1991–92 New York Knicks season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the 46th season for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association.^[1] During the off-season, the Knicks hired Pat Riley as their new head coach; Riley previously coached the Los Angeles Lakers two years ago.^[2][3][4][5] The team also acquired former All-Star forward Xavier McDaniel from the Phoenix Suns,^[6][7][8] and signed free agent Anthony Mason.^[9][10] The team also selected point guard Greg Anthony from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with the twelfth overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft.^{[11][12][13][14]}

1991–92 New York Knicks season
Head coach	Pat Riley
General manager	Ernie Grunfeld
Owners	Paramount Communications, Inc.
Arena	Madison Square Garden
Results
Record	51–31 (.622)
Place	Division: 2nd (Atlantic) Conference: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Conference semifinals (lost to Bulls 3–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	MSG Network (Marv Albert, John Andariese, Al Trautwig, Bruce Beck)
Radio	WFAN (Jim Karvellas, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Mike Breen)
< 1990–91 1992–93 >

Under Riley, the Knicks showed improvement as they held a 30–16 record at the All-Star break.^[15] At mid-season, the team traded Brian Quinnett to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for former All-Star center James Donaldson.^[16][17][18] The Knicks finished in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 51–31 record, and earned the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.^[19][20]

Patrick Ewing led the Knicks with 24.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and was selected for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando, Florida,^{[21][22][23][24]} and also finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting.^[25] In addition, John Starks played an increased role as the team's sixth man, averaging 13.9 points per game off the bench, while McDaniel provided the Knicks with 13.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, Gerald Wilkins contributed 12.4 points per game, and Mark Jackson provided with 11.3 points, 8.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Meanwhile, Mason also played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 7.0 points and rebounds per game each, Charles Oakley averaged 6.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, Kiki Vandeweghe contributed 7.0 points per game, and Anthony provided the Knicks with 5.5 points and 3.8 assists per game.^[26] Riley finished in second place in Coach of the Year voting.^[27]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1992 NBA playoffs, the Knicks eliminated the Detroit Pistons in five games.^[28][29][30] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the Knicks faced off against the defending champion Chicago Bulls for the second straight year. The Knicks frustrated the Bulls and Michael Jordan with their physical play, winning Game 1 on the road, 94–89,^[31][32] and then winning Game 6 at home, 100–86 to tie the series at 3–3.^[33][34] However, the Knicks lost to the Bulls in seven games as the Bulls–Knicks rivalry was born.^{[35][36][37][38]} The Bulls would defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the 1992 NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive NBA championship.^{[39][40][41][42]}

The Knicks finished sixth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 726,608 at Madison Square Garden during the regular season.^[26][43] Following the season, McDaniel signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics after only one season with the Knicks,^{[44][45][46][47]} while Jackson was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers,^{[48][49][50][51]} Vandeweghe signed as a free agent with the Clippers,^[52][53][54] Wilkins signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers,^[55][56][57] and Donaldson was released to free agency.

Draft picks

Main article: 1991 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	12	Greg Anthony	PG	United States	UNLV

Roster

1991–92 New York Knicks roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From PG 2 Greg Anthony 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 1967–11–15 UNLV C 35 James Donaldson 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1957–08–16 Washington State C 33 Patrick Ewing 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–08–05 Georgetown PG 13 Mark Jackson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–04–01 St. John's SF 14 Anthony Mason 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1966–12–14 Tennessee State C 40 Tim McCormick 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1962–03–10 Michigan SF 32 Xavier McDaniel 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1963–06–04 Wichita State PF 34 Charles Oakley 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union SG 3 John Starks 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–08–10 Oklahoma State PF 55 Kiki Vandeweghe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1958–08–01 UCLA SG 21 Gerald Wilkins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–09–11 Chattanooga SF 20 Kennard Winchester 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1966–09–03 Averett

Head coach Pat Riley Assistant(s) Dick Harter Paul Silas Jeff Van Gundy Bob Salmi Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: February 20, 1992

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Boston Celtics	51	31	.622	—	34–7	17–24	19–9
x-New York Knicks	51	31	.622	—	30–11	21–20	20–8
x-New Jersey Nets	40	42	.488	11	25–16	15–26	15–13
x-Miami Heat	38	44	.463	13	28–13	10–31	14–14
Philadelphia 76ers	35	47	.427	16	23–18	12–29	15–13
Washington Bullets	25	57	.305	26	14–27	11–30	7–21
Orlando Magic	21	61	.256	30	13–28	8–33	8–20

