Daily Knicks
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11 All-time great New York Knicks opening night performances

By Brandon Simmons

New York Knicks, Patrick Ewing (Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images)
New York Knicks, Patrick Ewing (Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images) /
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The New York Knicks’ season opener is finally here and we’re excited! The Knicks have been looking pretty good during the preseason and we hope they can keep it up throughout the season.  They need to start this year off with a bang to show the league they are a new force.

Opening night sets the tempo for a long season ahead. In the past, there have been a few Knicks players to answer the bell. Let’s take a look at some of the stellar performances from opening nights of years past.

11. Tim Hardaway Jr puts up 31 points in a home win vs Hawks (10.17.2018)

A debut to remember for David Fizdale, as it was his first game as the Knicks’ head coach. The Knicks led the Hawks at the half 72-49 and did not look back. Tim Hardaway Jr. got off to a slow start, but after his halfcourt buzzer-beater, the Knickerbockers started to roll.  They scored a franchise-record 49 points in the second quarter alone. In his second stint with the Knicks, Hardaway Jr. spoiled Trae Young’s NBA debut, facing the team he just left.

10. Kristaps Porzingis tallies 31 points & 12 rebounds in OKC in a loss (10.19.2017)

This game was a little weird to say the least. After seven seasons, Carmelo Anthony was now in an Oklahoma City Thunder jersey.  The Knicks still had his good buddy though, Kristaps Porzingis, and boy, did he put on a show against his mentor.

Porzingis put up 31 points to go with 12 rebounds, but unfortunately, the Knicks couldn’t contain the Thunder’s new big three of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Melo. Anthony had nothing but good things to say about Porzingis after the win but had little to say about the Knicks franchise as a whole.

Let’s just say he was happy to be on the other end of this one.

9. Truck Robinson, 16 points & 19 boards in a home loss to 76ers (10.29.1982)

Leonard Eugene Robinson was one of the best forwards in the NBA in the 70s and 80s.  Known as “Truck” for his strength and physique, he was a two-time All-Star and made the All-NBA team in 1978 with the New Orleans Jazz. He was a fearless rebounder as he ranks in the top 100 for total rebounds and rebounds per game.

In the season opener in the 1982-83 season, the Knicks matched up against the eventual Eastern Conference Champions, the Philadelphia 76ers. Faced up against Doctor J, Bobby Jones, and Moses Malone, Truck had his hands full but put up big numbers. He had a whopping 19 rebounds to go along with 16 points, but the Knicks didn’t stand a chance in this one.  This was one of the few final moments we saw as Truck’s career started to wind down.