New York Knicks Christmas Day History: Record, Statistics, & More

Looking back on the orange and blue's history during the holiday season.

The Knicks have played over 50 times on Christmas Day throughout the years / John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks are a mainstay for the NBA on Christmas. Of the 76 seasons the league has put on a Christmas showcase, the Knicks have played 56 times— most all-time in the NBA. In the tristate area the colors of orange and blue are just as synonymous with the holiday spirit as your greens and reds, despite the more inconsistent appearances in the 2010s.

This season will mark the Knicks' 57th Christmas Day game as they host the San Antonio Spurs in the first action of the day. It feels like as good a time as any to reflect on the ghosts of New York Christmas past and break down just how good the Knicks have been while performing on Christmas over the years.

New York Knicks' Record on Christmas Day

The Knicks boast an all-time record of 24-32 on Christmas Day. While it is obviously not optimal to fall below .500 on yuletide New York's 24 wins are tied for the most all-time. So, even if they have lost more often than they've won, the Knicks are still one of the two most successful NBA franchises in the history of Christmas play. Conversely, those 32 losses are more than any team has suffered on the holiday. Such are the consequences of being the NBA's go-to Christmas team, regardless of how good a team they are that season.

Here is a complete accounting of the Knicks' Christmas Day battles , starting with their very first in 1947.

YEAR	OPPONENT	RESULT	ALL-TIME W-L
1947	Providence Steamrollers	Knicks 89, Steamrollers 75	1-0
1948	Chicago Stags	Stags 70, Knicks 64	1-1
1950	Philadelphia Warriors	Knicks 86, Warriors 84	2-1
1951	Fort Wayne Pistons	Knicks 89, Pistons 80	3-1
1952	Boston Celtics	Knicks 97, Celtics 84	4-1
1953	Syracuse Nationals	Knicks 89, Nationals 80	5-1
1954	Syracuse Nationals	Knicks 109, Nationals 101	6-1
1955	Fort Wayne Pistons	Pistons 92, Knicks 87	6-2
1956	St. Louis Hawks	Hawks 107, Knicks 105	6-3
1957	Syracuse Nationals	Nationals 134, Knicks 130	6-4
1958	Boston Celtics	Celtics 129, Knicks 120	6-5
1959	Boston Celtics	Celtics 123, Knicks 119	6-6
1960	Syracuse Nationals	Nationals 162, Knicks 100	6-7
1961	Philadelphia Warriors	Knicks 136, Warriors 135	7-7
1962	Syracuse Nationals	Nationals 123, Knicks 111	7-8
1963	Los Angeles Lakers	Lakers 134, Knicks 126	7-9
1964	Baltimore Bullets	Bullets 114, Knicks 108	7-10
1965	St. Louis Hawks	Hawks 131, Knicks 111	7-11
1966	Chicago Bulls	Knicks 133, Bulls 132	8-11
1967	Boston Celtics	Celtics 134, Knicks 124	8-12
1968	Philadelphia 76ers	Knicks 110, 76ers 109	9-12
1969	Detroit Pistons	Knicks 112, Pistons 111	10-12
1970	Buffalo Braves	Knicks 115, Braves 102	11-12
1971	Golden State Warriors	Knicks 114, Warriors 89	12-12
1972	Detroit Pistons	Knicks 113, Pistons 110	13-12
1973	Capital Bullets	Bullets 102, Knicks 100	13-13
1974	Philadelphia 76ers	76ers 104, Knicks 97	13-14
1975	Philadlephia 76ers	Knicks 111, 76ers 103	14-14
1976	Philadlephia 76ers	76ers 105, Knicks 104	14-15
1977	Philadelphia 76ers	Knicks 113, 76ers 110	15-15
1978	Philadelphia 76ers	76ers 109, Knicks 94	15-16
1979	New Jersey Nets	Knicks 131, Nets 102	16-16
1980	Boston Celtics	Celtics 117, Knicks 108	16-17
1981	New Jersey Nets	Nets 96, Knicks 95	16-18
1982	New Jersey Nets	Nets 112, Knicks 110	16-19
1983	New Jersey Nets	Knicks 112, Nets 110	17-19
1984	New Jersey Nets	Nets 120, Knicks 114	17-20
1985	Boston Celtics	Knicks 113, Celtics 104	18-20
1986	Chicago Bulls	Knicks 86, Bulls 85	19-20
1987	Detroit Pistons	Pistons 91, Knicks 87	19-21
1992	Chicago Bulls	Bulls 89, Knicks 77	19-22
1994	Chicago Bulls	Bulls 107, Knicks 104	19-23
1999	Indiana Pacers	Pacers 101, Knicks 90	19-24
2001	Toronto Raptors	Knicks 102, Raptors 94	20-24
2009	Miami Heat	Heat 93, Knicks 87	20-25
2010	Chicago Bulls	Knicks 103, Bulls 95	21-25
2011	Boston Celtics	Knicks 106, Celtics 104	22-25
2012	Los Angeles Lakers	Lakers 100, Knicks 94	22-26
2013	Oklahoma City Thunder	Thunder 123, Knicks 94	22-27
2014	Washington Wizards	Wizards 102, Knicks 91	22-28
2016	Boston Celtics	Celtics 119, Knicks 114	22-29
2017	Philadelphia 76ers	76ers 105, Knicks 98	22-30
2018	Milwaukee Bucks	Bucks 109, Knicks 95	22-31
2021	Atlanta Hawks	Knicks 101, Hawks 87	23-31
2022	Philadelphia 76ers	76ers 119, Knicks 112	23-32
2023	Milwaukee Bucks	Knicks 129, Bucks 122	24-32

Notable Knicks Christmas Day Performances

No Knick has ever had a better Christmas than Bernard King in 1984. He scored 40 points in the first half of New York's game against the Nets that year and finished with a whopping 60 points on the day. It's a Christmas record that still stands to this day.

One year later Patrick Ewing had an excellent showing. On yuletide in 1985, the rookie center out of Georgetown dominated with a 32-point, 11-rebound outing that propelled the Knicks to a 25-point comeback win over the Celtics.

In more recent Knicks lore, the ever-entertaining Carmelo Anthony dropped a cool 37 points in a narrow win over the Celtics. King may have scored more points but he didn't look as smooth as 'Melo did.

Merry Christmas, and enjoy the games!

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