The Knicks began their life 75 years ago as the hottest team in the BAA (which three years later would become the NBA). They won their debut game in Toronto, 68-66, on Nov. 1, 1946, and then sandwiched a road win over the St. Louis Bombers between losses to the Chicago Stags both on the road and in the franchise’s first-ever home game (78-68, in front of 17,205 at the old Garden on 50th Street) to put them 2-2 after four games.
Then came the first winning stretch in team history: nine in a row and 12 out of 13. The run was capped by an 83-68 win over the Providence Steamrollers on Dec. 11 that elevated the Knicks’ record to 14-3 and gave them a one-game lead in the Eastern Division over coach Red Auerbach’s Washington Capitols.
Only 3,118 watched that one, but with good reason: The Knicks were outsourced to the 69th Regiment Armory (capacity: 5,200), located at 25th Street and Lexington Avenue (ticket prices: $1.50, $2, $2.75 and $3.50). The Rangers had a date with the Canadiens that night at Madison Square Garden, and that took precedence. In fact, only six of the Knicks’ 30 home games were booked for the Garden.
Such would be the case throughout the early years of the Knicks…