1983–84 New York Knicks season

The 1983–84 New York Knicks season was the 38th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Knicks had a 47–35 record, and qualified for the NBA playoffs as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.^[3] New York was led by small forward Bernard King, who averaged 26.3 points per game (PPG) in the regular season and 34.8 PPG in the playoffs.^[4] In early 1984, King scored 50 points in consecutive games, against the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.^[5]

1983–84 New York Knicks season
Head coach	Hubie Brown
General manager	Dave DeBusschere
Owners	Gulf+Western
Arena	Madison Square Garden
Results
Record	47–35 (.573)
Place	Division: 3rd (Atlantic) Conference: 5th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	East Semifinals (Eliminated 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WOR-TV (Marv Albert, Butch Beard) MSG Network (Jim Karvellas, Butch Beard)[1]
Radio	WNEW (Marv Albert, John Andariese)[2]
< 1982–83 1984–85 >

In the opening round of the 1984 NBA Playoffs, the Knicks faced the Detroit Pistons. The teams split the first four games, as the Knicks won the first and third games. However, they were unable to clinch the series in Game 4, held in Madison Square Garden, their home arena.^[6] In the fifth and deciding game, held in Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, the Knicks held a 106–98 lead with less than two minutes remaining when Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas scored 16 points in a 94-second span.^[7] The game went into overtime, where New York won the game 127–123. King, despite playing with two dislocated fingers and the flu, scored 44 points in the game and 213 points in the series. His point total was the highest in NBA history by a player in a five-game series.^[6] After the Detroit series, the Knicks were matched with the Boston Celtics. In a seven-game series, the Celtics defeated New York.^[4]

Draft picks

Main article: 1983 NBA draft

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first round and notable post-first-round picks.^[8]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	12	Darrell Walker	G	United States	Arkansas

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Boston Celtics	62	20	.756	–	33–8	29–12	13–11
x-Philadelphia 76ers	52	30	.634	10	32–9	20–21	15–9
x-New York Knicks	47	35	.573	15	29–12	18–23	12–12
x-New Jersey Nets	45	37	.549	17	29–12	16–25	12–12
x-Washington Bullets	35	47	.427	27	25–16	10–31	8–16

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Milwaukee Bucks	50	32	.610	12
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	52	30	.634	10
4	x-Detroit Pistons	49	33	.598	13
5	x-New York Knicks	47	35	.573	15
6	x-New Jersey Nets	45	37	.549	17
7	x-Atlanta Hawks	40	42	.488	22
8	x-Washington Bullets	35	47	.427	27
9	Cleveland Cavaliers	28	54	.341	34
10	Chicago Bulls	27	55	.329	35
11	Indiana Pacers	26	56	.317	36

