As of January 2025, I am serving as a freelance sports writer for Delfi, the largest news outlet in Lithuania. In accordance with our agreement, I have the right to republish articles originally published in Lithuanian on my personal blog in the English language. This article, A Headbutt and a Stolen TV: Epic History of Knicks vs Pacers Rivalry, is one such piece.
Author’s note: if you’ve been following me for quite some time, I’m sure you already know that rivalries is one of the main topics of Play of Values. So much, that I invented I rivalry meter, showed what’s the difference between a rivalry and a derby, did my first podcast episode about Psychology behind Rivalries, and have been talking about iconic rivalries such as Bird vs Magic, Messi vs Ronaldo, or following where the Clark vs Reese rivalry gets us.
It’s hard to believe, but one of the most iconic NBA teams—New York Knicks—is back in the Eastern Conference Finals after a 25-year break. And the irony? Waiting for them is the same rival: the Indiana Pacers. These are the two teams whose clashes in the ’90s became one of the NBA’s fiercest rivalries. Reggie Miller vs Patrick Ewing. Miller’s theatrical showdowns with Spike Lee. Emotionally charged playoff series that were way more than just basketball—they were pure sports drama.
It’s hard to believe, but one of the most iconic NBA teams—the New York Knicks—is returning to the Eastern Conference Finals after a 25-year hiatus. Ironically, awaiting them is the same opponent—the Indiana Pacers. These two teams’ clashes in the 1990s became one of the NBA’s greatest rivalries. The duels between Reggie Miller and Patrick Ewing, Miller’s performances against Spike Lee, and the emotionally charged finals were more than just basketball—they were top-tier sports drama.
Let’s revisit or discover the times when Michael Jordan dominated the NBA, when the playoffs were a war, and basketball was physical and tough. In that decade, one of the most heated rivalries was precisely between the Knicks and the Pacers. Not just because of the results, but because these series were filled with hatred, theatrics, and stories that still live on in the memory of every long-time NBA fan.
This is perfectly illustrated by last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals between these teams. Reggie Miller himself was commentating the game at Madison Square Garden, and the entire arena chanted in unison: “Fuck you, Reggie.”
John Starks’ Headbutt on Reggie Miller – The Beginning of the Knicks vs Pacers rivalry
The first historic playoff meeting between the Knicks and Pacers occurred in the first round of the 1993 playoffs. New York was the favorite, while Indiana was still searching for its identity. However, one moment laid the foundation for this rivalry’s beginning—John Starks’ headbutt on Reggie Miller.
Before their first matchup, Miller wanted to greet Starks, but Starks refused to extend his hand. At that moment, as Miller later recalled in the documentary “Winning Time,” everything changed:
“I went to greet him, and he refused. I didn’t understand why. I had no issues with him. But then I thought—I won’t forget this. From now on, my mission is to humiliate you.”
And, of course, Miller succeeded. In the third game of the series, with the Pacers on the brink of elimination, Miller began to play not just with the ball but with his words. He disrupted Starks’ rhythm, provoked him, whispered everything that could boil his blood.
In the fourth quarter, after yet another provocation, Starks snapped—he headbutted Miller in the forehead. Miller, of course, helped sell the foul theatrically—falling as if hit by a train.
“It didn’t hurt,” said Miller. “But I thought—I’ll milk this. I’ll act like I was hit by a tank.”
Indiana won the game. The series—Knicks. But after this episode, there were no more “ordinary” games between these teams, it created the Knicks vs Pacers rivalry. Every match became an emotional bomb, and Miller—not just a sharpshooter, but the NBA’s brightest antihero.
Reggie Miller vs. Spike Lee: When a Sharpshooter “Choked” All of New York
In 1994, these teams, thanks to Jordan’s retirement from basketball, met at the peak of tension—the Eastern Conference Finals. Naturally, not only players but also fans began to get involved in this rivalry, including the famous director Spike Lee.
Lee—the most famous Knicks fan—was sitting in the front row that fateful Game 5 night. All his attention was directed at Miller—provocations, facial expressions, remarks. As Miller later said: “Spike became part of the game.”
For three quarters, the Knicks controlled the game and led confidently—70:58. But then Miller hits a three-pointer—and realizes that tonight might be his night.
And so it was; in the fourth quarter, Miller scored 25 points! The Knicks’ offense stalled, and the MSG atmosphere became uneasy. As the ball swished through the net again, Miller turned to Lee and shouted—“Choke!” while making a choking gesture.
That night, Miller didn’t just close the court—he silenced the entire city. The Pacers won 93:86, took a 3:2 series lead, and Miller officially became the most hated man in New York.
This marks the moment when this rivalry became more than just sports, and Reggie vs. Spike became an NBA cultural canon.
Another Reggie Miller Show: 8 Points in 9 Seconds
Yes, you read that correctly. Eight points in nine seconds. That’s all Miller needed to crush New York’s hopes in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals. And all this in the legendary Madison Square Garden arena.
Indiana was trailing 99:105. 18.7 seconds remained. Everyone thought the game was over. Except for Miller, who decided that one quick three-pointer could turn the game upside down.
And the show began. Mark Jackson, a former Knicks player, passed the ball to Miller—one step, one shot—105:102.
The next episode is worthy of a movie script. The Knicks make a mistake inbounding the ball, and Miller is already there. He steals the pass, steps back behind the three-point line, and it’s tied—105:105.
The entire Garden arena is frozen. But the drama isn’t over. Starks steps to the free-throw line—misses. Ewing grabs the ball but also misses. Who grabs the next rebound? Of course—Miller.
He draws a foul, steps to the free-throw line. Two points. 107:105.
