# Bulls–Knicks rivalry

The Bulls–Knicks rivalry is a rivalry between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The two basketball teams have played each other every year since the Bulls first joined the NBA in 1966.
The rivalry peaked in intensity from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, when both teams became huge playoff contenders. This was due to a variety of factors: the great frequency in which the teams competed against each other in high-stakes contests and playoff series; well-known players such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Patrick Ewing, and John Starks; the reputations of the team's respective cities; and personnel changes and conflicts between the teams. The two teams met in the playoffs during six of the eight years from 1989 to 1996, with the Bulls winning five of those series.

## History
### Early years

Between 1966 and 1980, the Bulls and Knicks were inter-conference rivals, as the Bulls played in the Western Division/Conference during this period. Both teams were regularly present in the NBA playoffs during the late 1960s to mid-1970s, but neither met in the NBA Finals.
The Bulls of that era, led by Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Norm Van Lier, Chet Walker, and Tom Boerwinkle, struggled to advance deep in the playoffs as they regularly lost to powerhouse teams like the Jerry West-led Los Angeles Lakers and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Milwaukee Bucks. The Knicks, on the other hand, made three finals and won two championships featuring players such as Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Jerry Lucas, Earl Monroe, and future Bulls coach Phil Jackson.

### 1981–1988: First playoff meeting and aftermath

In the 1980 offseason, the Bulls moved to the Eastern Conference, making their rivalry with the Knicks an intra-conference affair.
The two teams' first playoff meeting was in first round of the 1981 NBA playoffs, a best-of-three series. Chicago, under head coach Jerry Sloan, won both games to sweep the series against New York 2–0. Chicago would be swept in the next round by the Boston Celtics, the eventual champions, in a best-of-seven series. Sloan was fired during the following season.
In the 1984 NBA draft, the Chicago Bulls used their first-round pick (3rd overall) to select shooting guard Michael Jordan, who would eventually lead Chicago to six NBA Championships in the 1990s with teammates Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, under the direction of head coach Phil Jackson. The next year, the New York Knicks used their first-round pick (1st overall) in the 1985 NBA draft to select center Patrick Ewing, who would go on to become one of the Knicks' most notable players over the next 15 years.

### 1988–1993: Chicago Bulls first dynasty

The Knicks and Bulls met in the playoffs for the second time in 1989. This time, the rivalry was much more pronounced, as the Knicks had just won their first Atlantic Division title since 1971 with a 52–30 record and clinched the 2nd seed in the East. Meanwhile, 6th-seeded Chicago won just 47 games, but was led by reigning NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Michael Jordan. The Bulls won Game 1 in New York, and all three in Chicago to upset the Knicks 4–2 and qualify for the Eastern Conference Finals, which they lost in six games to the eventual champion Detroit Pistons.
When the two teams met again in 1991, their roles were reversed. Chicago led the East with a then franchise-best 61 wins to capture the Central Division title. On the opposite end, the Knicks limped into the playoffs at 39–43 with the 8th seed. Chicago cruised past New York in a 3-game sweep, winning each game by an average of 20 points. They would go on to claim the first NBA Championship in franchise history.
In 1992, the Bulls (having won six more games than the previous season), led by Jordan and Pippen, were on their way to their second straight title when they met the Knicks led by Ewing and new head coach Pat Riley in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series went to a decisive Game 7, which the Bulls won 110–81 to advance. This kick-started the intense rivalry and made the Knicks into an Eastern Conference powerhouse, replacing the Pistons and Celtics. This was the first of two Game 7's that the Bulls faced in the six seasons they won a championship, the other with the Pacers in the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. This particular series became intense, with several players, particularly Michael Jordan, Xavier McDaniel, Scottie Pippen, and Greg Anthony getting into arguments.
Shortly afterwards, there was a moment of peace in the rivalry, with Ewing, Jordan, and Pippen winning gold medals as members of the "Dream Team" at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Ewing, Jordan, and Chris Mullin are the only basketball players to win gold medals as amateurs and professionals, having won at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Jordan and Pippen, along with LeBron James in 2012, Kyrie Irving in 2016, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton in 2021, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White in 2024, are the eight players to have won an NBA championship and Olympic gold medal in the same year. Pippen and Holiday are the only players to accomplish this feat twice, as Pippen played for the Bulls in 1996 and Team USA at the 1996 Summer Olympics, while Holiday played for the Bucks in 2021 and Team USA at the 2021 Summer Olympics, and the Celtics in 2024 and Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
In the 1992–93 season, the Knicks finished ahead of Chicago in the regular season and had home court advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals. The series had the notable highlight of Starks dunking over Horace Grant in front of Michael Jordan late in Game 2. However, despite being down 2–0, the Bulls came back and won the next 4 (by doing so, they became the 1st team in NBA history to overcome a 2–0 series deficit in a best-of-7 series, the 2nd team that year, and 4th overall), including a 97–94 Game 5 victory in New York. The game was notable as Knicks forward Charles Smith was stopped 4 straight times by a series of blocks and strips in the final seconds while trying to score. The Bulls won Game 6 96–88 to advance to the 1993 NBA Finals, where they beat the Suns in 6 games for their first three-peat.

