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1994–95 New York Knicks season

The 1994–95 New York Knicks season was the 49th season for the Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA).[3] The Knicks entered the season as runner-ups of the 1994 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Houston Rockets in seven games.[4] During the off-season, the Knicks acquired Doug Christie from the Los Angeles Lakers.[5][6][7] In the 1994 NBA draft, the team selected small forward Monty Williams out of Notre Dame University with the 24th overall pick, and selected point guard Charlie Ward out of Florida State University with the 26th overall pick.[8][9][10][11] However, Christie only played twelve games, because of an ankle injury,[12][13][14][15] and Ward only played ten games due to a wrist injury.[12][16][17] In December, the team released Doc Rivers to free agency; Rivers later signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs.[18][19][20][21] The Knicks had a 12–12 start to the season, but then won 17 of their next 19 games, held a 30–16 record at the All-Star break, and posted a 55–27 record in the Atlantic Division.[22][23] They finished in second place, two games behind the top-seeded Orlando Magic. By earning the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference,[24] the Knicks qualified for the NBA playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.[3]

Patrick Ewing averaged 23.9 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game,[12] finished in fourth place in Most Valuable Player voting,[25][26] and was selected for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game,[24][27][28][29][30] while John Starks averaged 15.3 points and 5.1 assists per game,[12] and led the league with 217 three-point field goals, becoming the first player ever to reach up to 200 three-pointers in a single season.[31] In addition, Charles D. Smith provided the team with 12.7 points and 1.3 blocks per game, while Derek Harper averaged 11.5 points and 5.7 assists per game, and sixth man Anthony Mason averaged 9.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game off the bench, and was named Sixth Man of the Year.[12][32][33][34][35] Charles Oakley only played just 50 games this season due to a toe injury, averaging 10.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game,[12][36][37][38] and three-point specialist Hubert Davis contributed 10.0 points per game off the bench.[12]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1995 NBA Playoffs, the Knicks defeated the 6th–seeded Cleveland Cavaliers three games to one, advancing to the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.[39][40][41][42] In the Semi-finals, the Knicks faced off against the 2nd–seeded Indiana Pacers for the third consecutive year; despite the Pacers being the #2 seed in the East, the Knicks had home-court advantage in this series, since they had a better regular-season record than the Pacers.[43][44][45] The Pacers defeated the Knicks in Game 1, 107–105, as Reggie Miller scored eight points in the final 18.7 seconds to bring the Pacers back from a six-point deficit.[46][47][48][49][50] The Pacers gained a 3–1 series edge,[51][52][53] before the Knicks won two straight games to force a seventh game at Madison Square Garden. With the Knicks down by two points in the final seconds, Ewing had a chance to send the game to overtime, but missed his driving layup attempt, as the Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference finals.[54][55][56][57]

Following the season, Pat Riley quit as head coach to take over the coaching job with the Miami Heat,[58][59][60][61] while Greg Anthony was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies expansion team,[62][63][64][65][66] and Anthony Bonner was released to free agency, and left to play overseas in Italy.[67][68][69]

NBA draft

Roster

Season standings

Division

Conference

Notes

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and honors

Player stats

Regular season

Playoffs

Source:[12]

Transactions

The Knicks were involved in the following transactions during the 1994–95 season.

Trades

Free agents

Source:[72]

Notes

  1. ^ Pick was conditional, and was not exercised.[71]

