Voor mijn Nederlandse vrienden! ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฑ Where the Knicks get the orange & blue!
The New York Knicksโ colorsโprimarily blue and orange (with white)โare the official colors of New York City, chosen to reflect the teamโs deep ties to the cityโs history.017
When the Knicks (short for Knickerbockers) were founded in 1946, their name already nodded to New Yorkโs Dutch colonial roots (from Washington Irvingโs stories about early Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam, later New York). The colors followed the same theme: they come directly from the Princeโs Flag (or Dutch Republic flag) of the 17th century, which featured orange, white, and blue. These colors were carried over into New York Cityโs official flag and traditions.110
โขOrange represents the Dutch royal family (the House of Orange) and energy/enthusiasm.
โขBlue symbolizes trust, stability, and the sea (common in Dutch maritime history).
โขThe combination appears on the NYC flag (blue, white, and orange stripes with a central seal) and ties into broader New York heritage, including the state flag.7
The Knicks have stuck with these colors for nearly their entire history (with a brief exception in the early 1980s when they experimented with maroon). Their uniforms and branding explicitly honor this civic connection, making the team a visual embodiment of New York itselfโmuch like how the Mets also use similar hues.11
In short, itโs not random or just for visual pop (though blue and orange are complementary colors); itโs a deliberate link to the cityโs founding Dutch legacy from 1625 onward. This is why youโll see Knicks fans and even city landmarks lighting up in blue and orange during big games.