The New York Knicks are one of the most amazing franchises, especially because of their passionate fan base. Although the franchise has won only two NBA titles and hasn’t done anything remarkable since the late 1990s, it still holds plenty of relevance. The players get a lot of love and praise from the fans, even after retirement. There have been many incredible players in the team’s history who have great memories associated with their time in the franchise. In this article, we will have a look at the 10 best players in the history of the Knicks.
10) Allan Houston
Houston was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 1993 NBA draft and played three seasons with them. After this, he signed as a free agent with the Knicks and became the face of the franchise in the early 2000s. His scoring abilities helped him become the top player for the franchise. “H20” made two All-Star appearances with the Knicks and was a player who led the Knicks during some of their postseason runs. When New York made it to the 1999 NBA finals, Houston was the face of the franchise and that was the pinnacle of his NBA career. He played nine seasons with the franchise and retired from the sport in 2005.
9) Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley is one of those great players who was part of the team when they won their last NBA championship. He was a key player on the team’s roster during their championship runs in 1970 and 1973. In a decade with the Knicks, Bradley made one All-Star appearance before the roster expanded and his jersey was retired by the franchise. He became a successful politician after retiring from the sport.
8) Charles Oakley
Oakley was the 9th overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1985 NBA Draft but was soon traded to the Chicago Bulls. After playing three seasons with them, Oakley was traded to the New York Knicks, and he spent a decade with this franchise. “Oak Tree” made only one All-Star team and never averaged more than 15 points in his career, but he was still an all-time great Knicks’ player. The franchise’s fans loved his style of tough play and great defense. The Knicks had some chances for a title with Oakley as a top-three player, even if they never advanced.
7) Carmelo Anthony
After spending eight seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks. He became the face of the franchise and made the All-Star game every season he played during his stint with the Knicks. “Melo” helped the team reach the second round of the playoffs with a weak roster. The lack of wins was the only downside to Anthony’s time with the Knicks, but it was mostly out of his control.
6) Bernard King
Bernard King spent five seasons with the New York Knicks and he was at the peak of his career during that time. He made all four All-Star appearances of his career with the Knicks. He once led the league in scoring with an impressive average of 32.9 points per game. Despite the ups and downs of his time in the franchise, King made the Knicks a great deal. His run ended due to an injury.
5) Earl Monroe
Earl Monroe became a big part of the New York Knicks after getting traded from the Baltimore Bullets. He helped the Knicks acquire another needed piece to win the 1973 NBA Championship. “The Pearl” had many ups and downs during the rest of his tenure, but he spent the rest of his time in the NBA with the Knicks. Monroe ensured that the franchise continued to win while adding new chapters to his legacy.
4) Dave DeBusschere
Dave DeBusschere spent the first half of his NBA career with the Detroit Pistons and then joined the New York Knicks in 1968. He was a huge contributor to the success of the franchise throughout his stint. Dave made six All-Star appearances for the Knicks when they were at their greatest strength. The Knicks won both of their NBA championships in the early 1970s, with Dave as a big part of the roster.
3) Patrick Ewing
Ewing began his NBA career with the New York Knicks and spent 15 seasons with the franchise. He was drafted as the savior of the franchise and quickly led them to relevance. The Knicks were title contenders for several years with back-to-back great regular seasons, largely thanks to “Hoya Destroya.” Unfortunately, he played in the same era as Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon, never winning a title.
2) Willis Reed
Willis Reed was selected by the New York Knicks in the 1964 NBA draft. He spent his entire career with the franchise and helped them win the NBA title in 1970 and 1973. “The Captain” was the NBA Finals MVP in both of the Knicks’ title wins. The New York fan base has a lot of respect and admiration for Reed for spending his entire illustrious career with the franchise. He remains the only player to win regular-season MVP or Finals MVP as a member of the Knicks.
1) Walt Frazier
Walt Frazier was the fifth overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 1967 NBA draft. He spent a whole decade with the franchise. Even though Willis Reed won both NBA Finals MVPs, many fans saw “Clyde” as the heart of both championship rosters. He was an incredible player on and off the court, with seven All-Star appearances. Knicks considered him to be the face of the franchise and this extended to his post-playing career.
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