During the Chicago Bulls’ dominance in the 1990s, numerous teams aimed to dethrone them as the league’s top team. In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks were consistently strong contenders. Unfortunately for Knicks fans, their team only reached the Finals in the years Michael Jordan was away from the game, in 1994 and 1999.
MJ always knew the Knicks were challenging the Bulls, so he took the matchups between the two teams seriously. Chicago and New York have played seven postseason series against each other, but the latter won only in 1994 when Jordan took some time off basketball.
“Anybody that was trying to take something from us, that’s a rivalry. Every game, we tried to send a statement. We tried to make sure they don’t gain anything against us,” Jordan said in an interview with Ahmad Rashad. “As long as Patrick was gonna be there, as long as Oakley was gonna be there, as long as Starks was gonna be there, you gotta let them know what they are, this is where you belong. I don’t care who you think you are, this is where you belong.”
Michael always took the matchup seriously
Because the Knicks were always trying to dethrone the Bulls, His Airness made a point to circle their matchups on the calendar. These games were always a highlight for him, as he aimed not only to defeat, but to demoralize New York. Despite the Knicks’ motivation to beat Chicago, they never succeeded when MJ was on the floor.
Over 60 games against the their rivals, Jordan averaged 31.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. His goal was to ensure the Bulls remained dominant, and with the Knicks constantly on the rise, he seized every opportunity to squash their momentum. His efforts paid off, as New York only managed to surpass Chicago during MJ’s retirement, fueling Jordan’s determination in later postseason matchups. And even Patrick Ewing knew MJ was the best player because he experienced first-hand Jordan’s excellence as the top player.
“Everybody asks that question, but for me, Michael Jordan is the best in my era. The way that he played, everything he brought to the table, not to take anything away from LeBron and Kobe,” Ewing said on The Mark Jackson Show.
Ewing and the Knicks always made it tough for the Bulls
Even though Michael and the Bulls won more often than not, Patrick Ewing and the rest of the Knicks put up a good fight against Chicago. In the 60 games, Jordan had a 49-21 record over Ewing, but every game was a dogfight as the Bulls had to play against Pat and his elite supporting cast consisting of John Starks, Charles Oakley, and more.
Chicago always had a target on their backs, with not just the NYK but also teams like the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers vying to dethrone them. Despite the fierce competition, the Bulls were unbeatable when Jordan was at his best during the ’90s, and every team felt the impact of his dominance.