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Chicago Bulls	67	15	.817	–
2	y-Boston Celtics	51	31	.622	16
3	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	57	25	.695	10
4	x-New York Knicks	51	31	.622	16
5	x-Detroit Pistons	48	34	.585	19
6	x-New Jersey Nets	40	42	.488	27
7	x-Indiana Pacers	40	42	.488	27
8	x-Miami Heat	38	44	.463	29
9	Atlanta Hawks	38	44	.463	29
10	Philadelphia 76ers	35	47	.427	32
11	Milwaukee Bucks	31	51	.378	36
12	Charlotte Hornets	31	51	.378	36
13	Washington Bullets	25	57	.305	42
14	Orlando Magic	21	61	.256	46

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1991–92 NBA records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	3–1	2–2	0–5	0–5	2–0	2–0	1–4	1–1	2–0	1–4	1–1	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2
Boston	1–3	—	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–2	2–2	0–2	2–3	3–2	5–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1
Charlotte	2–2	1–3	—	0–4	2–3	1–1	1–1	1–4	1–1	0–2	3–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–3	1–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–2
Chicago	5–0	3–1	4–0	—	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	3–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0
Cleveland	5–0	1–3	3–2	2–3	—	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	5–0	1–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0
Dallas	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	3–2	0–2	0–4	4–2	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	1–4	0–2
Denver	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–3	—	0–2	0–4	2–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–5	1–1
Detroit	4–1	0–4	4–1	1–4	1–3	2–0	2–0	—	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–2	3–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Golden State	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	—	2–2	2–0	3–2	3–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–3	5–0	2–2	3–2	1–3	2–0
Houston	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4	3–2	0–2	2–2	—	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	3–1	3–1	3–2	1–3	1–4	2–0
Indiana	4–1	2–2	2–3	1–3	0–5	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	—	0–2	2–0	3–1	4–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–2
L.A. Clippers	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	4–0	2–0	2–3	2–2	2–0	—	2–3	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–3	2–3	2–2	2–3	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–3	2–2	0–2	3–2	—	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–3	1–4	4–1	1–3	1–4	1–3	1–1
Miami	2–2	2–3	3–1	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	—	4–0	2–0	2–2	1–4	3–1	1–4	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0
Milwaukee	1–3	2–2	3–2	2–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	—	2–0	0–4	1–3	3–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Minnesota	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–3	3–2	1–1	0–4	2–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–2	—	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–6	0–4	2–3	0–2
New Jersey	1–3	3–2	3–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	4–0	2–0	—	2–3	3–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–3
New York	2–2	2–3	4–0	0–4	0–4	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	4–1	3–1	2–0	3–2	—	4–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	4–0
Orlando	2–2	0–5	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–3	1–4	—	3–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–3
Philadelphia	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	4–1	1–3	2–0	2–3	1–3	2–3	—	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	5–0
Phoenix	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–3	3–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	—	3–2	4–1	3–1	3–2	2–2	2–0
Portland	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	3–2	1–3	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	—	5–0	2–2	4–1	2–2	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–5	1–3	1–1	3–2	1–4	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–4	0–5	—	1–3	1–4	1–3	2–0
San Antonio	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	5–0	4–1	1–1	2–2	2–3	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	6–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	—	3–1	1–4	0–2
Seattle	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–3	3–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–3	1–4	4–1	1–3	—	3–1	2–0
Utah	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	5–1	1–1	3–1	4–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	4–1	1–3	—	2–0
Washington	2–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–5	1–3	2–0	3–2	0–4	3–2	0–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Playoffs

