Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
The 1972-73 New York Knicks are widely considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Led by Hall of Famers Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, and Earl Monroe, the Knicks captured their second NBA championship in three years, cementing their place in basketball lore.
The Knicks entered the 1972-73 season with high expectations. The previous year, they had fallen just short of a second straight championship, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. But the team was determined to bounce back and win it all again, and they did so in spectacular fashion.
The Knicks’ championship run had a profound impact on the NBA as a whole. They proved that a team could win with defense and unselfish play, setting a new standard for excellence that other teams would strive to emulate. They also demonstrated the power of teamwork and resilience, showing that a group of players could overcome adversity and achieve greatness.
Yesterday, the Knicks celebrated the golden anniversary of the franchise’s most-recent NBA title. Many members of the legendary team were present in the Garden and fan favorite Clyde Frazier addressed the crowd during the halftime ceremony with an incredible speech:
You guys gave us so much confidence to say… Not in our house, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor. Not in our house Kareem and Oscar Robertson. We are the New York Knicks.”
