# 1983–84 New York Knicks season

The 1983–84 New York Knicks season was the 38th season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the regular season, the Knicks had a 47–35 record, and qualified for the NBA playoffs as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. New York was led by small forward Bernard King, who averaged 26.3 points per game (PPG) in the regular season and 34.8 PPG in the playoffs. In early 1984, King scored 50 points in consecutive games, against the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.
In the opening round of the 1984 NBA Playoffs, the Knicks faced the Detroit Pistons. The teams split the first four games, as the Knicks won the first and third games. However, they were unable to clinch the series in Game 4, held in Madison Square Garden, their home arena. In the fifth and deciding game, held in Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, the Knicks held a 106–98 lead with less than two minutes remaining when Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas scored 16 points in a 94-second span. The game went into overtime, where New York won the game 127–123. King, despite playing with two dislocated fingers and the flu, scored 44 points in the game and 213 points in the series. His point total was the highest in NBA history by a player in a five-game series. After the Detroit series, the Knicks were matched with the Boston Celtics. In a seven-game series, the Celtics defeated New York.

## Draft picks

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first round and notable post-first-round picks.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 12 | Darrell Walker | G | United States | Arkansas |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 33–8 | 29–12 | 13–11 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 10 | 32–9 | 20–21 | 15–9 |
| x-New York Knicks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 | 29–12 | 18–23 | 12–12 |
| x-New Jersey Nets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 | 29–12 | 16–25 | 12–12 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 35 | 47 | .427 | 27 | 25–16 | 10–31 | 8–16 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 10 |
| 4 | x-Detroit Pistons | 49 | 33 | .598 | 13 |
| 5 | x-New York Knicks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 6 | x-New Jersey Nets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
| 7 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 40 | 42 | .488 | 22 |
| 8 | x-Washington Bullets | 35 | 47 | .427 | 27 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 |
| 10 | Chicago Bulls | 27 | 55 | .329 | 35 |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | 26 | 56 | .317 | 36 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1983-84 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 0–5 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Boston | 5–0 | — | 5–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 0–5 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Cleveland | 3–3 | 0–6 | 4–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | — | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0 | — | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| New Jersey | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| New York | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | 4–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | — | 4–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1983–84 game log Total: 47–35 (Home: 29–12; Road: 18–23) :
October: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 28, 1983
@ Cleveland
W 113–106
Richfield Coliseum
1–0
2
October 29, 1983
Washington
W 100–97
Madison Square Garden
2–0 :
November: 9–6 (home: 6–1; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
3
November 2, 1983
@ Seattle
L 111–125
Kingdome
2–1
4
November 4, 1983
@ Portland
L 97–106
Memorial Coliseum
2–2
5
November 5, 1983
@ Golden State
L 100–102
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
2–3
6
November 8, 1983
Milwaukee
L 90–97
Madison Square Garden
2–4
7
November 10, 1983
@ Indiana
W 99–91
Market Square Arena
3–4
8
November 11, 1983
San Diego
W 116–95
Madison Square Garden
4–4
9
November 15, 1983
Indiana
W 94–87
Madison Square Garden
5–4
10
November 16, 1983
@ Philadelphia
L 97–102
The Spectrum
5–5
11
November 18, 1983
@ Boston
W 110–103
Boston Garden
6–5
12
November 19, 1983
Detroit
W 104–101 (OT)
Madison Square Garden
7–5
13
November 22, 1983
Boston
W 117–113 (2OT)
Madison Square Garden
8–5
14
November 26, 1983
Cleveland
W 96–84
Madison Square Garden
9–5
15
November 27, 1983
@ Indiana
L 91–101
Market Square Arena
9–6
16
November 29, 1983
San Antonio
W 118–106
Madison Square Garden
10–6
17
