Editing New York Knicks (section)

===2003–2008: Isiah Thomas era===
[[File:Isiah Thomas 2007 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|150px|Isiah Thomas as coach of the Knicks in 2007. He stayed six years on the bench]]
After a 10–18 start to the 2003–04 season, the Knicks underwent a massive overhaul. [[Isiah Thomas]] was named the Knicks' president on December 22, 2003, upon the firing of [[Scott Layden]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Struggling Knicks fire Layden, hire Thomas as president |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/basketball/nba/12/22/knicks.layden.ap/index.html |magazine=Sports Illustrated |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=December 22, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104172601/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/basketball/nba/12/22/knicks.layden.ap/index.html |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Thomas continued to restructure the team, firing Chaney after an unproductive tenure and hiring Hall of Famer [[Lenny Wilkens]] to coach the team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chaney, Malone, Kruger fired; Wilkens hired |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1708761 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112221422/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1708761 |archive-date=November 12, 2011 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=January 15, 2004}}</ref> Additionally, Thomas orchestrated multiple trades, including one that brought [[point guard]] [[Stephon Marbury]] to the team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marbury lands with fourth team of career |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1700818 |publisher=ESPN |date=January 6, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028063814/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1700818 |archive-date=October 28, 2012 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The team qualified for the playoffs that year with a 39–43 record, but were swept by the [[New Jersey Nets]] in the first round.<ref name="Coaches galore">{{cite web |title=2003–04 New York Knicks Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2004.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=July 4, 2011 |archive-date=April 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416140439/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2004.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The series included a highly publicized spat between the Knicks' [[Tim Thomas (basketball)|Tim Thomas]] and Nets' [[Kenyon Martin]], in which Thomas all but challenged Martin to a fight and called him "Fugazy".<ref>{{cite web |title=Thomas: K-Mart's act is phony |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2004/news/story?id=1787142 |publisher=ESPN |date=April 22, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530202723/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2004/news/story?id=1787142 |archive-date=May 30, 2012 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The following season, the Knicks struggled to a 17–22 record before Wilkens resigned as head coach.<ref name="Wilkens out">{{Citation |title=Knicks' Wilkens Resigns; Williams Is Interim Coach |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/23/sports/basketball/23lenny.html |work=The New York Times |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=January 23, 2005 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131031838/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/23/sports/basketball/23lenny.html |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Herb Williams]], who had previously coached the team in a game against the [[Orlando Magic]] prior to the team hiring Wilkens, took over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season and did not fare much better as the Knicks ended their season with a 33–49 record and out of playoff contention.<ref name="Coaches galore"/><ref name="Wilkens out"/><ref>{{cite web |title=2004–05 New York Knicks Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2005.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=July 4, 2011 |archive-date=April 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420134226/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2005.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Hoping to find a leader that could put the team back on track, New York hired [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]] to coach the team.<ref name="What can Brown do for you?">{{Citation |title=Brown Is Set to Become Next Coach of Knicks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/27/sports/basketball/27knicks |work=The New York Times |author=Beck, Howard |date=July 27, 2005 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525094858/https://www.webcitation.org/5zwAVZjMt?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/27/sports/basketball/27knicks |archive-date=May 25, 2024 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Brown, who idolized the team during his childhood, was well regarded for his coaching abilities and his arrival brought a sense of hope to the franchise.<ref name="What can Brown do for you?"/> Hoping to find the next Patrick Ewing, the Knicks drafted center [[Channing Frye]] and signed centers [[Jerome James]] and [[Eddy Curry]], the former prior to the season and the latter during the season.<ref name="Centers">{{cite news |title=Bulls deal Curry after DNA test refusal |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2180298 |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=October 4, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107060932/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2180298 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Curry, who reportedly had a worrying heart condition, refused to take a controversial DNA test, and fell out of favor with [[John Paxson]], [[Chicago Bulls|Chicago]]'s general manager.<ref name="Isiah's Follies">{{cite web |title=Isiah's Folly: Why Curry trade makes little sense for NY |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/trainingcamp05/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&id=2182500&num=0 |publisher=ESPN |author=Hollinger, John |date=October 6, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107060948/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/trainingcamp05/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&id=2182500&num=0 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Bulls signed-and-traded him to the Knicks along with [[Antonio Davis]] for Tim Thomas, [[Michael Sweetney]], the Knicks' 2006 first-round pick, and the right to swap first-round picks with the Knicks in 2007, as well as 2007 and 2009 second-round picks.<ref name="Isiah's Follies"/> Isiah Thomas did not lottery-protect the picks, and the Knicks forfeited the second pick in the [[2006 NBA draft|2006 draft]], and the ninth in the [[2007 NBA draft|2007 draft]]. With a bloated payroll, the Knicks stumbled to the second worst record in the NBA that season, at 23–59.<ref name="05-06 struggles">{{cite web |title=Knicks fire Brown, name Thomas new coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2496106 |publisher=ESPN |date=June 23, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011184816/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2496106 |archive-date=October 11, 2011 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Past Prime">{{cite magazine |title=Past their prime |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jay_mohr/02/14/mohr.sports/ |magazine=Sports Illustrated |author=Mohr, Jay |date=February 15, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104172646/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jay_mohr/02/14/mohr.sports/ |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=May 20, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The season concluded with the firing and $18.5 million buy-out of head coach Larry Brown after one season.<ref name="05-06 struggles"/><ref>{{cite web |title=The Knicks Paid Larry Brown $18.5 Million To Go Away |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/2561/the-knicks-paid-larry-brown-18-5-million-to-go-away |publisher=ESPN |date=November 9, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107040140/http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/2561/the-knicks-paid-larry-brown-18-5-million-to-go-away |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Stephon Marbury.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|Marbury, a Brooklyn native, played for the Knicks from 2004 to 2009.]]