### 1993–1998: Chicago Bulls second dynasty

With Jordan's absence in 1993–94 the Knicks had the upper hand and compiled the second best record in the East. The Bulls, led by Pippen and newcomer Toni Kukoč, met the Knicks in the second round, where the series went 7 games. Game 3 of the series was marred by a brawl between Jo Jo English and Derek Harper in which both players rolled into the stands. What made things worse was that the brawl took place with NBA Commissioner David Stern in attendance. The Bulls had a 19-point lead entering the 4th, but the Knicks tied it with 1.8 seconds left on a Patrick Ewing hook shot. Scottie Pippen famously refused to take the floor after Phil Jackson drew the final play for Kukoc, who hit a buzzer-beater to win the game. In one of the most argued calls in NBA history, a questionable foul was called by Hue Hollins in the closing seconds of Game 5 against Pippen, which gave Hubert Davis two free throws to turn a one-point deficit into a one-point victory for the Knicks.
After a blowout Bulls win in Game 6 (which was the final game ever played at Chicago Stadium), the Knicks advanced past the Bulls with a series-clinching 87–77 win, but eventually lost to the Rockets in the 1994 NBA Finals. This was the only time the Knicks were able to beat the Bulls in the playoffs during this era. Also, all the games in the series were won by the home team, and the Knicks had home court advantage in the series.
In 1994–95, Jordan returned in the latter half of the regular season. In his return to the Garden, his 5th game back, Jordan scored 55 in a Chicago win. This game lifted Jordan's confidence after a mediocre performance in his "comeback game" against the Pacers. They didn't meet in the playoffs that season, but the animosity between the teams still grew.
During the Bulls' record-setting 1995–96 season, they suffered their worst loss of the season to the Knicks, 102–74 in March. Two months later, they defeated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 5 games.
During the Bulls' second three-peat, they only met in the playoffs once; in 1996 when the Bulls defeated the Knicks. It was also during this period that other teams in the East grew to be contenders, such as the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, and Miami Heat. All of these teams had their own heated battles with either the Bulls or Knicks in the playoffs.
In the 1990s, both Knicks Finals appearances (1994 and their Cinderella march of 1999) followed a Bulls' 3-peat, but the Knicks lost both times to a team from Texas (Rockets & Spurs).

### Later years

The departures of Jordan, Pippen and Ewing led to the decline of both the Bulls and Knicks, and neither team was able to recapture the same success they enjoyed in the 1990s.
During this era, the only times both teams were in the playoffs took place in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons, neither of which resulted in the Bulls and Knicks meeting in a playoff series.
On January 18, 2005, Ben Gordon scored a game-winning layup to lead the Bulls past the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Then on April 8, 2012, Carmelo Anthony's three-point shot in overtime gave the Knicks the win at home over Chicago. Finally, on October 31, 2013, Derrick Rose banked in a game-winning field goal to beat the Knicks at the United Center. On June 22, 2016, the Bulls traded Rose, Justin Holiday, and a 2017 draft pick to the Knicks for Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant, and José Calderón, who was soon traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. On November 13, 2024, Coby White made game-winning free throws following a shooting foul committed by Josh Hart to lead the Bulls past the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

## Causes

The significance of the rivalry was due partly to the bragging rights of the two biggest cities in the East: the Big Apple vs. the Windy City. The physical play of the teams made it intense, especially in the playoffs. The matchup between Jordan and Starks brought some drama as they were both intense players who showcased a number of highlight dunks on the opposing team. Despite the Knicks not winning an NBA title or beating the Bulls in a postseason series while Jordan was in the league, this rivalry was considered the most contentious of the 1990s.

