10 Best Player Performances At Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden, the home of the New York Knicks, is described to be the mecca of basketball. Every NBA player loves to play there and put on a show. The world is watching, and they know it.

This is why New York is always in the top 10 of home attendance every season, despite the Knicks having a terrible team for the last decade plus. It’s also why, as of last season, the Knicks were valued as the most valuable NBA team at $5.8 billion.

Since players love to play in New York and put on a show, we at Fadeaway World decided to look into the top 10 performances by a player at Madison Square Garden. So, without future ado, here are the top 10 performances at Madison Square Garden.

Honorable Mention

Stephen Curry

Stats: 54 Points, 6 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 3 Steals

February 27, 2013: New York Knicks vs. Golden State Warriors 109-104

To start things off, we’ll talk about our honorable mention. This performance misses out on our list, but it’s still so good we had to mention it.

For this performance, we bring you the most polarizing player in today’s game… Stephen Curry. The “Baby Faced Assassin” changed the game of basketball to what we know it as today.

Curry’s long ball shooting has inspired everyone, including centers, to let it fly from behind the arc. By the 2012-13 season, Curry was in his third season, averaging a then-career-high 22.9 points per game. 

Curry wasn’t quite the player we know him as today in 2013. In a way, Curry’s performance in Madison Square Garden was his preview to the NBA world of what was soon to come. 

Curry dominated the Knicks, scoring 54 points on 18-28 shooting and an incredible 11-13 from three. The “Splash Brother” also added 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals.

The reason why Curry’s performance is not on the list is the simple fact his team lost the game. The Knicks held on to defeat Curry’s Warriors 109-105.

10. Bernard King

Stats: 60 Points, 7 Rebounds, 4 Assists

December 25, 1984: New York Knicks vs. New Jersey Nets 114-120

Bernard King was the literal “King of New York” back in the 1980s. His scoring ability brought excitement to the city of New York that they hadn’t seen since their championship years with Willis Reed and Walt Frazier.

On Christmas Day, 1984, King put on a show for his hometown fans. King scored a then Madison Square Garden record 60 points on 19-30 shooting. He also went 22-26 from the free-throw line.

The problem was the Knicks still lost the game, despite King’s epic performance. The Knicks lost 120-114 to the New Jersey Nets. This would be the high in King’s career, as things would change on March 23, 1985.

King suffered a severe knee injury, tearing both his ACL and knee cartilage while suffering a broken leg bone. This occurred in a game against the Kansas City Kings.

Still, King’s 60-point game lives in the memories of lifelong Knicks fans’ heads. If the Knicks would’ve won the game, King’s performance would’ve been ranked higher.

9. Rajon Rondo

Stats: 15 Points, 11 Rebounds, 20 Assists, 2 Steals

April 22, 2011: New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics 96-113

The NBA playoffs are when the games matter the most. To put up a historic performance against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in the playoffs is a surefire way to land in our top 10 list.

This is what Rajon Rondo did in Game 3 of his Celtics’ first-round matchup against the Knicks in the 2011 NBA playoffs. Rondo recorded only the fourth playoff triple-double at Madison Square Garden when he put up 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 20 assists.

The Celtics were looking to make a push to get back to the NBA Finals after losing to Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers in the previous season. After two close victories in Boston, the series shifted to New York for Game 3.

The Knicks wanted to get on the board with a win, but Rondo had other ideas. Before becoming the perfect role player next to LeBron James on the Lakers to help LA win the bubble championship, Rondo was a top guard in the league who was a constant triple-double threat.

Rondo lived up to that reputation when he dropped his massive triple-double in the Garden, silencing the crowd as the Celtics walked away with the 113-96 victory. To this date, Rondo’s performance is still one of the best all-around playoff games we’ve seen by a player at Madison Square Garden in the playoffs.

8. Michael Jordan

Stats: 55 Points, 4 Rebounds, 2 Assists, 1 Steal

March 28, 1995: New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls 111-113

Michael Jordan shocked the entire world when he retired after winning his third straight title. When Jordan announced his comeback in March 1995, he shocked the world once more.

Jordan’s first three games back weren’t the best, as he struggled to shoot the ball. Things got better in his fourth game back when he scored 32 points and hit the game-winner against the Atlanta Hawks.

