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 108-101 | |
| Nov 14, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 93-89 | |
| Nov 18, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 111-109 | |
| Nov 19, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 108-107 | |
| Nov 21, 1987 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 99-91 | |
| Nov 23, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 117-112 | |
| Nov 25, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-101 | |
| Nov 28, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 105-93 | |
| Dec 01, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-109 | |
| Dec 03, 1987 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-114 | |
| Dec 04, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | L 104-92 | |
| Dec 06, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 117-99 | |
| Dec 08, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 116-92 | |
| Dec 10, 1987 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 113-97 | |
| Dec 12, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 124-96 | |
| Dec 15, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 103-98 | |
| Dec 17, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 106-96 | |
| Dec 19, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 125-93 | |
| Dec 22, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 122-105 | |
| Dec 23, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 90-89 | |
| Dec 25, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 91-87 | |
| Dec 26, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 125-98 | |
| Dec 29, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 123-110 | |
| Jan 01, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 115-96 | |
| Jan 05, 1988 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 100-95 | |
| Jan 06, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-108 | |
| Jan 08, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-111 | |
| Jan 09, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 106-98 | |
| Jan 12, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 119-111 | |
| Jan 15, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-104 | |
| Jan 16, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 110-96 | |
| Jan 18, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 110-102 | |
| Jan 20, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-96 | |
| Jan 22, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-112 | |
| Jan 23, 1988 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 97-94 | |
| Jan 26, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 122-101 | |
| Jan 28, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 104-90 | |
| Jan 30, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 97-95 | |
| Feb 02, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 110-106 | |
| Feb 04, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 100-93 | |
| Feb 10, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 98-87 | |
| Feb 13, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 120-103 | |
| Feb 15, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 97-96 | |
| Feb 16, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 117-104 | |
| Feb 18, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 108-104 | |
| Feb 22, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 95-93 | |
| Feb 23, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 89-87 | |
| Feb 25, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 106-96 | |
| Feb 26, 1988 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 125-119 | |
| Feb 28, 1988 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 109-100 | |
| Mar 01, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 98-96 | |
| Mar 04, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 110-108 | |
| Mar 05, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 94-85 | |
| Mar 07, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 110-98 | |
| Mar 09, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 104-99 | |
| Mar 11, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 122-115 | |
| Mar 12, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 108-105 | |
| Mar 14, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-102 | |
| Mar 16, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-108 | |
| Mar 19, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 116-110 | |
| Mar 21, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 133-121 | |
| Mar 22, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 124-105 | |
| Mar 24, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | L 134-117 | |
| Mar 26, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 118-106 | |
| Mar 28, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 114-106 | |
| Mar 29, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 108-103 | |
| Mar 31, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-103 | |
| Apr 02, 1988 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 104-98 | |
| Apr 05, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 136-119 | |
| Apr 08, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 131-122 | |
| Apr 10, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | W 118-98 | |
| Apr 11, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 114-111 | |
| Apr 13, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 127-107 | |
| Apr 15, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 106-97 | |
| Apr 16, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 95-93 | |
| Apr 19, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 121-118 | |
| Apr 22, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 118-109 | |
| Apr 23, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 88-86 |