When the Knicks and the Bulls tip off at the United Center in Chicago today, there will be very little at stake. Yes, the Bulls need to win to continue to hold steady in the Eastern Conference playoff race. And yes, the Knicks need to win because, believe it or not, they still have an outside chance of making the postseason. But their game today won't be anything like one of the old Knicks/Bulls matchups.
After it initially took shape back in the late 1980s and then came to fruition in the early 1990s and extended through the end of the decade, the rivalry between the Knicks and Bulls was arguably the greatest rivalry in the NBA at one time. The Knicks had guys like Patrick Ewing, John Starks, and Charles Oakley on their roster, which made them a threat to win the East each and every year. And the Bulls had guys like Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc, and, of course, Michael Jordan suiting up during that time period, which eventually allowed them to win six NBA titles during the '90s much to the chagrin of Knicks fans. Their epic battles on the court weren't always pretty, but the intense competition between the two teams made every single matchup must-see TV.
As we mentioned, we don't expect to see any of that same intensity on the court today. But with the Knicks celebrating the 20th anniversary of their one and only playoff series victory over the Bulls this year, we thought now would be the perfect time to look back at some of the best moments from this classic NBA rivalry. Join us in Revisiting When the Knicks and Bulls Had the Greatest Rivalry in the NBA.
Written by Chris Yuscavage (@ChrisYuscavage)
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