November 30, 1983
@ New Jersey
W 113–104
Brendan Byrne Arena
11–6 :
December: 6–8 (home: 4–4; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
December 1, 1983
Washington
W 127–93
Madison Square Garden
12–6
19
December 3, 1983
Houston
W 117–101
Madison Square Garden
13–6
20
December 6, 1983
Denver
L 112–117
Madison Square Garden
13–7
21
December 8, 1983
@ Phoenix
L 97–120
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
13–8
22
December 9, 1983
@ San Diego
W 111–92
San Diego Sports Arena
14–8
23
December 11, 1983
@ Los Angeles
W 109–98
The Forum
15–8
24
December 13, 1983
Boston
L 100–102
Madison Square Garden
15–9
25
December 15, 1983
Chicago
L 107–113
Madison Square Garden
15–10
26
December 17, 1983
Milwaukee
W 102–96
Madison Square Garden
16–10
27
December 23, 1983
@ Atlanta
L 113–114 (2OT)
The Omni
16–11
28
December 25, 1983
New Jersey
W 112–110 (OT)
Madison Square Garden
17–11
29
December 27, 1983
@ Chicago
L 96–102
Chicago Stadium
17–12
30
December 28, 1983
Detroit
L 108–111
Madison Square Garden
17–13
31
December 30, 1983
@ Washington
L 86–91
Capital Centre
17–14 :
January: 8–4 (home: 5–2; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
January 3, 1984
Los Angeles
W 117–105
Madison Square Garden
18–14
33
January 6, 1984
@ Detroit
L 107–118
Pontiac Silverdome
18–15
34
January 7, 1984
Indiana
W 140–103
Madison Square Garden
19–15
35
January 9, 1984
Philadelphia
W 111–73
Madison Square Garden
20–15
36
January 13, 1984
@ Milwaukee
L 101–103
MECCA Arena
20–16
37
January 14, 1984
@ Chicago
W 113–111
Chicago Stadium
21–16
38
January 17, 1984
New Jersey
L 115–121
Madison Square Garden
21–17
39
January 19, 1984
Chicago
W 109–92
Madison Square Garden
22–17
40
January 21, 1984
Atlanta
L 95–97
Madison Square Garden
22–18
41
January 24, 1984
Philadelphia
W 111–102
Madison Square Garden
23–18
42
January 26, 1984
@ Washington
W 104–97
Capital Centre
24–18
All-Star Break
43
January 31, 1984
@ San Antonio
W 117–113
HemisFair Arena
25–18 :
February: 10–6 (home: 4–1; road: 6–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
44
February 1, 1984
@ Dallas
W 105–98
Reunion Arena
26–18
45
February 4, 1984
@ Houston
W 103–95
The Summit
27–18
46
February 6, 1984
Golden State
W 116–94
Madison Square Garden
28–18
47
February 8, 1984
@ Milwaukee
L 103–113
MECCA Arena
28–19
48
February 10, 1984
@ Utah
W 121–111
Salt Palace Acord Arena
29–19
49
February 11, 1984
@ Denver
W 138–112
McNichols Sports Arena
30–19
50
February 14, 1984
@ Kansas City
W 106–100
Kemper Arena
31–19
51
February 16, 1984
Indiana
W 100–94
Madison Square Garden
32–19
52
February 18, 1984
New Jersey
W 112–102
Madison Square Garden
33–19
53
February 19, 1984
@ Philadelphia
L 97–101
The Spectrum
33–20
54
February 21, 1984
Portland
L 89–106
Madison Square Garden
33–21
55
February 22, 1984
@ Detroit
L 111–114
Pontiac Silverdome
33–22
56
February 24, 1984
@ Atlanta
L 104–105 (OT)
The Omni
33–23
57
February 25, 1984
@ New Jersey
L 104–117
Brendan Byrne Arena
33–24
58
February 27, 1984
Atlanta
W 96–92
Madison Square Garden
34–24
59
February 29, 1984
@ Boston
W 102–98
Boston Garden
35–24 :
March: 8–7 (home: 7–2; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
60
March 2, 1984
@ Detroit
W 117–102
Pontiac Silverdome
36–24
61
March 3, 1984
Milwaukee
L 106–111
Madison Square Garden
36–25
62
March 6, 1984
Seattle
W 124–110
Madison Square Garden
37–25
63
March 10, 1984
Utah
W 114–105
Madison Square Garden
38–25
64
March 13, 1984
Phoenix
W 117–96
Madison Square Garden
39–25
65
March 15, 1984
Cleveland
W 105–82
Madison Square Garden
40–25
66
March 17, 1984
Kansas City
W 123–109
Madison Square Garden
41–25
67
March 21, 1984
@ Cleveland
L 99–100
Richfield Coliseum
41–26
68
March 22, 1984
Boston
L 100–108
Madison Square Garden
41–27
69
March 24, 1984
Washington
W 107–99
Madison Square Garden
42–27
70
March 25, 1984
@ New Jersey
L 94–107
Brendan Byrne Arena
42–28
71
March 27, 1984
Dallas
W 97–88
Madison Square Garden
43–28
72
March 28, 1984
@ Indiana
L 93–99
Market Square Arena
43–29
73
March 30, 1984
@ Washington
L 79–107
Capital Centre
43–30
74
March 31, 1984
@ Atlanta
L 106–109
The Omni
43–31 :
April: 4–4 (home: 2–2; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
75
April 2, 1984
Chicago
W 115–113
Madison Square Garden
44–31
76
April 3, 1984
@ Chicago
W 113–96
Chicago Stadium
45–31
77
April 6, 1984
Detroit
L 104–101
Madison Square Garden
45–32
78
April 8, 1984
@ Philadelphia
L 108–109
The Spectrum
45–33
79
April 9, 1984
Cleveland
W 107–98
Madison Square Garden
46–33
80
April 11, 1984
@ Boston
L 96–102
Boston Garden
46–34
81
April 13, 1984
@ Cleveland
W 107–98
Richfield Coliseum
47–34
82
April 14, 1984
Philadelphia
L 100–103
Madison Square Garden
47–35 :
1983–84 schedule :