With the departure of Brown, team president Isiah Thomas took over the head coaching responsibilities.<ref name="05-06 struggles"/> Thomas continued his practice of signing players to high-priced contracts while the franchise struggled to capitalize on their talent on the court. As a testament to their struggles, on December 16, 2006, the Knicks and the [[Denver Nuggets]] broke into [[Knicks–Nuggets brawl|a brawl]] during their game in [[Madison Square Garden]]. With multiple players still serving a suspension as a result of the brawl, on December 20, 2006, [[David Lee (basketball)|David Lee]] created one of the most memorable plays in recent Knicks history, and served as a bright spot as the team's struggles persisted, during a game against the [[Charlotte Bobcats]]. With a tie game and 0.1 seconds left on the [[game clock (sports)|game clock]] in double [[Overtime (sports)|overtime]], [[Jamal Crawford]] inbounded from the sideline, near half-court. The ball sailed towards the basket, and with that 0.1 seconds still remaining on the game clock, Lee tipped the ball off of the backboard and into the hoop.<ref name="The Dim Bright Light">{{Citation |title=Knicks go OT again, nip Bobcats |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/games/2006-12-20-knicks-bobcats-2OT_x.htm?csp=34 |work=USA Today |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=December 21, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305170048/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/games/2006-12-20-knicks-bobcats-2OT_x.htm?csp=34 |archive-date=March 5, 2009 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Because of the [[Trent Tucker Rule]], a player is allowed solely to tip the ball to score when the ball is put back into play with three-tenths of a second or less remaining. Because of this rule, the rarity of Lee's play increases. The Knicks won, 111–109 in double overtime.<ref name="The Dim Bright Light"/> The Knicks improved by ten games in the 2006–2007 campaign in spite of injuries that ravaged the team at the end of the year; they ended with a 33–49 record, avoiding a 50-loss season by defeating the Charlotte Bobcats 94–93 on the last day of the season.

During the 2007 off-season, the organization became embroiled in further controversy away from the basketball court. [[Anucha Browne Sanders]], a former Knicks executive, had filed a [[sexual harassment]] [[lawsuit]] against Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden.<ref>{{cite news |title=I. Thomas Is Sued for Harassment |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/24/AR2006012401792.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 25, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103091446/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/24/AR2006012401792.html |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Faced with a trial, the jury returned a verdict finding Thomas and Madison Square Garden liable for sexual harassment.<ref name="Harassment lawsuit">{{cite web |title=MSG, Thomas settle lawsuit with compensatory damages looming |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3149371 |publisher=ESPN |date=December 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025063448/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3149371 |archive-date=October 25, 2011 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The jury also levied $11.6 million in [[punitive damages]] against Madison Square Garden, though this was later reduced to $11.5 million in a settlement between both parties.<ref name="Harassment lawsuit"/> The ordeal proved embarrassing for the franchise, revealing sordid details about Knicks management and the environment at Madison Square Garden.<ref name="Harassment lawsuit"/> The Knicks struggled as they opened their 2007 campaign with a 2–9 record leaving many Knicks fans, frustrated with the franchise's lack of progress under Thomas, called for the coach's firing—the chant "Fire Isiah" became a common occurrence during the Knicks' home games.<ref>{{cite web |title=2007–08 New York Knicks Schedule and Results |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2008.html |publisher=Basketball Reference |access-date=July 5, 2011 |archive-date=July 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704062525/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/2008.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Counted Out, Knicks Show Their Resolve |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/sports/basketball/01knicks.html |work=The New York Times |author=Beck, Howard |date=December 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605034348/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/sports/basketball/01knicks.html |archive-date=June 5, 2015 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On November 29, 2007, the Knicks were handed one of their worst defeats in their history by the [[Boston Celtics]], with a final score of 104–59.<ref name="Sorrow at TD">{{cite news |title=Celtics end Knicks' brief winning streak with colossal romp |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=271129002 |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=November 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519092717/http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=271129002 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This matched their third-largest margin of defeat.<ref name="Sorrow at TD"/> New York went on to post an eighth consecutive losing season and tied the franchise mark for their worst record ever, at 23–59.<ref name="Franchise index"/>