Jordan’s fifth game back, which was March 28, 1995, would be MJ’s official return to the NBA. The Chicago Bulls were in New York to play the Knicks, and you just knew Jordan wanted to put on a show in his return to Madison Square Garden.

Jordan went off on New York, scoring 55 points on 21-37 shooting, including 3-4 from three. MJ also added 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. The Bulls won 113-111 on a game-winning assist by Jordan to Bill Wennington.

Michael Jordan was back, he was in New York, and most importantly, he was a winner.

7. LeBron James

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_-_WDyjTgM

Stats: 52 Points, 9 Rebounds, 11 Assists, 2 Blocks

February 4, 2009: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 102-107

LeBron James is currently in his 20th NBA season, and he’s still dominating the game of basketball. Back in 2009, LeBron was young and just coming into his prime.

When February 4, 2009, came around, LeBron was looking to put on a show in Madison Square Garden. This is especially true since Kobe Bryant put on an all-time great performance in the Garden just two days earlier (more on that later).

LeBron was looking to get his Cavs back to the Finals after shocking the world by leading his squad there in 2007. The Cavaliers came into the game with an impressive 38-9 record, and their win total would only grow.

The Cavs defeated the Knicks 107-102 as LeBron gave Madison Square Garden one of the best all-around games New York has ever seen. LeBron scored 52 points on 17-33 shooting while adding 9 rebounds and 11 assists.

King James may have missed the triple-double by one rebound, but it didn’t matter. LeBron’s performance was good enough to land as the sixth-best performance in Madison Square Garden history.

6. Reggie Miller

Stats: 39 Points, 0 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 1 Steal

June 1, 1994: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers 86-93

If there’s one thing that is true to say, it’s that Reggie Miller was the “Knick Killer” back in the 1990s. Miller seemed to hit every big shot against the Knicks, especially in New York.

When the bright lights of Madison Square Garden shined down on Miller, he rose to the occasion to bring fans many memorable moments. For this list, the moment we picked of Miller was his incredible fourth-quarter explosion to lead the Pacers to a victory over the Knicks in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.

Miller was having a quiet game with only 14 points after three quarters. His Pacers looked slow and out of it, and it showed on the scoreboard as the Pacers trailed the Knicks by 12 to start the fourth quarter.

Then, one of the greatest playoff performances occurred. Miller went bonkers in the fourth quarter, hitting shot after shot and looking at Knicks superfan Spike Lee the entire time.

In the end, Miller scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to bring his total to 39 points in the game. Miller shot 7-9 from the field in the fourth and 5-5 from three. Miller’s five made three-pointers tied a record for made threes in a quarter at the time.

The Pacers won the game 93-86 and took a 3-2 lead in the series. Reggie showed the entire world what “Miller Time” meant, but could he keep it up to win the series?

5. Patrick Ewing

Stats: 24 Points, 22 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 1 Steal, 5 Blocks

June 5, 1994: New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers 94-90

What’d you think? We would keep Patrick Ewing off our list? No way. Ewing was the face of the franchise from the time he was drafted in 1985.

Some claim Ewing is the G.O.A.T. of the Knicks, while some don’t since he never led the Knicks to a title. But Ewing’s performance, which lands on our list in the number four spot, led New York to its first Finals berth in 21 years.

The same series that saw Reggie Miller score 25 points in the fourth quarter brings up this gem of a game by Ewing. It was Game 7 in Madison Square Garden; the winner gets a chance to play in the NBA Finals.

In the past, the Knicks always came up short, usually to Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls. With Jordan out of the league from retiring, it appeared the championship was Ewing and the Knicks’ destiny.

Game 7 was a hard-fought game, with both teams laying everything out on the court. At the end of the game, Ewing came up big with a put-back dunk with 26.9 seconds left to secure the Knicks’ victory and a trip to the NBA Finals.

Ewing recorded a stat line of 24 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 blocks. This was Ewing’s finest performance, and a huge Game 7 victory to send the Knicks to the Finals places Ewing at our number four spot.

4. Kobe Bryant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6Ejde5tBwI

Stats: 61 Points, 0 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 1 Block

February 2, 2009: New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers 117-126

Bernard King set the record for the most points scored at Madison Square Garden when he scored 60 in 1984. In 2009, the “Black Mamba” broke that record when he scored 61 points.

