This Bulls-Knicks Rivalry Isn't What It Used To Be

I'm old enough to remember when Bulls-Knicks meant something. I’m talking Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Oak vs. Rodman. Real basketball. Two teams that hated each other, clawing for every possession like their lives depended on it. What we’re seeing now? It’s not that.

The last few matchups have been... fine, I guess. The Bulls are 2-3 in their last five against the Knicks, which tells you all you need to know about the current state of affairs. Back in my day, 2-3 against your rival meant heads were rolling. Nowadays, it's just another line on the schedule.

Where's the Grit?

Look, the Bulls did get a 135-125 win over the Knicks on October 31, 2025. Josh Giddey had himself a night, dropping 32 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. Nikola Vucevic chipped in 26 points. Good numbers, sure. But did it feel like a rivalry game? Did anyone get called for a flagrant foul? Was there a single hard screen that made you wince?

It’s all offense, no defense. That 135-125 score? That's what happens when nobody plays a lick of defense. The 90s Bulls and Knicks would have held each other under 90 points, and it would have been a bloodbath. This current iteration feels more like an All-Star Game exhibition than a legitimate rivalry showdown.

Knicks Showed Some Fight, Barely

The Knicks did manage a 105-99 win on February 22, 2026. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 28 points and 11 rebounds for his 39th double-double. That’s a decent stat line, I’ll give him that. But outlasting the "sliding" Chicago Bulls? That doesn't exactly scream championship contender, does it? The Knicks won, but it wasn’t some statement victory over a juggernaut. It was a grind-it-out win against a team that’s struggling.

The Bulls have a 4-6 record in their last 10 games against the Knicks overall. That's mediocrity, folks. No passion, no fire. Just two teams playing basketball.

Here's the thing: you can have all the individual stats you want, Giddey's triple-double or Towns' double-double, but if the game doesn't have that edge, that palpable tension that made the 90s so great, then what are we really watching? It's just numbers on a box score. The NBA has gotten too soft, and these Bulls-Knicks games are proof.

I predict that by the end of the 2026-27 season, neither of these teams will make it past the second round of the playoffs, because they simply don't know how to play tough, championship-level basketball.