[1] During the offseason, the Knicks signed All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo in free agency.
[3][4] Knicks fans would get their wish as Layden was fired and replaced by former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas.
[4][5] In January, the Knicks traded Antonio McDyess and Charlie Ward to the Phoenix Suns for All-Star guard Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway.
[9] With a 39–43 record, which placed them third in the Atlantic Division, the Knicks qualified for the NBA playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.
[14] Longtime Knicks play-by-play announcer Marv Albert was not retained by the MSG Network, having criticized poor play by the team on-air.