| Season | Conf. | Conf. finish | Div. | Div. finish | W | L | Win% | Playoffs | Awards | Head coach | Ref. |
| 1946–47 | — | — | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | 33 | 27 | 550 | Won first round vs. Cleveland Rebels, 2–1 Lost semifinals to Philadelphia Warriors, 2–0 | — | Neil Cohalan | |
| 1947–48 | — | — | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | 26 | 22 | 542 | Lost first round to Baltimore Bullets, 2–1 | — | Joe Lapchick | |
| 1948–49 | — | — | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | 32 | 28 | 533 | Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 2–1 Lost division finals to Washington Capitols, 2–1 | — | Joe Lapchick | |
| 1949–50 | — | — | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | 40 | 28 | 588 | Won division semifinals vs. Washington Capitols, 2–0 Lost division finals to Syracuse Nationals, 2–1 | — | Joe Lapchick | |
| 1950–51 | — | — | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | 36 | 30 | 545 | Won division semifinals vs. Boston Celtics, 2–0 Won division finals vs. Syracuse Nationals, 3–2 Lost NBA Finals to Rochester Royals, 4–3 | — | Joe Lapchick | |
| 1951–52 | — | — | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | 37 | 29 | 561 | Won division semifinals vs. Boston Celtics, 2–1 Won division finals vs. Syracuse Nationals, 3–1 Lost NBA Finals to Minneapolis Lakers, 4–3 | — | Joe Lapchick | |
| 1952–53 | — | — | Eastern ^ | 1st ^ | 47 | 23 | 671 | Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 2–0 Won division finals vs. Boston Celtics, 3–1 Lost NBA Finals to Minneapolis Lakers, 4–1 | — | Joe Lapchick | |
| 1953–54 | — | — | Eastern ^ | 1st ^ | 44 | 28 | 611 | Lost round-robin to Boston Celtics and Syracuse Nationals, 4–0 | — | Joe Lapchick | |
| 1954–55 | — | — | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | 38 | 34 | 528 | Lost division semifinals to Boston Celtics, 2–1 | — | Joe Lapchick | |
| 1955–56 | — | — | Eastern | 4th ¤ | 35 | 37 | 486 | Lost division tiebreaker to Syracuse Nationals, 1–0 | — | Joe Lapchick Vince Boryla | |
| 1956–57 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 36 | 36 | 500 | — | — | Vince Boryla | |
| 1957–58 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 35 | 37 | 486 | — | — | Vince Boryla Andrew Levane | |
| 1958–59 | — | — | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | 40 | 32 | 556 | Lost division semifinals to Syracuse Nationals, 2–0 | — | Andrew Levane | |
| 1959–60 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 27 | 48 | 360 | — | — | Andrew Levane Carl Braun | |
| 1960–61 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 21 | 58 | 266 | — | — | Carl Braun | |
| 1961–62 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 29 | 51 | 363 | — | — | Eddie Donovan | |
| 1962–63 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 21 | 59 | 263 | — | — | Eddie Donovan | |
| 1963–64 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 22 | 58 | 275 | — | — | Eddie Donovan | |
| 1964–65 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 31 | 49 | 388 | — | Willis Reed (ROY) | Eddie Donovan Harry Gallatin | |
| 1965–66 | — | — | Eastern | 4th | 30 | 50 | 375 | — | — | Harry Gallatin Dick McGuire | |
| 1966–67 | — | — | Eastern | 4th ¤ | 36 | 45 | 444 | Lost division semifinals to Boston Celtics, 3–1 | — | Dick McGuire | |
| 1967–68 | — | — | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | 43 | 39 | 524 | Lost division semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–2 | — | Dick McGuire Red Holzman | |
| 1968–69 | — | — | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | 54 | 28 | 659 | Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–0 Lost division finals to Boston Celtics, 4–2 | — | Red Holzman | |
| 1969–70 † | — | — | Eastern ^ | 1st ^ | 60 | 22 | 732 | Won division semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–3 Won division finals vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 4–1 Won NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 4–3 † | Willis Reed (MVP, FMVP, ASG MVP) Red Holzman (COY) | Red Holzman | |
| 1970–71 | Eastern | 1st ¤ | Atlantic ^ | 1st ^ | 52 | 30 | 634 | Won conference semifinals vs. Atlanta Hawks, 4–1 Lost conference finals to Baltimore Bullets, 4–3 | — | Red Holzman | |