References

  1. ^ 2016–17 New York Knicks Media Guide (PDF). New York Knicks. 2016. p. 305. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  2. ^ 2016–17 New York Knicks Media Guide (PDF). New York Knicks. 2016. p. 304. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "New York Knickerbockers Franchise Index". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  4. ^ "Knicks playoff history". Newsday. May 19, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  5. ^ Brown, Clifton (October 14, 1994). "Basketball; Knicks Hope Christie Adds Some Swing". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  6. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (October 14, 1994). "Christie Goes to Knicks: Pro Basketball: Lakers Get Two Second-Round Picks for Former Pepperdine Star". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  7. ^ "Christie Goes to the Knicks". The Washington Post. October 14, 1994. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  8. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 30, 1994). "Basketball; The Bucks Go With Robinson as No. 1 Pick". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Rhoden, William C. (June 30, 1994). "Basketball; A Surprise, a Heisman for Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Litsky, Frank (July 8, 1994). "Pro Basketball; Knicks' Top Picks Have Much in Common". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  11. ^ "1994 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h "1994–95 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  13. ^ Diamos, Jason (October 21, 1994). "Riley Willing to Wait and See on Christie". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  14. ^ Brown, Clifton (December 9, 1994). "Basketball; Christie Examines Ankle and Options". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  15. ^ Wise, Mike (November 28, 1995). "Pro Basketball; Christie Wants Out If He Can't Play More". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  16. ^ Brown, Clifton (December 1, 1994). "Basketball; Rivers Has Returned Amid a Crowded Scene". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  17. ^ "Ward Returns to Active Duty". Tampa Bay Times. December 17, 1994. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  18. ^ Brown, Clifton (December 16, 1994). "Pro Basketball; It's Goodbye to Rivers to End Logjam at Point". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  19. ^ "Spurs Officially Sign Rivers". United Press International. December 26, 1994. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  20. ^ "Sports People: Pro Basketball; Spurs Sign Rivers". The New York Times. December 27, 1994. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  21. ^ O'Connor, Ian (June 15, 2010). "Rivers Still Pained by Finals Loss in '94". ESPN. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  22. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  23. ^ "1994–95 New York Knicks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  24. ^ a b c d e "1994–95 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  25. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (May 24, 1995). "It's a Slam Dunk: Robinson Wins MVP: Pro Basketball: Spurs' Center Receives 73 First-Place Votes to 12 for Magic's O'Neal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  26. ^ "1994–95 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  27. ^ Landman, Brian (February 11, 1995). "Will Shaq's Return Bring Double Trouble?". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  28. ^ Cotton, Anthony (February 12, 1995). "New-Age NBA Reaches for the Stars". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  29. ^ "1995 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  30. ^ a b "1995 NBA All-Star Game: West 139, East 112". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  31. ^ "NBA & ABA Single Season Leaders and Records for 3-Pt Field Goals". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  32. ^ "1995 N.B.A. Playoffs; Mason Wins 6th Man Award". The New York Times. May 9, 1995. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  33. ^ "Sports Briefly". Deseret News. May 9, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  34. ^ Isola, Frank (March 1, 2015). "Anthony Mason Dead at 48: Bruising Former Knicks Power Forward Dies Weeks After Suffering Massive Heart Attack". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  35. ^ "NBA & ABA Sixth Man of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  36. ^ Diamos, Jason (January 1, 1995). "Basketball; Ewing Is Stepping Up In a Timely Fashion". The New York Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  37. ^ Brown, Clifton (January 12, 1995). "Basketball; Don't Look Now, But Knicks Are Bonding". The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  38. ^ Diamos, Jason (February 27, 1995). "Pro Basketball; Knicks Welcome Oakley Back With a Victory". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  39. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 5, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. Playoffs; Harper for 3 – Yes! It's a Knicks–Pacers Rematch". The New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  40. ^ "NBA Playoffs: Knicks Win, Resume Rivalry with Pacers". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 5, 1995. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  41. ^ "Knicks Beat Cavs to Win Series, 3–1". San Francisco Chronicle. May 5, 1995. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  42. ^ "1995 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Cavaliers vs. Knicks". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  43. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 6, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. Playoffs; Knicks Know Enemy All Too Well". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  44. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 7, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. Playoffs; Knicks and Pacers in Playoff: Grudges All the Way Around". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  45. ^ "1994–95 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  46. ^ Smith, Timothy W. (May 8, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. Playoffs; Pacers Stunned by Knick Errors". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  47. ^ Araton, Harvey (May 8, 1995). "On Pro Basketball; A Team's Fiery Crash, with No Time to Burn". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  48. ^ "Miller Knocks Out Knicks, Rubs It in: NBA Playoffs: He Scores Eight Points in Nine Seconds as Pacers Close Strongly to Win, 107–105". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 8, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  49. ^ Kornheiser, Tony (May 8, 1995). "It Ain't Over Till It's Over". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  50. ^ Zinser, Lynn (May 6, 2013). "The Scar Miller Left in 1995 Is Still Fresh". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  51. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 14, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. Playoffs; Now It's Knicks Who Need Incredible Comeback". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  52. ^ "NBA Playoffs: Inside, Outside, Smits Leads Pacers' Victory: Eastern Conference: He Scores 25 Points as Indiana Beats the Knicks, 98–84, to Take a 3–1 Lead in the Series". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 14, 1995. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  53. ^ "Revenge a Reality? Pacers Punish Knicks". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 14, 1995. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  54. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 22, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. Playoffs; The Knicks' Quest for Glory Bounces Off the Back of the Rim". The New York Times. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  55. ^ Elliott, Helene (May 22, 1995). "Ewing Is Out of Miracles: NBA Playoffs: He Misses a Layup as Pacers Beat Knicks, 97–95, and Advance to Eastern Conference finals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  56. ^ Adande, J. A. (May 23, 1995). "Pacers' Next Trick: Making Shaq Vanish". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  57. ^ "1995 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Pacers vs. Knicks". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  58. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 16, 1995). "Pro Basketball; Riley Quits, Citing Differences with Management". The New York Times. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  59. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 16, 1995). "Riley Abruptly Leaves Knicks: Pro Basketball: Rejecting a $3-Million-Per-Year Deal, Coach Says He Wanted Control Over Personnel". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  60. ^ Wise, Mike (September 3, 1995). "Pro Basketball; Riley Back in Spotlight and Back at the Helm". The New York Times. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  61. ^ Wise, Mike (September 8, 1995). "Pro Basketball; Book Is Closed on the Knicks–Riley Saga". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  62. ^ Wise, Mike (June 25, 1995). "Pro Basketball; Anthony Is No. 2 of the Secaucus 27". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  63. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 25, 1995). "Armstrong Becomes Top Expansion Pick: NBA: Raptors Take Guard from Bulls. Massenburg Also Headed to Toronto, While Lakers Lose Harvey to Vancouver". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  64. ^ Smith, Sam (June 25, 1995). "Toronto Picks Armstrong; May Not Trade Him". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  65. ^ "NBA Expansion Draft – Point Guards Are Top Priority for Young Raptors, Grizzlies". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. June 25, 1995. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  66. ^ "1995 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  67. ^ Wise, Mike (September 22, 1995). "Pro Basketball; Knicks Reward Mason's Effort with New Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  68. ^ "Sports Briefs". The Gainesville Sun. Sun News Services. December 6, 1995. p. 2C. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  69. ^ Bunn, Curtis (May 10, 1996). "Still Working His Magic: Nixed by Knicks, Bonner at Home in Orlando". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  70. ^ a b c "Patrick Ewing". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  71. ^ "1994–95 NBA Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  72. ^ "1994–95 New York Knicks Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 30, 2021.

External links