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1983-84 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	0–5	4–2	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	1–1	1–1	4–2	0–2	0–2	3–3	3–3	4–1	5–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2
Boston	5–0	—	5–0	6–0	2–0	2–0	4–2	2–0	1–1	5–1	2–0	0–2	5–1	4–2	3–3	2–4	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–2
Chicago	2–4	0–5	—	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–0	0–2	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	2–4	2–4	2–3	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4
Cleveland	3–3	0–6	4–2	—	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–4	0–2	0–2	1–5	2–3	1–5	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–1
Dallas	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	—	4–2	0–2	4–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	3–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2	2–3	4–2	4–1	1–4	4–2	0–2
Denver	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–4	—	1–1	2–3	4–2	0–2	4–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	3–3	3–2	2–3	3–3	0–2
Detroit	4–2	2–4	5–1	5–1	2–0	1–1	—	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	3–2	1–4	4–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–3
Golden State	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–4	3–2	1–1	—	2–3	2–0	4–1	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–5	2–4	3–2	3–3	4–2	1–4	2–0
Houston	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–1	3–2	—	1–1	2–4	1–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–3	1–4	2–4	2–3	3–2	1–5	0–2
Indiana	2–4	1–5	3–3	4–2	0–2	2–0	2–4	0–2	1–1	—	0–2	1–1	1–5	1–5	2–4	0–5	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4
Kansas City	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–4	4–2	2–0	—	0–5	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–3	2–3	5–1	3–2	1–4	3–3	2–0
Los Angeles	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–3	4–1	1–1	3–3	4–1	1–1	5–0	—	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3	5–1	2–3	4–2	3–3	4–1	1–1
Milwaukee	3–3	1–5	4–2	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	2–0	1–1	5–1	2–0	0–2	—	4–2	4–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
New Jersey	3–3	2–4	4–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	4–1	1–1	2–0	5–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	—	3–3	3–3	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–2
New York	1–4	3–3	4–1	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	1–1	2–0	4–2	2–0	2–0	1–4	3–3	—	2–4	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–2
Philadelphia	1–5	4–2	3–2	4–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	3–3	4–2	—	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–2
Phoenix	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	0–2	5–1	3–2	1–1	3–2	3–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	—	2–4	5–0	4–2	2–4	1–4	2–0
Portland	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–2	4–1	1–1	4–2	4–1	1–1	3–2	1–5	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	—	4–1	4–2	4–2	1–4	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	1–1	2–3	4–2	2–0	1–5	3–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–5	1–4	—	4–1	2–3	4–2	1–1
San Diego	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	0–2	3–3	3–2	1–1	2–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–4	2–4	1–4	—	3–3	2–3	1–1
Seattle	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	3–2	1–1	2–4	2–3	1–1	4–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2	2–4	3–2	3–3	—	1–4	1–1
Utah	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–4	3–3	1–1	4–1	5–1	1–1	3–3	1–4	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–1	4–1	2–4	3–2	4–1	—	1–1
Washington	2–4	2–4	4–2	1–4	2–0	2–0	3–3	0–2	2–0	4–1	0–2	1–1	1–5	2–4	2–4	2–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	—

