All the dumb moments that make this title so much sweeter: Part II (1990-01)

This installment of a Knicks retrospective zeros in on the 1990s—an era that came closest to another Larry O’Brien Trophy, even if it never delivered. The series argues that the “drought” became tangible after Patrick Ewing left in 2001, with questions about whether New York would ever win again building along the way. It then revisits two of the decade’s most painful storylines. First, a trade in 1990 sent Rod Strickland away for Maurice Cheeks, a move described as among the worst in franchise history; the article notes Strickland later became a high-level starter in San Antonio and Portland, while Cheeks averaged eight points and five assists over 107 games in New York. Second, it highlights the Knicks’ disastrous 1990-91 season and coaching changes after a steep slide.