Best Knicks team ever? With franchise's first NBA championship in 53 years, they're building their case

Analytical chatter around the Knicks has reached a fever pitch as they pursue the franchise's first title in 53 years. Ahead of Game 3 of the 2026 Finals at Madison Square Garden, Fat Joe argued the current Knicks are the greatest New York team ever based on the numbers. They had won 13 straight playoff games, the second-longest streak in NBA history, and finished the postseason 16-3. They outscored opponents by 283 points in the playoffs, the largest differential for a team with at least four games. Their average margin of victory was 14.9, the highest since the 2003 format change, and their net rating stood at plus 15.4 per 100 possessions. The Knicks also became the first team to win three closeout games by 20-plus points. Jadakiss joined Fat Joe in praising the numbers, joking about analytics during the interview. Even with the data, many still debate whether analytics capture the whole story for a team that thrives on dramatic postseason runs. The Finals at MSG, in front of a national audience, added to the aura surrounding their title bid. Analysts will weigh the data while the Knicks push to close out the series and secure their place in franchise history.