1995–96 New York Knicks season

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1995–96 New York Knicks season
Head coach
General managerErnie Grunfeld
Owners
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record47–35 (.573)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Bulls 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionMSG Network
RadioWFAN
< 1994–95 1996–97 >

The 1995–96 NBA season was the 50th season for the Knicks in the National Basketball Association in New York City, New York.[1] After Pat Riley left to coach the Miami Heat, the Knicks hired Don Nelson as their new head coach (their "Plan B" after Chuck Daly rejected their offer).[2][3] The Knicks won ten of their first twelve games, leading to a 16–5 start and held a 30–16 record at the All-Star break. However, the team never seemed to get under Nelson down the stretch, as he was replaced by long-time assistant Jeff Van Gundy after 59 games.[4] At midseason, the Knicks traded Charles D. Smith to the San Antonio Spurs for J.R. Reid,[5] and dealt Doug Christie and Herb Williams to the expansion Toronto Raptors for Willie Anderson.[6] However, after playing just one game for the Raptors, Williams was released and re-signed by the Knicks for the remainder of the season. Under Van Gundy, the Knicks finished the season playing around .500 to post a 47–35 record, second in the Atlantic Division.[7] Patrick Ewing led the team with 22.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game while being selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game.[8] Last season's Sixth Man of the Year Anthony Mason stepped into the lineup averaging 14.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, while Derek Harper provided the team with 14.0 points per game, John Starks contributed 12.6 points per game, and three-point specialist Hubert Davis provided with 10.7 points per game off the bench.[9]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Knicks swept the 4th-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in three straight games.[10] However, they would lose four games to one to the 72–10 Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.[11] Following the season, Mason was traded to the Charlotte Hornets,[12] Harper re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the Dallas Mavericks,[13] Davis was traded to the Toronto Raptors,[14] and Reid and Anderson were both released to free agency.[15]

For the season, the Knicks added the city name "New York" above their primary logo.[16] They also added new blue alternate road uniforms with black side panels,[17] which they wore on the road frequently, that they would become their primary road jerseys for the 1997–98 season, where they would change their home uniforms adding blue side panels to their jerseys and shorts.[18]

Offseason[]

NBA draft[]

Main article: 1995 NBA Draft

The Knicks had no draft picks for 1995.

Roster[]

1995–96 New York Knicks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
SG 40 Anderson, Willie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1967–01–08 Georgia
SG 44 Davis, Hubert 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 1970–05–17 North Carolina
C 33 Ewing, Patrick (C) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–08–05 Georgetown
PF 20 Grandison, Ron 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1964–07–09 New Orleans
PG 23 Grant, Gary 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965–04–21 Michigan
PG 11 Harper, Derek 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1961–10–13 Illinois
PF 54 Lohaus, Brad 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–09–29 Iowa
SF 14 Mason, Anthony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–12–14 Tennessee State
PF 34 Oakley, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union
PF 7 Reid, J. R. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 247 lb (112 kg) 1968–03–31 North Carolina
SG 3 Starks, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–08–10 Oklahoma State
PG 21 Ward, Charlie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1970–10–12 Florida State
PF 32 Williams, Herb 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 242 lb (110 kg) 1958–02–16 Ohio State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 29, 1996

Roster notes[]

  • Small forward Anthony Tucker missed the entire season due to a back injury, and never played for the Knicks.[19]
  • Center Herb Williams was traded at midseason to the expansion Toronto Raptors, where he would play just one game before being waived, and was re-signed by the Knicks for the remainder of the season.[20]

Regular season[]

Season standings[]

Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
y – Orlando Magic 60 22 .732 12.0 37–4 23–18 21–3 82
x – New York Knicks 47 35 .573 25.0 26–15 21–20 16–8 82
x – Miami Heat 42 40 .512 30.0 26–15 16–25 13–12 82
Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 33.0 25–16 14–27 10–14 82
Boston Celtics 33 49 .402 39.0 18–23 15–26 12–12 82
New Jersey Nets 30 52 .366 42.0 20–21 10–31 8–17 82
Philadelphia 76ers 18 64 .220 54.0 11–30 7–34 5–19 82


