1995–96 New York Knicks season

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 (their "Plan B" after Chuck Daly rejected their offer)[2] and won ten of their first twelve games.[3] 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 to the expansion Toronto Raptors for Willie Anderson.[6] Under Van Gundy, the Knicks finished the season playing around .500 to post a 47–35 record, second in the Atlantic Division, with Patrick Ewing being selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game.

1995–96 New York Knicks season
Head coachDon Nelson
Jeff Van Gundy
General managerErnie Grunfeld
OwnersITT
Cablevision
ArenaMadison Square Garden
Results
Record47–35 (.573)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast Conference Semifinals
(Lost to Bulls 1–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionMSG Network
RadioWFAN

In the first round of the playoffs, the Knicks swept the 4th-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in three straight games. However, they would lose four games to one to the Chicago Bulls in the semifinals. Following the season, Anthony Mason was traded to the Charlotte Hornets,[7] Derek Harper re-signed as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks,[8] Hubert Davis was traded to the Toronto Raptors,[9] and Reid and Anderson were both released.[10]

For the season, the Knicks added the "New York" script to their logo. They also had new alternate uniforms, which they wore on the road so often, that they would become their primary road jerseys for the 1997–98 season.

Offseason

NBA Draft

The Knicks had no draft picks for 1995.

Roster
Roster listing
New York Knicks roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
SG 40 Anderson, Willie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Georgia
SG 44 Davis, Hubert 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 183 lb (83 kg) North Carolina
C 33 Ewing, Patrick 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Georgetown
PF 20 Grandison, Ron 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) New Orleans
PG 23 Grant, Gary 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Michigan
PG 11 Harper, Derek 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Illinois
PF 54 Lohaus, Brad 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Iowa
SF 14 Mason, Anthony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Tennessee State
PF 34 Oakley, Charles 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Virginia Union
PF 7 Reid, J. R. 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 247 lb (112 kg) North Carolina
SG 3 Starks, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Oklahoma State
SF — Tucker, Anthony  (IN) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 229 lb (104 kg) Wake Forest
PG 21 Ward, Charlie 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Florida State
C 32 Williams, Herb 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 242 lb (110 kg) Ohio State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster

Roster Notes
  • Forward Anthony Tucker missed the entire season due to a back injury.[11]
  • Center Herb Williams was traded at midseason to the Toronto Raptors, where he would play just one game before being waived, and was re-signed by the Knicks for the rest of the season.[12]