That night, the Knicks lost not only the game but also the belief that winning this series was possible. And Miller? That night, becoming New York’s nightmare, cemented his legend so deeply that Madison Square Garden still remembers him as persona non grata.
Jalen Rose and the Stolen Patrick Ewing TV
Author’s note: This is by far one of my favorite NBA stories.
This story elevates the Knicks vs Pacers rivalry to another level, where we begin to see moments worthy of comedy. And the main character of this story—a then-up-and-coming NBA player Jalen Rose, who quickly grasped the importance of these clashes.
During the 1999 season, he had already encountered Ewing, getting into a physical altercation, and later played a prank that became etched in NBA history.
During the playoffs, after a tense game, Rose spotted a silver suitcase at the airport labeled “Patrick Ewing.” Driven by curiosity, he opened the suitcase and found a TV with an integrated VHS player, which at the time was a luxury.
Without hesitation, Rose called a friend who helped him load the TV into a car and simply stole from Ewing.
2000: The Last Finals and Reggie Miller’s Swan Song
For many years, the Indiana Pacers were like a shadow chasing the New York Knicks. In the 1990s, these teams met in the playoffs six times—four of which the Knicks won. But the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals changed everything.
Finally, after years of disappointments and legendary dramas—the 34-year-old Miller-led team overcame the psychological barrier and reached the NBA Finals.
This series wasn’t just physical—it was an emotional battle. Especially for Miller, who had endured nearly a decade of losses against the New York team and the same fans who annually greeted him with boos at Madison Square Garden.
This time, the Knicks were already without Ewing, and Indiana closed the series 4:2, winning Game 6 precisely in New York. Miller scored 34 points, including several critical fourth-quarter shots. After the final whistle, he jumped onto the scorer’s table, looking at the crowd that had hated him for so long.
It was an emotional culmination not only for him but for the entire Pacers organization.
Unfortunately, in the NBA Finals, they faced another giant—the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant-led Lakers team. Despite hard-fought games, especially Miller’s efforts, Indiana lost the series 2:4.
Will the Rivalry Renew?
So, 25 years later, the Eastern Conference Finals once again feature two teams whose head-to-head battles occupy a separate chapter in NBA history—the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers.
Although today’s rosters lack icons like Miller or Ewing, this rivalry still adds extra excitement for basketball fans.
This series isn’t just a battle for a spot in the NBA Finals. It’s a test that will show whether modern players can inspire the same passion that breathed life into the late ’90s. Will Jalen Brunson become the new Madison Square Garden king? Will Tyrese Haliburton make New York hate Indiana anew?
One thing is clear—this series will be different. It carries historical weight that can’t be measured by statistics alone. And very soon, we’ll find out if it was worth waiting a quarter of a century to witness this rivalry’s rebirth.
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Rivalry Meter
Let’s test this legendary and iconic rivalry with our rivalry meter, to fully understand the scale of this phenomenon. Read the full article here about how I came up with this measurement.
Note: The “Rivalry Meter” evaluation is done with a trained AI model.
| Category | Trait | Score (0–10) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitive & Contextual Factors | Frequency of Encounters | 9 | Faced each other six times in the NBA Playoffs between 1993–2000, including multiple Eastern Conference Finals. |
| Competitive Balance (Parity) | 9 | Both teams traded series wins with no clear dominance, maintaining tension throughout the rivalry. | |
| Key Moments and Defining Events | 10 | From Reggie Miller’s 8 points in 9 seconds to intense Game 7 battles, the rivalry produced iconic NBA moments. | |
| Perceived Injustice & Unfairness | 7 | While not marred by scandal, the rivalry was seen as dirty and emotional, with constant tension and borderline physicality. | |
| Fan Perceptions & Identity Factors | Identity Threat and Group Cohesion | 9 | The rivalry united fanbases around team identity—New York’s grit vs. Indiana’s fight-for-respect attitude. |
| Bidirectionality (Mutual Rivalry) | 10 | Reggie Miller openly embraced the Knicks as his enemy, while Knicks fans viewed him as public enemy number one. | |
| Cultural Similarities and Differences | 10 | A clash of worlds—cosmopolitan NYC vs. small-market Indiana, amplified by contrasting personalities like Reggie and Spike Lee. | |
| Emotional Engagement Factors | Intensity of Fan Emotion (Rivalry Points) | 10 | Few rivalries evoked more raw emotion. Fans were obsessed, anxious, and deeply invested in every possession. |
| Positive Enjoyment vs. Negative Aggression | 9 | The drama was captivating, though the rivalry occasionally boiled over into near-violence and emotional chaos. | |
| External Influence Factors | Star Power and Media Amplification | 9 | Reggie Miller, Patrick Ewing, and Spike Lee turned this rivalry into a media event. Game narratives dominated headlines. |
| Geographical Proximity and Accessibility | 7 | While not neighboring cities, the East Coast vs. Heartland contrast made for a compelling cultural and symbolic rivalry. | |
| Economic Impact Factors | Attendance & Sponsorship Impact | 9 | The rivalry boosted TV ratings, arena attendance, and franchise visibility—especially in the booming 90s NBA market. |
Rivalry Meter Score: Legendary
Total Points: 108/120
Final Score (Percentage): 90%
Summary: The Knicks vs. Pacers rivalry reaches a Legendary status on the Rivalry Meter, with 108 out of 120 points. Born in the gritty trenches of 1990s playoff basketball, this rivalry combined elite competition, unforgettable moments (like Reggie’s 8 in 9), personal vendettas, and deep cultural contrasts. It wasn’t just basketball—it was drama, theatre, and identity warfare between two franchises, two cities, and two mindsets. New York’s chaos vs. Indiana’s chip-on-the-shoulder grit—this was basketball’s version of a street brawl dressed in playoff suits.