Eastern Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 z – Chicago Bulls * 72 10 .878 – 82
2 y – Orlando Magic * 60 22 .732 12.0 82
3 x – Indiana Pacers 52 30 .634 20.0 82
4 x – Cleveland Cavaliers 47 35 .573 25.0 82
5 x – New York Knicks 47 35 .573 25.0 82
6 x – Atlanta Hawks 46 36 .561 26.0 82
7 x – Detroit Pistons 46 36 .561 26.0 82
8 x – Miami Heat 42 40 .512 30.0 82
9 Charlotte Hornets 41 41 .500 31.0 82
10 Washington Bullets 39 43 .476 33.0 82
11 Boston Celtics 33 49 .402 39.0 82
12 New Jersey Nets 30 52 .366 42.0 82
13 Milwaukee Bucks 25 57 .305 47.0 82
14 Toronto Raptors 21 61 .256 51.0 82
15 Philadelphia 76ers 18 64 .220 54.0 82

Record vs. opponents[]

1995-96 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta — 4–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 4–0 2–1 2–2 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–3
Boston 0–4 — 2–2 0–3 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–4 1–3 4–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
Charlotte 1–3 2–2 — 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–3 3–0 0–4 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–1
Chicago 4–0 3–0 3–1 — 4–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 3–0 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 4–0
Cleveland 1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 — 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 1–2 3–1 1–2 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Dallas 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 — 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 4–0 0–2
Denver 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2 — 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1
Detroit 2–2 1–2 3–1 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 — 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–1 4–0 0–4 1–3 4–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–2
Golden State 1–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 0–2 — 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 4–0 1–1
Houston 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 — 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Indiana 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 0–2 — 2–0 1–1 3–0 3–1 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 3–0
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 — 0–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 1–3 3–1 1–1
L.A. Lakers 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 4–0 — 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Miami 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–1 0–2 — 3–0 1–1 5–0 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–2
Milwaukee 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–3 — 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3
Minnesota 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 — 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2
New Jersey 0–4 2–2 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–1 2–0 0–4 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 0–5 3–1 1–1 — 2–2 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–2
New York 1–2 4–0 0–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 — 1–3 3–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 3–1
Orlando 2–2 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 — 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 4–0
Philadelphia 1–2 0–4 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–0 0–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 — 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–3
Phoenix 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1 1–3 0–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 — 2–2 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–0 1–3 4–0 2–0
Portland 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 — 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–3 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 — 1–3 0–4 2–0 0–4 2–2 0–2
San Antonio 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 4–0 0–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 — 2–2 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1
Seattle 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 0–2 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 4–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 4–0 2–2 — 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1
Toronto 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–4 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 0–4 1–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 — 0–2 1–1 3–1
Utah 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 1–3 2–0 — 4–0 1–1
Vancouver 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 0–4 — 0–2
Washington 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 —

Schedule[]

Game Date Opponent Result Knicks points Opponents Record Streak Notes
1

Playoffs[]

1996 playoff game log
First Round: 3–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 25 @ Cleveland W 106–83 Patrick Ewing (23) three players tied (7) three players tied (7) Gund Arena
16,419 		1–0
2 April 27 @ Cleveland W 84–80 Anthony Mason (23) Mason, Ewing (12) John Starks (7) Gund Arena
17,232 		2–0
3 May 1 Cleveland W 81–76 John Starks (22) Patrick Ewing (10) three players tied (4) Madison Square Garden
19,763 		3–0
Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 5 @ Chicago L 84–91 Patrick Ewing (21) Patrick Ewing (16) Derek Harper (5) United Center
24,394 		0–1
2 May 7 @ Chicago L 80–91 Patrick Ewing (23) Charles Oakley (11) Derek Harper (5) United Center
24,328 		0–2
3 May 11 Chicago W 102–99 (OT) John Starks (30) Oakley, Ewing (13) John Starks (6) Madison Square Garden
19,763 		1–2
4 May 12 Chicago L 91–94 Patrick Ewing (29) Patrick Ewing (10) Derek Harper (5) Madison Square Garden
19,763 		1–3
5 May 14 @ Chicago L 81–94 Patrick Ewing (22) Charles Oakley (13) Derek Harper (6) United Center
24,396 		1–4
1996 schedule

