The Knicks of the Nineties: Ewing, Oakley, Starks and the Brawlers That Almost Won It All

by Paul Knepper

Overview

The Knicks of the 1990s competed like champions but fell short of their goal. An eclectic group who took divergent, in many cases fascinating paths to New York, they forged an identity as a rugged, relentless squad. Led by a superstar center Patrick Ewing and two captivating coaches—Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy—they played David to the Chicago Bulls' Goliath. Despite not winning a championship, they were embraced as champions by New Yorkers and their rivalries with the Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat defined NBA basketball for a decade. Drawing on original interviews with players, coaches and others, this narrative rediscovers the brilliance of the Knicks, Ewing and his colorful supporting cast—Charles Oakley, John Starks, Larry Johnson and Latrell Sprewell—in the glory days of Madison Square Garden.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476682815
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	09/28/2020
Pages:	298
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Attorney Paul Knepper was born and raised in New York and was previously a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction 1

Prologue 5

Part I The Riley Era

1 The Big Fella 9

2 Riley Does Broadway 17

3 Riley's Runts 26

4 Running with the Bulls 36

5 Arranging the Pieces 50

6 Seeing Red 59

7 Jordan Opens the Door 70

8 Road to a Ring 78

9 A Dream Matchup 91

10 Starks Reality 100

11 The Hangover 107

12 Riley's Exit 118

Part II The Van Gundy Era

13 The Nellie Experience 125

14 Van Gundy Takes the Whistle 133

15 The Summer of '96 140

16 A Heated Rivalry 150

17 Round Two 161

18 Changes Abound 172

19 A Tumultuous Season 182

20 A Friendly Bounce from Above 192

21 The Twin Towers 207

22 End of an Era 217

Epilogue 229

Chapter Notes 235

Bibliography 275

Index 279

Editorial Reviews

The extensive research that Knepper did for this book is evident by the sheer number of interviews he conducted, over one hundred. Add in many newspaper and magazine clippings, anecdotes and historical items for not only the Knicks but other teams and it makes for one of the most complete books around for one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises.”—The Guy Who Reviews Sports Books

From the Publisher