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One of the original founding teams of the NBA in 1946, the New York Knicks are one of the biggest franchises in the league. They play their home games at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.
The Knickerbockers were very successful during their early years in the league, making the playoffs in ten straight seasons from 1946 to 1956. They even made it into three straight NBA Finals from 1951 to 1953 but failed to win a title.
After a pretty rough stretch in the late 50s and the entire 60s, the Knicks had their golden years in the 1970s as they won their only two NBA championships. Since then, the Knicks had not won a title but have been a consistent playoff team during the Patrick Ewing era.
Bad management has resulted in the Knicks being a laughing stock for about two decades now. Nevertheless, they are still a storied franchise that produced many great players and Hall of Famers throughout its history. Here are the five players who made the New York Knicks’ all-time starting five.
Forward – Dave DeBusschere
An underrated player and legend, Dave DeBusschere played for the Knicks for just six seasons but he made a lot of impact. He was a five-time All-Star in New York and helped the team win two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973.
DeBusschere was also one of the best defensive players in the league during his time with the Knicks, making the All-NBA Defensive First Team six times. He even made the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. His short time with the team means he is not on most of the Knicks franchise leaderboards but ranks seventh in rebounds.
Honourable Mention: Forward – Bill Bradley
A true Knicks legend, Bill Bradley spent his entire ten-year NBA career with the Knicks. He was an integral part of the two championship-winning teams of the 70s. He was an All-Star in 1973 and he ranks tenth in the Knicks all-time scoring list.
Forward – Willis Reed
The best player for the Knicks in their two NBA championships, Willis Reed was just a second-round pick that turned into a legend of the game. He was a double-double machine in the first seven years of his career. The lefty was a seven-time All-Star and the league’s MVP in 1970. He was also a two-time NBA Finals MVP.
Reed also produced the most iconic moment in team history, which happened in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Ailing due to a torn muscle in his right leg, Reed was questionable for the game but he came out of the tunnel to a round of applause from the fans. He scored the Knicks’ first two shots of the game and it inspired the team to win their first championship.
Honourable Mention: Forward – Bernard King
Playing just a total 206 games for the Knicks, Bernard King endeared himself to Knicks fans in the 1980s due to his amazing scoring ability. He was the 1985 scoring champion and a two-time All-Star with the Knicks. He scored 60 points on Christmas Day of 1985 against the New Jersey Nets.
Guard – Earl Monroe
One of the flashiest players in NBA history, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe helped the team win their second NBA championship in 1973. He formed a great partnership with Walt Frazier, terrorising the league with their entertaining style of play.
Monroe was also a two-time All-Star with the Knicks and sits eighth in the franchise's all-time scoring list. However, his career was shortened by knee injuries in 1980. His No. 15 jersey has been retired by the Knicks. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990 and he was part of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history in 1996.
Honourable Mention: Guard – Mark Jackson
A New York-native, Mark Jackson was drafted 18th overall by the Knicks in 1987. Along with Patrick Ewing, Jackson helped the Knicks become playoff contenders. However, he spent just five seasons in New York after getting traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 1992. Jackson ranks second in the team’s all-time assists and sixth in steals.
Guard – Walt Frazier
A flamboyant floor general, Walt “Clyde” Frazier played the first ten seasons of his career with the Knicks. He was the team’s leader on the court on their two NBA championships while also making the All-Star game seven times. He also made the All-NBA teams six times, four of which were the First Team.
Frazier also ranks second in the Knicks all-time scoring list, second in minutes played, eighth in rebounds, first in assists, and tenth in steals. His iconic No. 10 is already hanging in the rafters of MSG and he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. He followed up his playing career with a broadcasting gig for the Knicks.
Honourable Mention: Guard – Allan Houston
Even though his career was constantly plagued by knee injuries, Allan Houston was one of the best Knicks players ever. He led the team to the NBA Finals in 1999 and he is in the top ten in some categories of the Knicks all-time leaderboard. Houston sits fourth in scoring, and sixth in total minutes played. He was also a two-time All-Star while with the Knicks.
Centre – Patrick Ewing
There is no argument that Patrick Ewing is the greatest player in Knicks history. Ewing is the team’s all-time leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker. He also played the most minutes in team history while making eleven All-Star appearances in 15 seasons with the Knicks.
Ewing led the Knicks to 13 straight playoff appearances which include two trips to the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999. Although he felt short on bringing another championship to New York, Ewing has left an indelible mark with the Knicks. His No. 33 jersey was retired in 2003 in front of a sold-out MSG.
Honourable Mention: Forward – Carmelo Anthony
Despite a lot of haters, Carmelo Anthony is loved in New York. Anthony played for the Knicks for six and a half seasons, arriving via trade in 2011. He was a perennial All-Star with the Knicks, leading them to the playoffs three times. He ranks seventh in the all-time Knicks scoring list with 10,186 points.
