How the Knicks built an NBA Finals team: The 27-Year journey back | NY Got Game

For nearly three decades, the New York Knicks searched for a way back to the NBA Finals.

From the departure of Patrick Ewing and the dark years that followed, to the arrivals of Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, Tom Thibodeau, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns, the road back to contention was anything but easy.

In this NY Got Game video essay, Dexter Henry breaks down the 27-year journey that led the Knicks back to the NBA Finals in 2026. From draft misses and failed rebuilds to culture-changing hires and franchise-defining trades, this is the story of how New York finally built a championship contender.