Revisiting the 2014-15 Knicks Season

Times Insider provides insight into the inner workings of The New York Times’ journalism.

On January 5, 2015, the New York Knicks lost their 12th consecutive game to the Memphis Grizzlies with a score of 105-83. This left the Knicks with a dismal record of 5-32, tying them for the worst in the league. That same night, they initiated a trade involving two of their top players, signaling a surrender for the season.

Scott Cacciola, the Knicks beat writer for The New York Times at the time, not only covered the trade but also described the team’s poor performance in Memphis. Cacciola wrote that ‘futility was the preferred replacement for fluidity, surfacing in plays defined by an almost inexplicable level of ineptitude.’ These words marked his temporary departure from covering the Knicks.

Just a few days later, The Times published a piece by Cacciola about the Emporia State (Kan.) Lady Hornets, the leading team in Division II women’s college basketball. This article was the first in a series dubbed ‘Not the Knicks.’ Cacciola embarked on a journey seeking well-played basketball, a quality he wouldn’t find at Knicks games, unless referring to their opponents.

Nowadays, with the Knicks on the cusp of a championship win, the struggles of the 2014-15 season might seem distant to new fans. Yet, longtime followers remember not only that year but also other challenging seasons during the franchise’s 53-year title drought.

This week, Times Insider revisited the Sports desk journalists from 11 years ago who brought ‘Not the Knicks’ to life. Their reflections have been condensed and edited for clarity.

Creating ‘Not the Knicks’

JASON STALLMAN, Sports Editor: The Knicks’ performance was dreadful, causing significant discontent among fans. By around January 5, the team essentially admitted to focusing on drafting rather than the current season. They traded J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, and Phil Jackson, the team president, hinted that the draft was now their priority. This remains a problem in the NBA, where teams abandon the current season to secure better draft positions.