The 1987–88 New York Knicks season was the 42nd season for the team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Early in the season, the Knicks signed free agent and second-year forward Johnny Newman. The Knicks finished the regular season with a 38–44 record, and qualified for the 1988 NBA Playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, New York lost a best-of-five series to the Boston Celtics, 3–1. Following the season, Bill Cartwright was traded to the Chicago Bulls. First-round draft pick Mark Jackson was named Rookie of the Year. The season was the first in which the Knicks were coached by Rick Pitino, who had been hired after leading Providence to the Final Four of the 1987 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

Draft picks

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first round and notable post-first-round picks.

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Ragular season

Playoffs

† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Knicks only.

Awards and records

Transactions