The team is a member of the American Rivers Conference as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Wartburg men's basketball began in 1935, under head coach Elmer Hertel.

During his tenure he would led the Knights to 14 IIAC regular season titles, 9 of which would come in a row from 1967 to 1975.

[5] They would go on to reach the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, upsetting #10 Benedictine College and #4 UW-River Falls in the first and second rounds.

[8] Sam Leal was announced as the 13th head men's basketball coach in Wartburg history on May 1, 2024.