| 1971–72 | Eastern * | 3rd ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 48 | 34 | 585 | Won conference semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–2 Won conference finals vs. Boston Celtics, 4–1 Lost NBA Finals to Los Angeles Lakers, 4–1 * | — | Red Holzman | |
| 1972–73 † | Eastern * | 3rd ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 57 | 25 | 695 | Won conference semifinals vs. Baltimore Bullets, 4–1 Won conference finals vs. Boston Celtics, 4–3 Won NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 4–1 † | Willis Reed (FMVP) | Red Holzman | |
| 1973–74 | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 49 | 33 | 598 | Won conference semifinals vs. Capital Bullets, 4–3 Lost conference finals to Boston Celtics, 4–1 | — | Red Holzman | |
| 1974–75 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 40 | 42 | 488 | Lost first round to Houston Rockets, 2–1 | Walt Frazier (ASG MVP) | Red Holzman | |
| 1975–76 | Eastern | 7th | Atlantic | 4th | 38 | 44 | 463 | — | — | Red Holzman | |
| 1976–77 | Eastern | 7th | Atlantic | 3rd | 40 | 42 | 488 | — | — | Red Holzman | |
| 1977–78 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 43 | 39 | 524 | Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 2–0 Lost conference semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–0 | — | Willis Reed | |
| 1978–79 | Eastern | 7th | Atlantic | 4th | 31 | 51 | 378 | — | — | Willis Reed Red Holzman | |
| 1979–80 | Eastern | 7th | Atlantic | 4th | 39 | 43 | 476 | — | — | Red Holzman | |
| 1980–81 | Eastern | 4th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 50 | 32 | 610 | Lost first round to Chicago Bulls, 2–0 | Mike Glenn (JWKC) | Red Holzman | |
| 1981–82 | Eastern | 10th | Atlantic | 5th | 33 | 49 | 402 | — | — | Red Holzman | |
| 1982–83 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 4th | 44 | 38 | 537 | Won first round vs. New Jersey Nets, 2–0 Lost conference semifinals to Philadelphia 76ers, 4–0 | — | Hubie Brown | |
| 1983–84 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 47 | 35 | 573 | Won first round vs. Detroit Pistons, 3–2 Lost conference semifinals to Boston Celtics, 4–3 | — | Hubie Brown | |
| 1984–85 | Eastern | 10th | Atlantic | 5th | 24 | 58 | 293 | — | — | Hubie Brown | |
| 1985–86 | Eastern | 11th | Atlantic | 5th | 23 | 59 | 280 | — | Patrick Ewing (ROY) Rory Sparrow (JWKC) | Hubie Brown | |
| 1986–87 | Eastern | 11th | Atlantic | 5th | 24 | 58 | 293 | — | — | Hubie Brown Bob Hill | |
| 1987–88 | Eastern | 8th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 38 | 44 | 463 | Lost first round to Boston Celtics, 3–1 | Mark Jackson (ROY) | Rick Pitino | |
| 1988–89 | Eastern | 2nd ¤ | Atlantic ^ | 1st ^ | 52 | 30 | 634 | Won first round vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 3–0 Lost conference semifinals to Chicago Bulls, 4–2 | — | Rick Pitino | |
| 1989–90 | Eastern | 5th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 45 | 37 | 549 | Won first round vs. Boston Celtics, 3–2 Lost conference semifinals to Detroit Pistons, 4–1 | — | Stu Jackson | |
| 1990–91 | Eastern | 8th ¤ | Atlantic | 3rd | 39 | 43 | 476 | Lost first round to Chicago Bulls, 3–0 | — | Stu Jackson John MacLeod | |
| 1991–92 | Eastern | 4th ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 51 | 31 | 622 | Won first round vs. Detroit Pistons, 3–2 Lost conference semifinals to Chicago Bulls, 4–3 | — | Pat Riley | |
| 1992–93 | Eastern | 1st ¤ | Atlantic ^ | 1st ^ | 60 | 22 | 732 | Won first round vs. Indiana Pacers, 3–1 Won conference semifinals vs. Charlotte Hornets, 4–1 Lost conference finals to Chicago Bulls, 4–2 | Pat Riley (COY) | Pat Riley | |
| 1993–94 | Eastern * | 2nd ¤ | Atlantic ^ | 1st ^ | 57 | 25 | 695 | Won first round vs. New Jersey Nets, 3–1 Won conference semifinals vs. Chicago Bulls, 4–3 Won conference finals vs. Indiana Pacers, 4–3 Lost NBA Finals to Houston Rockets, 4–3 * | — | Pat Riley | |
| 1994–95 | Eastern | 3rd ¤ | Atlantic | 2nd | 55 | 27 | 671 | Won first round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 3–1 Lost conference semifinals to Indiana Pacers, 4–3 | Anthony Mason (SIX) | Pat Riley | |