## Season-by-season results

Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks Season-by-Season Results :
1960s (Knicks, 21–7)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bullsat New York Knicksat Neutral SiteOverall seriesNotes
1966–67
Knicks
6–3
Tie, 2–2
Knicks, 2–0
Knicks, 2–1
Knicks 6–3
Neutral site games were played at
Roberts Stadium, Evansville, Indiana
Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Baltimore Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Bulls join the National Basketball Association (NBA) as an expansion team. They are placed in the Western Division One game was played on Christmas.
1967–68
Knicks
5–2
Tie, 1–1
Knicks, 2–0
Knicks, 2–1
Knicks 11–5
Neutral site games were played at
Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Roberts Stadium
Bulls open up Chicago Stadium.
1968–69
Knicks
4–2
Knicks, 2–1
Tie, 1–1
Knicks, 1–0
Knicks 15–7
Neutral site game was played at Boston Garden. Last season the rivalry was played on a neutral site. Knicks open up Madison Square Garden.
1969–70
Knicks
6–0
Knicks, 3–0
Knicks, 3–0
Knicks 21–7
Knicks finish with the best record in the league (60–22). Knicks win 1970 NBA Finals. :
1970s (Tie, 20–20)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bullsat New York KnicksOverall seriesNotes
1970–71
Bulls
3–2
Tie, 1–1
Bulls, 2–1
Knicks 23–10
The Knicks were placed in the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division, while the Bulls were placed in the Western Conference and the Midwest Division. Bulls finished with a winning record in New York for the first time.
1971–72
Bulls
3–2
Bulls, 2–1
Tie, 1–1
Knicks 25–13
Bulls finished with a winning record at home for the first time. Knicks lose 1972 NBA Finals.
1972–73
Bulls
3–1
Bulls, 2–0
Tie, 1–1
Knicks 26–16
Knicks win 1973 NBA Finals.
1973–74
Tie
2–2
Tie, 1–1
Tie, 1–1
Knicks 28–18
1974–75
Bulls
3–1
Bulls, 2–0
Tie, 1–1
Knicks 29–21
1975–76
Knicks
4–0
Knicks, 2–0
Knicks, 2–0
Knicks 33–21
1976–77
Tie
2–2
Bulls, 2–0
Knicks, 2–0
Knicks 35–23
1977–78
Knicks
3–1
Tie, 1–1
Knicks, 2–0
Knicks 38–24
1978–79
Bulls
3–1
Tie, 1–1
Bulls, 2–0
Knicks 39–27
On March 24, 1979, Bulls beat the Knicks 148–143 in double overtime, their most points scored in a game against the Knicks. It was also the Knicks' most points scored in a game agianst the Bulls.
1979–80
Knicks
2–0
Knicks, 1–0
Knicks, 1–0
Knicks 41–27 :
1980s (Bulls, 36–26)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bullsat New York KnicksOverall seriesNotes
1980–81
Tie
3–3
Bulls, 2–1
Knicks, 2–1
Knicks 44–30
Bulls were moved to the Eastern Conference and the Central Division.
1981 Eastern Conference First Round
Bulls
2–0
Bulls, 1–0
Bulls, 1–0
Knicks 44–32
1st postseason series.
1981–82
Bulls
3–2
Tie, 1–1
Bulls, 2–1
Knicks 46–35
1982–83
Knicks
4–1
Knicks, 2–1
Knicks, 2–0
Knicks 50–36
1983–84
Knicks
4–2
Knicks, 2–1
Knicks, 2–1
Knicks 54–38
1984–85
Bulls
4–2
Bulls, 3–0
Knicks, 2–1
Knicks 56–42
Bulls draft Michael Jordan.
1985–86
Bulls
4–2
Bulls, 2–1
Bulls, 2–1
Knicks 58–46
1986–87
Bulls
4–2
Bulls, 2–1
Bulls, 2–1
Knicks 60–50
One game was played on Christmas.
1987–88
Bulls
3–2
Bulls, 2–0
Knicks, 2–1
Knicks 62–53
1988–89
Bulls
3–2
Bulls, 3–0
Knicks, 2–0
Knicks 64–56
1989 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Bulls
4–2
Bulls, 3–0
Knicks, 2–1
Knicks 66–60
2nd postseason series.
1989–90
Bulls
3–1
Bulls, 2–0
Tie, 1–1
Knicks 67–63
One game was played on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. :
1990s (Bulls, 41–25)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bullsat New York KnicksOverall seriesNotes
