7 of the Greatest New York Knicks Players of All Time
Established shortly after WWII, the New York Knicks is one of the winningest franchises in NBA history. The team has two NBA championship titles, eight appearances in the NBA finals, and 37 trips to the NBA playoffs. Some of the greatest games in the sport happened at Madison Square Garden, with the Knicks playing many of the best teams.
Six players on this list are NBA Hall of Famers and rank among the best NBA players of all time. While some may question the order of this ranking, it’s hard to deny that each player deserves to be on it. As it stands, this ranking is a trip down memory lane.
Patrick Ewing — New Yorkers generally refer to the years 1985 to 2000 as the Patrick Ewing era because the legacy he made as a Knicks superstar is unparalleled. When you look at the Knicks’ all-time statistics, Patrick Ewing is the leader in every category except one: assists. This seven-foot Jamaican-born center averaged 22 points per game as a Knick.
Although Patrick Ewing didn’t lead his teams to an NBA championship, he had some memorable near-misses. His first trip to the 1994 NBA finals resulted in an epic match-up between Ewing and the Houston Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon that ended with the Knicks losing a tough seven-game series.
Toward the end of his career, Ewing and the Knicks earned another trip to the Finals against the mighty San Antonio Spurs. But Ewing didn’t play in the series due to injuries. Nevertheless, Ewing’s incredible record put him at the top of this list.
Walt Frazier — Walter “Clyde” Frazier epitomized excellence, style, and grace on and off the basketball court. Without question, Frazier is the greatest point guard to wear a Knicks uniform. He was the floor general of the Knicks starting lineup during most of the championship years between 1967 and 1975. During the Knicks’ 1969–70 season, Frazier’s 77 game statistics include 21 points, eight assists, and six rebounds per game on average.
Although he didn’t win the MVP for the 1970 NBA finals, Walt Frazier led the franchise to its first Finals win with 36 points, 19 assists, and eight rebounds in the deciding game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Willis Reed — One of the most dramatic moments in NBA history was when Willis Reed came limping out of the Madison Square Garden tunnel to play in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA finals. Despite having an injury-plagued career, Reed ranks high on the Knicks’ all-time list because of his exceptional performances and importance to the Knicks’ 1970 and 1973 NBA champion teams.
During 1969–70, this Hall of Famer won NBA MVP with per-game averages of 21.1 points, 13.7 rebounds, and two assists. He was also the NBA Finals MVP in 1970 and 1973. Although injuries finally forced him to retire at age 31, his 10-year career per-game averages are 18.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over the course of 650 games.
Earl “The Pearl” Monroe — In the early to mid 70’s, Earl Monroe teamed with Walt Frazier to form one of the greatest backcourt duos of all time. These two Hall of Famers’ unique and flamboyant styles fit their nickname, “the Rolls Royce Backcourt.”
Monroe’s stellar play helped the Knicks make it to the NBA Finals in 1972 before being defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Monroe and Frazier led the Knicks to their second NBA championship in 1973, beating the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one in the Finals series. The Monroe-Frazier duo has the distinction of being one of the few backcourts with two Hall of Famers who are also members of the NBA 50th Anniversary Team.
Bernard King — Bernard King is one of the greatest players that most fans outside of New York have never heard of because a bad knee injury abruptly ended his career. However, within the 138 games he played as a Knicks small forward, he excited New York fans more than any Knicks player before or after him.
In January 1984, King scored back-to-back 50 point games to become the first NBA player to do so, and that was only the beginning. He had a spectacular 1984–85 season that ended with him averaging 32 points a game. No Knicks player has yet to approach that high a scoring average. We can only wonder what could have been if the knee injury hadn’t happened.
Dave DeBusschere — In 1968, Dave Debuschere joined the Knicks toward the end of his career, but he was far from done. During his four years in a Knicks’ uniform, DeBusschere averaged 15.4 points and 10.2 rebounds a game. His strong rebounding and solid team play were essential for the Knicks’ two NBA title wins.
Bill Bradley — From his rookie season until the day he retired from the NBA, Bill Bradley spent all of his 10-year career, from 1977 to 1977, with the Knicks. His nickname was “Dollar Bill” because he was a Rhodes scholar with an incredibly high game IQ. His career per-game averages were 14 points, three rebounds, and four assists. Although he went on to have a successful political career, Bradley’s major basketball accomplishment was helping the Knicks win two NBA titles.
Several former Knicks players deserve honorable mention, including Carmelo Anthony, Mark Jackson, Charles Oakley, and Amar’e Stoudemire. However, the players on this list separated themselves from past and present Knicks players with their exceptional play and influence on Knicks basketball.
