New York Knicks: Five winningest head coaches in franchise history
1. Red Holzman: 613
Likely to never be matched, Red Holzman‘s 613 wins stand tall in New York Knicks history. He coached 1096 games, from 1968-82, and led this franchise to success not seen in the decades since.
The Knicks did not become a dynasty under Holzman, but they were a perennial winner in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Holzman took them to 54 wins in his first, full 82-game season as coach in 1968-69 and 60 wins the following year.
That 1969-70 season also became New York’s first NBA Championship, with Willis Reed and Walt Frazier leading the way over Wilt Chamberlain‘s Los Angeles Lakers. Dave DeBusschere, Dick Barnett and Bill Bradley were also part of this Knicks team, making it one of the most talented in franchise history.
Holzman’s reign continued. His 1971-72 team was the Eastern Conference champions, but they fell to the Lakers in the NBA Finals in a lopsided five-game series. 1972-73 brought a title back to Manhattan, however, as the Knicks and Lakers clashed yet again, with most of the same pieces in place.
That kind of success never quite followed Holzman afterward. He had 49 wins in 1973-74, but just two playoff appearances followed in his final seven years as head coach, resulting in a 1-4 record.
Holzman lasted until the 1981-82 season as head coach, before leaving his post. While NBA Finals appearances followed down the road for the Knicks, they have not won a championship since the 1973 title.
Next. 25 greatest players in NYK history. dark
Holzman finished 613-483 in 14 seasons. The closest to approach him since stepping down was Van Gundy, and Hubie Brown became the only other coach to remain for five or more seasons. The Knicks could never find another franchise-changing leader, and it’s unknown when they will again.