1990–91
Bulls
4–0
Bulls, 2–0
Bulls, 2–0
Tie 67–67
Bulls record their first season series sweep against the Knicks. Final season Knicks held the overall series record.
1991 Eastern Conference First Round
Bulls
3–0
Bulls, 2–0
Bulls, 1–0
Bulls 70–67
3rd postseason series. In Game 1, Bulls beat the Knicks 126–85, their largest victory against the Knicks with a 41–point differential. Bulls go on to win 1991 NBA Finals, their first NBA championship.
1991–92
Bulls
4–0
Bulls, 2–0
Bulls, 2–0
Bulls 74–67
Bulls win 14 games in a row against the Knicks and 17 home games in a row against the Knicks. Bulls finish with the best record in the league (67–15).
1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Bulls
4–3
Bulls, 3–1
Knicks, 2–1
Bulls 78–70
4th postseason series. As of March 14, 2025, Knicks' win in Chicago remains their only playoff victory in Chicago. Game 7 featured Michael Jordan's famous steal and strip. Bulls go on to win 1992 NBA Finals.
1992–93
Knicks
3–1
Tie, 1–1
Knicks, 2–0
Bulls 79–73
On November 28, 1992, Knicks beat the Bulls 112–75, their largest victory against the bulls with a 37–point differential. One game was played on Christmas.
1993 Eastern Conference Finals
Bulls
4–2
Bulls, 3–0
Knicks, 2–1
Bulls 83–75
5th postseason series. Game 3 featured a famous dunk by Knicks' SG John Starks on Bulls' PF Horace Grant and Michael Jordan later nicknamed "The Dunk". In Game 4, Jordan scores 54 points, the most against the Knicks in a playoff game by any player. In Game 5, Bulls' PG B. J. Armstrong hits the clutch 3 with 1:16 left, while Knicks' PF Charles Smith gets blocked 4 straight times by Grant, Jordan, and Bulls' SF Scottie Pippen at the end of the game. Bulls go on to win 1993 NBA Finals, their first three-peat.
1993–94
Knicks
3–1
Tie, 1–1
Knicks, 2–0
Bulls 84–78
1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Knicks
4–3
Bulls, 3–0
Knicks, 4–0
Bulls 87–82
6th postseason series. Game 3 featured Bulls Toni Kukoč hitting the game-winner at the buzzer. Game 5 featured a controverall call by Hue Hollins, who called a person foul against Scottie Pippen. It enabled Knicks' SG Hubert Davis to make two successful free throws that led to a Knicks' win. Game 6 featured Pippen's famous dunk over Knicks' C Patrick Ewing, followed by his taunting of Spike Lee, and was the final game played at Chicago Stadium. Knicks win their first playoff series against the Bulls. Knicks go on to lose 1994 NBA Finals.
1994–95
Bulls
3–1
Bulls, 2–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 90–83
Bulls open up United Center. One game was played on Christmas.
1995–96
Bulls
3–1
Bulls, 2–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 93–84
Bulls finish with the best record in the league and also set a record for most wins in a season at the time (72–10) (Broken by the 2015 73–9 Warriors).
1996 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Bulls
4–1
Bulls, 3–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 97–85
7th postseason series. Bulls go on to win 1996 NBA Finals.
1996–97
Tie
2–2
Tie, 1–1
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 99–87
Bulls win 11 home games in a row against the Knicks. Bulls finish with the best record in the league (69–13). Bulls win 1997 NBA Finals.
1997–98
Bulls
4–0
Bulls, 2–0
Bulls, 2–0
Bulls 103–87
Bulls record their 100th win against the Knicks. Last season Michael Jordan played for the Bulls. Bulls win 1998 NBA Finals, becoming the first team in NBA history to have two separate three-peats.
1998–99
Knicks
2–1
Tie, 1–1