Remember LeBron James’ Madison Square Garden game that made this list? I mentioned his game came two days after an incredible Kobe Bryant performance… This is that game.

Kobe scored from all over the floor, seemingly at ease. The game was close for most of the game until late in the fourth when the Lakers ran away with the game.

The Lakers won 126-117 behind Kobe’s 61 points. Kobe shot 19-31 from the field and 3-6 from three. Kobe set the Madison Square Garden scoring record, but will it be broken?

3. James Harden

Stats: 61 Points, 15 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 5 Steals

January 23, 2019: New York Knicks vs. Houston Rockets 110-114

James Harden is an incredible scorer, like Kobe Bryant. And like Kobe, Harden dropped 61 points on the Knicks in the Garden. The difference is Harden added 15 rebounds, and 5 steals to his statline.

The game saw each team go on runs, and just when it looked like one team was going to run away with the game, the other team stormed back into the game. This is where Harden came in; he was the difference maker.

Harden did not have the best shooting night, he only shot 17-38 from the field and 5-20 from three. Still, Harden made some clutch baskets to help the Rockets secure the victory. 

Harden did shoot an incredible 22-25 from the free-throw line to score his 61 points. This performance becomes extra special when you dive deeper into Harden’s stats.

Harden recorded the first 60-point triple-double in NBA history. So yes, James Harden deserves his spot on our list, as he did deliver one of the greatest performances witnessed at Madison Square Garden.

2. Carmelo Anthony

Stats: 62 Points, 13 Rebounds

January 24, 2014: New York Knicks vs. Charlotte Bobcats 125-96

There’s no way we could not have added Carmelo Anthony’s performance to our list. Anthony was the Knicks’ last true star player, and what he achieved in this game ranks him at number one at Madison Square Garden.

Yes, Anthony’s 62 points is the record for the most points scored at the Garden, and Anthony led the Knicks to a dominant 125-96 victory. Anthony shot 23-35 from the field, 6-11 from three, and 10-10 from the free-throw line.

Anthony grabbed 13 rebounds to go along with his 62 points, but he did not record a single assist, steal, or block. Still, Anthony’s performance had the fans at the Garden on their feet, and setting the MSG record, is good enough for second on our list.

1. Walt Frazier

Stats: 36 Points, 7 Rebounds, 19 Assists

May 8, 1970: New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers 113-99

How can you top a performance that set the scoring record in Madison Square Garden? By putting on a dominant performance that earned the New York Knicks their first NBA championship, that’s how.

That’s what Walt Frazier accomplished back in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. The thing about that Game 7 was Willis Reed took all the attention.

Reed suffered a torn thigh muscle in Game 5, missed Game 6, and was expected to miss Game 7. Of course, Reed would play as he surprised everyone in the Garden when he walked out of the tunnel.

Reed hit the first two shots of the game for the Knicks, and that was all he scored in the game. Still, he gets the credit for playing and inspiring his teammates.

The problem is no one remembers the performance that Walt Frazier delivered. So, we’ll dive into it here and explain why Fraizer’s performance lands at our top spot.

The Lakers were a dominant team, with Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, and Elgin Baylor. In Game 7, it didn’t matter who the Lakers had on their team.

Frazier dominated LA, scoring 36 points on 12-17 shooting and 12-12 free-throw shooting. He also added 7 rebounds and 19 assists in the game.

Frazier’s performance led the New York Knicks to their first championship in franchise history. This is why Frazier is in our number one spot, but the funny thing is, Frazier didn’t win the Finals MVP.

The award was given to Willis Reed, but without Walt Frazier, the Knicks would not have won the championship. The ultimate goal for an NBA player is to win a championship for their team, and Frazier delivered on that goal.

There you have it, the top 10 performances by players at Madison Square Garden. No matter how bad the Knicks may be, MSG will always be the mecca of basketball. 

Of course, the Knicks have a decent team this year, and maybe we’ll see one of their players have a performance that will land on our list. And if the Knicks players can’t deliver on that, maybe one of their opponents will put on a show where the lights shine the brightest, in Madison Square Garden.

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