1992 playoff game log
First Round: 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 24 Detroit W 109–75 Patrick Ewing (24) Patrick Ewing (12) Mark Jackson (6) Madison Square Garden 19,081 1–0 2 April 26 Detroit L 88–89 Xavier McDaniel (24) Charles Oakley (18) Mark Jackson (10) Madison Square Garden 18,793 1–1 3 April 28 @ Detroit W 90–87 (OT) Patrick Ewing (32) Ewing, McDaniel (13) Mark Jackson (7) The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454 2–1 4 May 1 @ Detroit L 82–86 Ewing, McDaniel (18) Charles Oakley (16) Greg Anthony (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454 2–2 5 May 3 Detroit W 94–87 Patrick Ewing (31) Patrick Ewing (19) Mark Jackson (5) Madison Square Garden 19,135 3–2
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 5 @ Chicago W 94–89 Patrick Ewing (34) Patrick Ewing (16) Patrick Ewing (5) Chicago Stadium 18,676 1–0 2 May 7 @ Chicago L 78–86 Patrick Ewing (16) Patrick Ewing (16) Wilkins, Anthony (4) Chicago Stadium 18,676 1–1 3 May 9 Chicago L 86–94 Patrick Ewing (27) Patrick Ewing (11) Mark Jackson (8) Madison Square Garden 19,763 1–2 4 May 10 Chicago W 93–86 Xavier McDaniel (24) Charles Oakley (12) John Starks (5) Madison Square Garden 19,763 2–2 5 May 12 @ Chicago L 88–96 Xavier McDaniel (26) Ewing, Oakley (7) Mark Jackson (12) Chicago Stadium 18,676 2–3 6 May 14 Chicago W 100–86 Patrick Ewing (27) Xavier McDaniel (11) Mark Jackson (15) Madison Square Garden 19,763 3–3 7 May 17 @ Chicago L 81–100 Patrick Ewing (22) Charles Oakley (10) Mark Jackson (11) Chicago Stadium 18,676 3–4
1992 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

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Greg Anthony	82	1	18.4	.370	.145	.741	1.7	3.8	.7	.1	5.5
James Donaldson†	14	0	5.8	.278		1.000	1.4	.1	.0	.4	.9
Patrick Eddie	4	0	3.3	.222			.3	.0	.0	.0	1.0
Patrick Ewing	82	82	38.4	.522	.167	.738	11.2	1.9	1.1	3.0	24.0
Mark Jackson	81	81	30.4	.491	.256	.770	3.8	8.6	1.4	.2	11.3
Anthony Mason	82	0	26.8	.509		.642	7.0	1.3	.6	.2	7.0
Tim McCormick	22	0	4.9	.424		.667	1.5	.4	.1	.0	1.9
Xavier McDaniel	82	82	28.6	.478	.308	.714	5.6	1.8	.7	.3	13.7
Carlton McKinney	2	0	4.5	.222			.5	.0	.0	.0	2.0
Charles Oakley	82	82	28.2	.522	.000	.735	8.5	1.6	.8	.2	6.2
Brian Quinnett†	24	0	7.9	.384	.385	.571	1.0	.3	.3	.3	3.1
John Starks	82	0	25.8	.449	.348	.778	2.3	3.4	1.3	.2	13.9
Kiki VanDeWeghe	67	0	14.3	.491	.394	.802	1.3	.9	.2	.1	7.0
Gerald Wilkins	82	82	28.6	.447	.352	.730	2.5	2.7	.9	.2	12.4
Kennard Winchester†	15	0	4.3	.444	.500	.800	1.0	.5	.1	.1	2.2

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Greg Anthony	12	0	17.8	.413	.417	.606	1.4	3.4	1.3	.1	5.3
James Donaldson	2	0	5.5	1.000			2.0	.0	.0	.5	2.0
Patrick Ewing	12	12	40.2	.456	.000	.740	11.1	2.3	.6	2.6	22.7
Mark Jackson	12	12	30.7	.402	.190	.815	2.3	7.2	.8	.0	8.3
Anthony Mason	12	0	24.0	.442		.786	6.3	.8	.2	.7	5.0
Tim McCormick	1	0	6.0	.000			3.0	.0	.0	.0	.0
Xavier McDaniel	12	12	38.2	.477	.250	.735	7.2	1.9	.8	.2	18.8
Charles Oakley	12	12	29.5	.379		.741	9.0	.7	.7	.4	5.3
John Starks	12	0	24.6	.374	.239	.808	2.5	3.2	1.4	.0	12.1
Kiki VanDeWeghe	8	0	9.4	.542	.800	.857	.8	.5	.3	.1	4.5
Gerald Wilkins	12	12	28.7	.413	.077	.696	2.5	2.8	.4	.1	8.9
Kennard Winchester	3	0	3.7	.600		.000	.0	.7	.0	.0	2.0

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Knicks only.

Player Statistics Citation:^[26]

Awards and records

• Patrick Ewing, All-NBA Second Team Selection
• Patrick Ewing, NBA All-Defensive Second Team Selection

Transactions

See also

• 1991–92 NBA season