Player stats[]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

NOTE: Please write players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Willie Anderson
Doug Christie
Hubert Davis
Patrick Ewing
Matt Fish
Ron Grandison
Gary Grant
Derek Harper
Brad Lohaus
Anthony Mason
Charles Oakley
J.R. Reid
Charles D. Smith
John Starks
Charlie Ward
Herb Williams
Monty Williams

Playoffs[]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Willie Anderson
Hubert Davis
Patrick Ewing
Ron Grandison
Gary Grant
Derek Harper
Anthony Mason
Charles Oakley
J.R. Reid
John Starks
Charlie Ward
Herb Williams

Transactions[]

Trades[]

October 13, 1995 To New York Knicks
1996 1st-round pick
To Miami Heat
Pat Riley (coach)


February 8, 1996 To New York Knicks
Brad Lohaus
J. R. Reid
1996 1st-round pick
To San Antonio Spurs
Charles Smith
Monty Williams


February 18, 1996 To New York Knicks
Victor Alexander
Willie Anderson
To Toronto Raptors
Doug Christie
Herb Williams
Cash

Free agents[]

Additions
Player Date signed Former team
Gary Grant November 8 Los Angeles Clippers
Matt Fish (10-day) February 24 Fort Wayne Fury (CBA)
Herb Williams February 28 Toronto Raptors
Ron Grandison (first 10-day) March 12 Omaha Racers (CBA)
Ron Grandison (remainder of season) March 29 New York Knicks
Subtractions
Player Date signed New Team
Matt Fish March 5 Denver Nuggets

[21]

Awards and records[]

Records[]

Milestones[]

See also[]

  • 1995-96 NBA season

References[]

  1. ^ 1995-96 New York Knicks
  2. ^ "Archives".
  3. ^ "Knicks Crown Nelson Coach Of New York". Orlando Sentinel. July 7, 1995. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  4. ^ "Turmoil Costs Nelson Knicks' Job". Los Angeles Times. March 9, 1996. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  5. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL;Knicks Deal Smith, and His Salary, to San Antonio". New York Times. February 9, 1996. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  6. ^ "BASKETBALL;Knicks Are Close to a Trade". New York Times. February 18, 1996. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  7. ^ "1995–96 New York Knicks Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  8. ^ "1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "1995–96 New York Knicks Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  10. ^ "NBA PLAYOFFS;A Chance to Shoot Down Bulls Is as Easy as 1-2-3". New York Times. May 2, 1996. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  11. ^ "NBA PLAYOFFS;Bulls End Another Knick Season and, This Time, an Era". New York Times. May 15, 1996. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  12. ^ "Mason Believes Ewing May Have Forced Him Out". New York Times. September 12, 1996. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  13. ^ "BASKETBALL;Harper Appears Headed To Mavs". New York Times. July 26, 1996. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  14. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL;Davis Traded by Knicks To Raptors for '97 Pick". New York Times. July 25, 1996. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  15. ^ "1995-96 NBA Transactions". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  16. ^ "New York Knicks Logo". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  17. ^ "New York Knicks Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  18. ^ "New York Knicks Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page – SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL: KNICKS NOTEBOOK;Tucker Held in Attack on Officers". New York Times. February 7, 1996. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  20. ^ "1995-96 NBA Transactions". Basketball Reference. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  21. ^ "1995–96 New York Knicks Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
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