Knicks, 1–0
Bulls 104–89
Knicks lose 1999 NBA Finals.
1999–2000
Knicks
3–0
Knicks, 1–0
Knicks, 2–0
Bulls 104–92
Knicks finish with a winning record at Chicago for the first time since the 1983 season and their first season series sweep against the Bulls since the 1979 season. :
2000s (Bulls, 24–13)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bullsat New York KnicksOverall seriesNotes
2000–01
Knicks
3–1
Tie, 1–1
Knicks, 2–0
Bulls 105–95
2001–02
Bulls
3–1
Bulls, 2–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 108–96
2002–03
Bulls
2–1
Bulls, 2–0
Knicks, 1–0
Bulls 110–97
2003–04
Tie
2–2
Tie, 1–1
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 112–99
2004–05
Bulls
4–0
Bulls, 2–0
Bulls, 2–0
Bulls 116–99
One game was played on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
2005–06
Bulls
2–1
Bulls, 1–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 118–100
Knicks record their 100th win against the Bulls.
2006–07
Bulls
3–1
Bulls, 2–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 121–101
2007–08
Tie
2–2
Tie, 1–1
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 123–103
2008–09
Bulls
2–1
Bulls, 2–0
Knicks, 1–0
Bulls 125–104
One game was played on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
2009–10
Bulls
3–1
Bulls, 2–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 128–105 :
2010s (Bulls, 19–16)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bullsat New York KnicksOverall seriesNotes
2010–11
Knicks
2–1
Knicks, 1–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 129–107
One game was played on Christmas. Knicks finish with a winning record at Chicago for the first time since the 1999 season. Bulls finish with the best record in the league (62–20).
2011–12
Bulls
3–1
Bulls, 2–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 132–108
Bulls finish tied with the best record in the league (50–16).
2012–13
Bulls
4–0
Bulls, 2–0
Bulls, 2–0
Bulls 136–108
2013–14
Tie
2–2
Bulls, 2–0
Knicks, 2–0
Bulls 138–110
2014–15
Bulls
3–0
Bulls, 2–0
Bulls, 1–0
Bulls 141–110
2015–16
Knicks
3–1
Tie, 1–1
Knicks, 2–0
Bulls 142–113
2016–17
Knicks
3–0
Knicks, 1–0
Knicks, 2–0
Bulls 142–116
Knicks' first season series sweep against the Bulls since the 1999 season.
2017–18
Bulls
3–1
Bulls, 2–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 145–117
2018–19
Knicks
2–1
Knicks, 1–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 146–119
2019–20
Knicks
2–1
Bulls, 1–0
Knicks, 2–0
Bulls 147–121 :
2020s (Knicks, 10–7)
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bullsat New York KnicksOverall seriesNotes
2020–21
Knicks
2–1
Tie, 1–1
Knicks, 1–0
Bulls 148–123
2021–22
Tie
2–2
Tie, 1–1
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 150–125
2022–23
Knicks
2–1
Knicks, 2–0
Bulls, 1–0
Bulls 151–127
2023–24
Knicks
3–1
Tie, 1–1
Knicks, 2–0
Bulls 152–130
2024–25
Bulls
2–1
Bulls, 1–0
Tie, 1–1
Bulls 154–131 :
Summary of Results
SeasonSeason seriesat Chicago Bullsat New York Knicksat Neutral SiteNotes
Regular season games
Bulls
130–119
Bulls, 80–42
Knicks, 72–48
Knicks, 5–2
Postseason games
Bulls
24–12
Bulls, 18–1
Knicks, 11–6
Postseason series
Bulls
6–1
Bulls, 3–0
Bulls, 3–1
Eastern Conference First Round: 1981, 1991 Eastern Conference Semifinals: 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996 Eastern Conference Finals: 1993
Regular and postseason
Bulls
154–131
Bulls, 98–43
Knicks, 83–54
Knicks, 5–2
There were 7 neutral site games played in total:
2 games at Roberts Stadium and Boston Garden.
1 game at Baltimore Civic Center, Milwaukee Arena, and The Spectrum. :