1976–77 New York Knicks season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1976–77 New York Knicks season
Head coachRed Holzman
General managerEddie Donovan
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record40–42 (.488)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Atlantic)
Conference: 7th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid Not Qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWOR-TV
Manhattan Cable Television[1]
RadioWNEW[2]
< 1975–76 1977–78 >

The 1976–77 New York Knicks season was the 31st season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Knicks finished in third place in the Atlantic Division, and failed to qualify for the 1977 NBA Playoffs.[3] Bob McAdoo, a mid-season trade acquisition,[4] led the Knicks in points per game (26.7) and rebounds per game (12.7), while Walt Frazier had a team-high 5.3 assists per game.[3]

In the 1976 NBA draft, New York did not have a first-round pick, having been stripped of it in 1975 after attempting to sign American Basketball Association player George McGinnis, whose NBA rights were held by the Philadelphia 76ers.[5][6] With their first selection, the Knicks chose Lonnie Shelton in the second round with the 25th overall pick.[7] On November 30, 1976, the Knicks played their first game against the New York Nets in the regular season, losing 104–103.[8] In December, the Knicks traded with the Buffalo Braves for McAdoo and Tom McMillen, sending John Gianelli and $3 million.[4] McAdoo started in the 1977 NBA All-Star Game, and Earl Monroe was selected as a reserve.[9] Coach Red Holzman stepped down at the end of the 1977 season,[10] Willis Reed was named his replacement, and Holzman accepted a role as consultant. Bill Bradley also retired after the season and started a career in politics.[11][12]

Draft picks[]

Main article: 1976 NBA draft

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first and second rounds, and any other players picked by the franchise that played at least one game in the league.[7]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
2 25 Lonnie Shelton F/C  United States Oregon State

Roster[]

New York Knicks roster
  • v
  • t
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
G 9 United States Beard, Butch 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Louisville
F 24 United States Bradley, Bill 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Princeton
G 14 United States Burden, Ticky 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Utah
G 10 United States Frazier, Walt 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Southern Illinois
F 42 United States Haywood, Spencer 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Detroit
F 18 United States Jackson, Phil 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) North Dakota
G 35 United States Layton, Mo 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Southern California
F/C 11 United States McAdoo, Bob 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) North Carolina
C 52 United States McMillen, Tom 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Maryland
F 5 United States McMillian, Jim 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Columbia
G 7 United States Meminger, Dean 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Marquette
G 15 United States Monroe, Earl 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Winston-Salem State
F 8 United States Shelton, Lonnie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Oregon State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Atlantic Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Philadelphia 76ers 50 32 .610 – 32–9 18–23 11–5
x-Boston Celtics 44 38 .537 6 28–13 16–25 9–7
New York Knicks 40 42 .488 10 26–15 14–27 8–8
Buffalo Braves 30 52 .366 20 23–18 7–34 6–10
New York Nets 22 60 .268 28 10–31 12–29 6–10


# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Philadelphia 76ers 50 32 .610 –
2 y-Houston Rockets 49 33 .598 1
3 x-Washington Bullets 48 34 .585 2
4 x-Boston Celtics 44 38 .537 6
5 x-San Antonio Spurs 44 38 .537 6
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 43 39 .524 7
7 New York Knicks 40 42 .488 10
8 New Orleans Jazz 35 47 .427 15
9 Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 19
10 Buffalo Braves 30 52 .366 20
11 New York Nets 22 60 .268 28


z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents[]

1976–77 NBA records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NOJ NYK NYN PHI PHO POR SAS SEA WAS
Atlanta — 0–4 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 4–0 1–2 1–3
Boston 4–0 — 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–2 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 4–0 2–2 0–4
Buffalo 0–4 1–3 — 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–3 1–3 1–3 0–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 0–4
Chicago 2–2 2–2 3–1 — 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 1–2
Cleveland 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3
Denver 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 — 3–1 2–2 3–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–2 4–0 2–2
Detroit 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 — 3–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–3
Golden State 4–0 3–1 3–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 — 2–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1
Houston 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 0–3 2–2 1–2 — 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1
Indiana 4–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–4 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4
Kansas City 2–1 1–3 3–0 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 — 1–3 2–2 2–2 4–0 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2
Los Angeles 2–2 1–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 — 3–1 3–0 1–3 4–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 4–0
Milwaukee 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 — 1–2 1–3 3–1 1–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3
New Orleans 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–3 2–1 — 3–1 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2
N.Y. Knicks 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–3 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–2 2–2
N.Y. Nets 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 2–2 — 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3 1–3 1–3
Philadelphia 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 — 1–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1
Phoenix 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–1 — 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3
Portland 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 — 2–2 3–1 1–2
San Antonio 0–4 0–4 4–0 1–3 2–2 2–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 — 3–1 2–2
Seattle 2–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 — 3–1
Washington 3–1 4–0 4–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–1 2–2 1–3 —

References[]

  1. ^ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 331. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  2. ^ The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 330. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "1976–77 New York Knickerbockers Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "McAdoo dealt to New York". Ottawa Citizen. United Press International. December 9, 1976. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  5. ^ "O'Brien punishes Knicks". The Deseret News. United Press International. June 6, 1975. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  6. ^ "Basketball Briefs: Kennedy Charges Knicks Fouled In McGinnis Deal". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. June 3, 1975. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "1976 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  8. ^ Down, Fred (December 1, 1976). "Archibald Leads Nets Past Knicks". Times Daily. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  9. ^ "1977 NBA All-Star Game West 125, East 124". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  10. ^ "Knicks' Red Holzman Announces Retirement". Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. March 6, 1977. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  11. ^ "Bradley and Holzman Finish Careers As Winners". Sarasota Herald. United Press International. April 11, 1977. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  12. ^ "Bradley, William Warren (Bill), (1943 –)". Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
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