Daily Knicks
Fansided

New York Knicks: Garden History – Red Holzman

By Sam Friedman

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 31: Red Holzman's retired jersey of the New York Knicks hangs on March 31, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 31: Red Holzman's retired jersey of the New York Knicks hangs on March 31, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The most famous coach in New York Knicks history, Red Holzman was a legend on the court, on the sideline, and in his community.

Red Holzman, a military man and former NBA player, was coming off of two seasons of coaching the Milwaukee Hawks. Then the franchise moved to St. Louis for another two years. Not once did he finish above .500.

In 1957, Holzman joined our beloved New York Knicks as an assistant coach under head coach Vince Boryla. In 1967, Holzman became the head coach of the Knicks, and the years of Red’s reign began.

As a military man, Holzman believed that the Knicks needed to work as a team to win championships. He implemented a team-first mentality, and the Knicks finished the season going 28-17 en route to a playoff berth.

New York didn’t win the championship that year, which is not surprising. But, unlike most Knicks teams, the future was promising.

UNITED STATES – JULY 28: Coach Red Holzman, 61, will assume his usual position on the New York Knicks’ bench for at least two more years. (Photo by Anthony Casale/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – JULY 28: Coach Red Holzman, 61, will assume his usual position on the New York Knicks’ bench for at least two more years. (Photo by Anthony Casale/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /

With the gifted roster of Willis Reed, Dick Barnett, and rookies Walt Frazier and Phil Jackson, Holzman was ready to compete. With their young core, and Holzman’s influence in the locker room, the Knicks were bound for huge things in the new NBA.

In the 1968 season, the Knicks front office accomplished the impossible by signing Dave DeBusschere away from the Detroit Pistons. Holzman lead the team back to the playoffs, but ultimately lost to the Celtics in the second round.

Legacy

The Knicks’ front office had found their guy in Holzman. He was one of the best coaches in the league, and was commanding the Knicks to contention. This time period was when Madison Square Garden developed the reputation it has today.

In the 1969-1970 season, the Knicks were nearly unstoppable. Holzman, Frazier, and Reed led the Knicks to 20 consecutive victories on their way to an NBA championship. A very special moment happened in the finals, which I will cover in a different Garden History.

Holzman was named Coach of the Year, and by proxy, named the emotional Mayor of New York the very next day. Holzman would lead the Knicks to two more NBA Finals appearances, as well as another championship.

Hozlman ultimately got his number 613 (wins as a Knicks coach) retired in Madison Square Garden.

The fact he actually won as the Knicks’ coach makes him widely regarded as one of the top 10 coaches in NBA history. He retired with the second-most wins in NBA history. Ironically, he finished behind another Red: Auerbach.

Holzman is also a legend in the Jewish Community, as he gave tons of money to different organizations all over his native New York. The International Jewish Athletes Hall of Fame inducted Holzman in 1988.

Must Read: Well-known players who are reportedly on the trading block

As the head coach who led the New York Knicks to the only two championships in franchise history, Red Holzman is an eternal legend.

Home/Knicks History