The New York Knicks, one of the NBAâs most storied and enduring franchises, have just two league championships to their name. This postseason, they have a golden opportunity to end a long drought and return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in decades.
The last time the Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals was 25 years ago, during the 1999-2000 season. That came just one year after their NBA Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs in a five-game series.
In the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks fell to the Indiana Pacers in six games, with the series ending 4-2. The Pacers would go on to lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals that year.
To reach the conference finals that season, the Knicks swept the Toronto Raptors in the first round before narrowly defeating the Miami Heat in a hard-fought 4-3 series in the semifinals. However, since then, the Knicks have been unable to return to the same heights. This year, they have a real chance to break that 25-year drought.
Chris Childs tries to get the crowd into the game during first round of the NBA Playoffs in 2000. (Getty Images)
Knicks eye breakthrough opportunity
Under the leadership of head coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks have a prime chance to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. After dispatching the Detroit Pistons in six games (4-2) during the first round, they now face the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals.
see also
Knicks star Jalen Brunson sets new NBA playoff record vs Celtics, surpassing Lakers legend Kobe Bryant
New York stunned the Celtics by winning the first two games on the road at TD Garden, taking a commanding lead in the series. Boston bounced back with a Game 3 victory to stay alive, but the Knicks responded with a crucial win in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden, giving them a 3-1 series advantage. Now they are just one win away from ending that 25-year drought.
If the Knicks advance, theyâll face the Indiana Pacers, who pulled off a shocking upset over the Cleveland Cavaliers. This matchup would serve as a chance for redemption, as the Pacers eliminated the Knicks in a dramatic seven-game series (4-3) last season in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
When was the last time the Knicks made the NBA Finals?
The Knicksâ last appearance in the NBA Finals came during the 1998-1999 season, the year before their most recent trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. In 1999, they fell to the San Antonio Spurs in a five-game series (4-1), narrowly missing out on their third championship in franchise history.