### Playoffs

1984 playoff game log :
Eastern Conference First Round: 3–2 (home: 1–1; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 17, 1984
@ Detroit
W 94–93
Bernard King (36)
Bill Cartwright (11)
Darrell Walker (7)
Pontiac Silverdome 14,127
1–0
2
April 19, 1984
@ Detroit
L 105–113
Bernard King (46)
Truck Robinson (11)
Ray Williams (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 14,275
1–1
3
April 22, 1984
Detroit
W 120–113
Bernard King (46)
Bernard King (10)
Rory Sparrow (10)
Madison Square Garden 16,354
2–1
4
April 25, 1984
Detroit
L 112–119
Bernard King (41)
Truck Robinson (12)
Rory Sparrow (10)
Madison Square Garden 18,205
2–2
5
April 27, 1984
@ Detroit
W 127–123 (OT)
Bernard King (44)
Bernard King (12)
Ray Williams (12)
Joe Louis Arena 21,208
3–2 :
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 3–4 (home: 3–0; road: 0–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 29, 1984
@ Boston
L 92–110
Bernard King (26)
Truck Robinson (9)
Rory Sparrow (6)
Boston Garden 14,890
0–1
2
May 2, 1984
@ Boston
L 102–116
Bill Cartwright (25)
Bill Cartwright (11)
Rory Sparrow (5)
Boston Garden 14,890
0–2
3
May 4, 1984
Boston
W 100–92
Bill Cartwright (25)
King, Robinson (9)
Rory Sparrow (10)
Madison Square Garden 19,591
1–2
4
May 6, 1984
Boston
W 118–113
Bernard King (43)
Truck Robinson (9)
Ray Williams (9)
Madison Square Garden 15,840
2–2
5
May 9, 1984
@ Boston
L 99–121
Bernard King (30)
Bill Cartwright (10)
Ray Williams (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
2–3
6
May 11, 1984
Boston
W 106–104
Bernard King (44)
Bill Cartwright (14)
Rory Sparrow (11)
Madison Square Garden 19,591
3–3
7
May 13, 1984
@ Boston
L 104–121
Bernard King (24)
Truck Robinson (9)
Ray Williams (7)
Boston Garden 14,890
3–4 :
1984 schedule :

## Awards and records

* Bernard King, All-NBA First Team
* Darrell Walker, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team