Game log

Regular season

1983–84 game log Total: 47–35 (Home: 29–12; Road: 18–23)
October: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 28, 1983 @ Cleveland W 113–106 Richfield Coliseum 1–0 2 October 29, 1983 Washington W 100–97 Madison Square Garden 2–0
November: 9–6 (home: 6–1; road: 3–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 3 November 2, 1983 @ Seattle L 111–125 Kingdome 2–1 4 November 4, 1983 @ Portland L 97–106 Memorial Coliseum 2–2 5 November 5, 1983 @ Golden State L 100–102 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 2–3 6 November 8, 1983 Milwaukee L 90–97 Madison Square Garden 2–4 7 November 10, 1983 @ Indiana W 99–91 Market Square Arena 3–4 8 November 11, 1983 San Diego W 116–95 Madison Square Garden 4–4 9 November 15, 1983 Indiana W 94–87 Madison Square Garden 5–4 10 November 16, 1983 @ Philadelphia L 97–102 The Spectrum 5–5 11 November 18, 1983 @ Boston W 110–103 Boston Garden 6–5 12 November 19, 1983 Detroit W 104–101 (OT) Madison Square Garden 7–5 13 November 22, 1983 Boston W 117–113 (2OT) Madison Square Garden 8–5 14 November 26, 1983 Cleveland W 96–84 Madison Square Garden 9–5 15 November 27, 1983 @ Indiana L 91–101 Market Square Arena 9–6 16 November 29, 1983 San Antonio W 118–106 Madison Square Garden 10–6 17 November 30, 1983 @ New Jersey W 113–104 Brendan Byrne Arena 11–6
December: 6–8 (home: 4–4; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 18 December 1, 1983 Washington W 127–93 Madison Square Garden 12–6 19 December 3, 1983 Houston W 117–101 Madison Square Garden 13–6 20 December 6, 1983 Denver L 112–117 Madison Square Garden 13–7 21 December 8, 1983 @ Phoenix L 97–120 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13–8 22 December 9, 1983 @ San Diego W 111–92 San Diego Sports Arena 14–8 23 December 11, 1983 @ Los Angeles W 109–98 The Forum 15–8 24 December 13, 1983 Boston L 100–102 Madison Square Garden 15–9 25 December 15, 1983 Chicago L 107–113 Madison Square Garden 15–10 26 December 17, 1983 Milwaukee W 102–96 Madison Square Garden 16–10 27 December 23, 1983 @ Atlanta L 113–114 (2OT) The Omni 16–11 28 December 25, 1983 New Jersey W 112–110 (OT) Madison Square Garden 17–11 29 December 27, 1983 @ Chicago L 96–102 Chicago Stadium 17–12 30 December 28, 1983 Detroit L 108–111 Madison Square Garden 17–13 31 December 30, 1983 @ Washington L 86–91 Capital Centre 17–14
January: 8–4 (home: 5–2; road: 3–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 32 January 3, 1984 Los Angeles W 117–105 Madison Square Garden 18–14 33 January 6, 1984 @ Detroit L 107–118 Pontiac Silverdome 18–15 34 January 7, 1984 Indiana W 140–103 Madison Square Garden 19–15 35 January 9, 1984 Philadelphia W 111–73 Madison Square Garden 20–15 36 January 13, 1984 @ Milwaukee L 101–103 MECCA Arena 20–16 37 January 14, 1984 @ Chicago W 113–111 Chicago Stadium 21–16 38 January 17, 1984 New Jersey L 115–121 Madison Square Garden 21–17 39 January 19, 1984 Chicago W 109–92 Madison Square Garden 22–17 40 January 21, 1984 Atlanta L 95–97 Madison Square Garden 22–18 41 January 24, 1984 Philadelphia W 111–102 Madison Square Garden 23–18 42 January 26, 1984 @ Washington W 104–97 Capital Centre 24–18 All-Star Break 43 January 31, 1984 @ San Antonio W 117–113 HemisFair Arena 25–18
February: 10–6 (home: 4–1; road: 6–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 44 February 1, 1984 @ Dallas W 105–98 Reunion Arena 26–18 45 February 4, 1984 @ Houston W 103–95 The Summit 27–18 46 February 6, 1984 Golden State W 116–94 Madison Square Garden 28–18 47 February 8, 1984 @ Milwaukee L 103–113 MECCA Arena 28–19 48 February 10, 1984 @ Utah W 121–111 Salt Palace Acord Arena 29–19 49 February 11, 1984 @ Denver W 138–112 McNichols Sports Arena 30–19 50 February 14, 1984 @ Kansas City W 106–100 Kemper Arena 31–19 51 February 16, 1984 Indiana W 100–94 Madison Square Garden 32–19 52 February 18, 1984 New Jersey W 112–102 Madison Square Garden 33–19 53 February 19, 1984 @ Philadelphia L 97–101 The Spectrum 33–20 54 February 21, 1984 Portland L 89–106 Madison Square Garden 33–21 55 February 22, 1984 @ Detroit L 111–114 Pontiac Silverdome 33–22 56 February 24, 1984 @ Atlanta L 104–105 (OT) The Omni 33–23 57 February 25, 1984 @ New Jersey L 104–117 Brendan Byrne Arena 33–24 58 February 27, 1984 Atlanta W 96–92 Madison Square Garden 34–24 59 February 29, 1984 @ Boston W 102–98 Boston Garden 35–24
March: 8–7 (home: 7–2; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 60 March 2, 1984 @ Detroit W 117–102 Pontiac Silverdome 36–24 61 March 3, 1984 Milwaukee L 106–111 Madison Square Garden 36–25 62 March 6, 1984 Seattle W 124–110 Madison Square Garden 37–25 63 March 10, 1984 Utah W 114–105 Madison Square Garden 38–25 64 March 13, 1984 Phoenix W 117–96 Madison Square Garden 39–25 65 March 15, 1984 Cleveland W 105–82 Madison Square Garden 40–25 66 March 17, 1984 Kansas City W 123–109 Madison Square Garden 41–25 67 March 21, 1984 @ Cleveland L 99–100 Richfield Coliseum 41–26 68 March 22, 1984 Boston L 100–108 Madison Square Garden 41–27 69 March 24, 1984 Washington W 107–99 Madison Square Garden 42–27 70 March 25, 1984 @ New Jersey L 94–107 Brendan Byrne Arena 42–28 71 March 27, 1984 Dallas W 97–88 Madison Square Garden 43–28 72 March 28, 1984 @ Indiana L 93–99 Market Square Arena 43–29 73 March 30, 1984 @ Washington L 79–107 Capital Centre 43–30 74 March 31, 1984 @ Atlanta L 106–109 The Omni 43–31
April: 4–4 (home: 2–2; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 75 April 2, 1984 Chicago W 115–113 Madison Square Garden 44–31 76 April 3, 1984 @ Chicago W 113–96 Chicago Stadium 45–31 77 April 6, 1984 Detroit L 104–101 Madison Square Garden 45–32 78 April 8, 1984 @ Philadelphia L 108–109 The Spectrum 45–33 79 April 9, 1984 Cleveland W 107–98 Madison Square Garden 46–33 80 April 11, 1984 @ Boston L 96–102 Boston Garden 46–34 81 April 13, 1984 @ Cleveland W 107–98 Richfield Coliseum 47–34 82 April 14, 1984 Philadelphia L 100–103 Madison Square Garden 47–35
1983–84 schedule