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 51 31 .622 21.0 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 —4–03–10–43–11–11–12–21–11–11–32–00–22–22–21–14–02–12–22–10–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–01–3
Boston 0–4—2–20–31–30–21–12–10–21–10–42–00–23–13–12–02–20–41–34–01–10–22–00–20–23–10–21–12–2
Charlotte 1–32–2—1–33–12–02–01–30–20–21–31–12–02–23–11–10–33–00–43–12–01–11–10–20–23–11–12–03–1
Chicago 4–03–03–1—4–02–01–14–02–02–02–22–02–03–14–02–03–03–13–14–01–12–02–02–01–13–12–02–04–0
Cleveland 1–33–11–30–4—2–01–12–22–01–12–22–02–01–34–02–01–23–11–24–02–01–11–10–20–23–10–22–03–1
Dallas 1–12–00–20–20–2—2–20–22–21–30–22–20–40–21–10–41–10–21–10–21–30–42–22–22–21–11–34–00–2
Denver 1–11–10–21–11–12–2—1–12–21–30–21–32–20–21–14–00–21–11–12–03–10–40–40–41–32–03–13–11–1
Detroit 2–21–23–10–42–22–01–1—2–01–12–22–00–21–32–21–14–00–41–34–02–02–01–12–01–14–00–22–01–2
Golden State 1–12–02–00–20–22–22–20–2—2–21–13–11–31–11–13–12–00–20–22–01–31–31–31–30–41–11–34–01–1
Houston 1–11–12–00–21–13–13–11–12–2—2–04–03–10–22–02–22–00–20–22–03–12–22–21–30–42–02–24–01–1
Indiana 3–14–03–12–22–22–02–02–21–10–2—2–01–13–03–11–11–31–32–23–11–11–10–21–12–04–00–22–03–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–10–20–22–23–10–21–30–40–2—0–41–11–13–11–11–10–22–03–12–22–21–30–40–21–33–11–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–00–20–20–24–02–22–03–11–31–14–0—2–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–12–23–11–32–22–02–24–01–1
Miami 2–21–32–21–33–12–02–03–11–12–00–31–10–2—3–01–15–01–31–33–11–10–21–11–10–22–10–21–12–2
Milwaukee 2–21–31–30–40–41–11–12–21–10–21–31–10–20–3—1–11–32–21–32–10–22–00–21–10–22–20–21–11–3
Minnesota 1–10–21–10–20–24–00–41–11–32–21–11–31–31–11–1—1–10–20–21–11–30–43–11–30–41–11–32–20–2
New Jersey 0–42–23–00–32–11–12–00–40–20–23–11–10–20–53–11–1—2–20–42–20–21–11–10–20–22–20–22–02–2
New York 1–24–00–31–31–32–01–14–02–02–03–11–11–13–12–22–02–2—1–33–10–20–20–21–11–14–01–11–13–1
Orlando 2–23–14–01–32–11–11–13–12–02–02–22–01–13–13–12–04–03–1—4–02–01–11–11–11–12–11–12–04–0
Philadelphia 1–20–41–30–40–42–00–20–40–20–21–30–21–11–31–21–12–21–30–4—0–20–20–20–20–23–11–11–11–3
Phoenix 2–01–10–21–10–23–11–30–23–11–31–11–31–31–12–03–12–02–00–22–0—2–22–21–30–42–01–34–02–0
Portland 0–22–01–10–21–14–04–00–23–12–21–12–22–22–00–24–01–12–01–12–02–2—1–31–31–32–01–32–20–2
Sacramento 0–20–21–10–21–12–24–01–13–12–22–02–21–31–12–01–31–12–01–12–02–23–1—1–30–42–00–42–20–2
San Antonio 2–02–02–00–22–02–24–00–23–13–11–13–13–11–11–13–12–01–11–12–03–13–13–1—2–22–03–14–01–1
Seattle 2–02–02–01–12–02–23–11–14–04–00–24–02–22–02–04–02–01–11–12–04–03–14–02–2—1–13–13–11–1
Toronto 0–41–31–31–31–31–10–20–41–10–20–42–00–21–22–21–12–20–41–21–30–20–20–20–21–1—0–21–13–1
Utah 1–12–01–10–22–03–11–32–03–12–22–03–12–22–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–13–14–01–31–32–0—4–01–1
Vancouver 0–21–10–20–20–20–41–30–20–40–40–21–30–41–11–12–20–21–10–21–10–42–22–20–41–31–10–4—0–2
Washington 3–12–21–30–41–32–01–12–11–11–10–31–11–12–23–12–02–21–30–43–10–22–02–01–11–11–31–12–0—

Schedule
GameDateOpponentResultKnicks pointsOpponentsRecordStreakNotes
1

Playoffs

East First Round

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) New York Knicks Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Eastern Conference First Round (New York won 3-1)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(CLE-NYK)

 Venue Recap Television
1 April 25 Cleveland 83 New York 106 0-1 Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio 1 TBS 7:00et
2 April 27 Cleveland 80 New York 84 0-2 Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio 2 NBC 1:00et
3 May 1 New York 81 Cleveland 76 0-3 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 3 TBS 7:00et
New York wins series 3–0

East Conference Semifinals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) New York Knicks Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Chicago won 4-1)

Game Date Home Score Visitor Score Record

(CHI-NYK)

 Venue Recap Television
1 May 5 Chicago 91 New York 84 1-0 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 1 NBC 5:30et
2 May 7 Chicago 91 New York 80 2-0 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 2 TNT 9:30et
3* May 11 New York 102 Chicago 99 2-1 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 3 NBC 1:00et
4 May 12 New York 91 Chicago 94 3-1 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York 4 NBC 5:30et
5 May 14 Chicago 94 New York 81 4-1 United Center, Chicago, Illinois 5 TNT 8:00et
Chicago wins series 4–1

*Required overtime

Player stats
Player Games Played Points Assists Field Goals Rebounds

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

Awards and records

Records

Milestones

See also
  • 1995-96 NBA season

References
  1. 1995-96 New York Knicks
  2. https://articles.latimes.com/1995-06-25/sports/sp-16910_1_coaching-jobs
  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. "Mason Believes Ewing May Have Forced Him Out". New York Times. September 12, 1996. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  8. "BASKETBALL;Harper Appears Headed To Mavs". New York Times. July 26, 1996. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  9. "PRO BASKETBALL;Davis Traded by Knicks To Raptors for '97 Pick". New York Times. July 25, 1996. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  10. "1995-96 NBA Transactions". Basketball Reference. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  11. "PRO BASKETBALL: KNICKS NOTEBOOK;Tucker Held in Attack on Officers". New York Times. February 7, 1996. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  12. "1995-96 NBA Transactions". Basketball Reference. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
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