For the first time in 27 years, the New York Knicks returned to the NBA Finals in 2026. While almost every NBA fan has heard of the team, due to being located in a large market, many question the full name of the team.
As it turns out, the term "knickerbocker" has a background encapsulated in history. The term actually ties all the way back to the 17th century, during the Dutch's inhabitance of New York.
Though the team mainly goes by "the Knicks" nowadays, some fans have wondered about the full team name's meaning.
Here's everything to know about the Knicks' full nickname, and how it came about.
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What is a Knickerbocker?
Believe it or not, the New York Knickerbockers have origins that trace back all the way to the area's Dutch settlement in the 1600s, according to the NBA. A "knickerbocker" refers to the traditional Dutch look, when wearing pants that were rolled up just below the knee.
These pants became known as "Knickerbockers," or "knickers," for short.
The word has alternate origins that tie it to New York. Author Washington Irving, who wrote under the pen name Diedrich Knickerbocker, described a "knickerbocker" as a native New Yorker who is able to trace their entire family history back to the original Dutch settlers in New York in his book, A History of New York.
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How Knicks got their nickname
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the "Knickerbocker" phrase became a symbol of the city. The image of a Knickerbocker entailed wearing a cotton wig, tri-corner hat, buckled shoes, and knickerbockers under the name, "Father Knickerbocker." Around the Empire State, numerous cultural facets used the term, including pen names, musicals, and even beers.
The term's first use in sports came in 1845. That year, Alexander Cartwright formed a baseball team named the "New York Knickerbockers" (also known as "Knickerbocker Nine"). The team even kept the Knickerbocker name despite moving to New Jersey the following year.
When Ned Irish founded the Knicks basketball team in 1946, a decision was made to call the team the "Knickerbockers."
"The name came out of a hat. We were all sitting in the office one day — Irish, [publicity man] Lester Scott, and a few others on the staff," former Madison Square Garden executive Fred Podesta once said, according to the NBA. "We each put a name in the hat, and when we pulled them out, most of them said Knickerbockers, after Father Knickerbocker, the symbol of New York City. It soon was shortened to Knicks."
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Knicks mascot history
The Knicks have never had a mascot, unlike many teams in sports today. Along with the New York franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Golden State Warriors are also without a cherished icon.
Despite not having a physical mascot, the Knicks did have a team image that featured an interpretation of a "knickerbocker" from 1946-64.
This is the only throwback logo that is the right answer. #Knickerbocker #AlwaysKnicks #NewYorkForever https://t.co/VedARcpyD4 pic.twitter.com/tDPhyVFghY
— Eric Kalet, MJ-LEL (Official Account) (@erickalet) June 3, 2026
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Father Knickerbocker
Father Knickerbocker was the name given to someone who mimicked the term. This often encapsulated wearing a cotton wig, tri-corner hat, buckled shoes, and knickerbockers under the name, "Father Knickerbocker."
In the early days of Dutch settlement in New York City, a knickerbocker was the icon of the city.
"We each put a name in the hat, and when we pulled them out, most of them said Knickerbockers, after Father Knickerbocker, the symbol of New York City," according to Podesta.