Playoffs

1984 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 3–2 (home: 1–1; road: 2–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 17, 1984 @ Detroit W 94–93 Bernard King (36) Bill Cartwright (11) Darrell Walker (7) Pontiac Silverdome 14,127 1–0 2 April 19, 1984 @ Detroit L 105–113 Bernard King (46) Truck Robinson (11) Ray Williams (9) Pontiac Silverdome 14,275 1–1 3 April 22, 1984 Detroit W 120–113 Bernard King (46) Bernard King (10) Rory Sparrow (10) Madison Square Garden 16,354 2–1 4 April 25, 1984 Detroit L 112–119 Bernard King (41) Truck Robinson (12) Rory Sparrow (10) Madison Square Garden 18,205 2–2 5 April 27, 1984 @ Detroit W 127–123 (OT) Bernard King (44) Bernard King (12) Ray Williams (12) Joe Louis Arena 21,208 3–2
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 3–4 (home: 3–0; road: 0–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 29, 1984 @ Boston L 92–110 Bernard King (26) Truck Robinson (9) Rory Sparrow (6) Boston Garden 14,890 0–1 2 May 2, 1984 @ Boston L 102–116 Bill Cartwright (25) Bill Cartwright (11) Rory Sparrow (5) Boston Garden 14,890 0–2 3 May 4, 1984 Boston W 100–92 Bill Cartwright (25) King, Robinson (9) Rory Sparrow (10) Madison Square Garden 19,591 1–2 4 May 6, 1984 Boston W 118–113 Bernard King (43) Truck Robinson (9) Ray Williams (9) Madison Square Garden 15,840 2–2 5 May 9, 1984 @ Boston L 99–121 Bernard King (30) Bill Cartwright (10) Ray Williams (10) Boston Garden 14,890 2–3 6 May 11, 1984 Boston W 106–104 Bernard King (44) Bill Cartwright (14) Rory Sparrow (11) Madison Square Garden 19,591 3–3 7 May 13, 1984 @ Boston L 104–121 Bernard King (24) Truck Robinson (9) Ray Williams (7) Boston Garden 14,890 3–4
1984 schedule

Player statistics

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

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

• Bernard King, All-NBA First Team^[9]
• Darrell Walker, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team^[10]

Transactions

See also

• 1983–84 NBA season

References

1. The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 331. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
2. The Fourth Estate (PDF). New York Knicks. 2003. p. 330. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
3. "1983–84 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
4. "1983–84 New York Knickerbockers Statistics". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
5. Berkow, Ira (February 1, 1984). "The Incandescent King". The New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
6. Newman, Bruce (May 7, 1984). "Hero of a Showdown in Motown (page 1)". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
7. Newman, Bruce (May 7, 1984). "Hero of a Showdown in Motown (page 2)". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
8. "1983 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
9. "All-NBA & All-ABA Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
10. "NBA & ABA All-Rookie Teams". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 5, 2013.