Pat Riley coached basketball.
The 2012 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2011 -- 12 season of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) , and the conclusion of the season 's playoffs . National Basketball Association . It has 30 teams ( 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada ) , and is an active member of USA Basketball ( USAB ) , which is recognized by FIBA ( also known as the International Basketball Federation ) as the national governing body for basketball in the United States . The New York Knickerbockers , commonly referred to as the Knicks , are an American professional basketball team based in New York City . Pat Riley . In 1996 , he was named one of the 10 Greatest Coaches in the NBA history .