In this article we will discuss the lengthy history of the New York Knicks. The team was created in 1946 as part of the newly founded Basketball Association of America, which became the NBA in 1949. Today’s focus, however, will be on creating the all-time player list rather than the entire history of the team. This team has its fair share of Hall of Famers or future ones that have played for its franchise, from Allan Houston, Walt Frazier, to Patrick Ewing and Carmelo Anthony.
Here’s who made my all time Knicks list. The list I have may be a bit different and more modern so bear with me. This list WILL have some surprise choices, since I wanted to make the list more personal to me. All Basketball stats will be from basketball reference.com.
Starters
PG – Walt Frazier
The former Hall of Fame Point Guard was a clear choice for this list. The 5th overall pick in 1967 draft, he stands at 6’4 and lbs. With career averages of 18.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists a game according to basketball reference. He’s had a solid career for New York, playing for the Knicks for thirteen seasons. He has two rings to his name, one from 1970 and one from 1973. He’s also a great announcer for the Knicks at MSG and is worth 8.8 million, with a 300k salary (as of January 2022).
SG – Allan Houston
Another Knick legend in this lineup, Allan Houston has recently been in the news for only missing 5 shots in 30 minutes. For his career, Houston posted averages of 17.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He’s in the line for his deadly shooting, posting averages of 44.4% of his field goals with a 40.2% from 3 point land and 86.3% from the line. Originally drafted by Detroit in 1993 (11th overall), Houston spent the majority of his career in New York as a Knick. Houston ended up playing for the Knicks from 1996-2005 playing for nine seasons with the team. He was also part of the 1999 Knicks team that made the NBA finals, but lost to the Spurs.
SF – Carmelo Anthony
He’s not a hall of famer yet, but when he officially retires he will be. Carmelo Anthony is a scoring machine out of Syracuse with averages of 22.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He’s also shooting career averages of 44.7% from the field, with 35.5% from 3 and 81.4% from the foul line. He spent seven seasons as a Knick, making the playoffs in his first three seasons in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 13.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1 assist a game for this season. Say what you will about his playing style but he’s a superstar and has tremendous scoring ability and is always able to get his own shot at anytime on the basketball court.
PF- Willis Reed
Wills Reed, the 6’9, 235 lb big man, was a force back in his day. Reed had career averages of 18.9 points a game, with 12.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists a game as well. He spent his whole career with the Knicks. He was also part of the 1970 and 1973 championships along with his teammate at the time Walt Frazier. He ended up playing ten years with the Knicks before a knee injury ended his career. He, along with Patrick Ewing, will be the enforcers of the all time Knicks starting lineup.
C- Patrick Ewing
The 7’0, 240 lbs center was the first overall pick of the 1985 draft out of Georgetown. The irony is now he has been the head coach of the Georgetown men’s Basketball team since 2017. His career averages are 21 points per game along with 9.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. In addition, he has career averages of 50.4% from the field along with 74% from the line. He ended up being a part of the 1999 NBA finals team for the Knicks, along with the aforementioned Allan Houston. He was also a part of the 1996 hit movie Space Jam, featuring Michael Jordan. Unlike Houston and Willis Reed, Ewing spent the last two years with the Seattle Supersonics and Orlando Magic, respectively. Still, he has the face of the franchise during the 1990’s Knicks playoff teams that battled against Jordan. Honestly, if Jordan’s Bulls wasn’t in their way, the Knicks definitely would have had a chance to win at least one title in the 1990’s.
Bench
SG – John Starks
The thirteen year NBA veteran earns his keep on the list, being a part of those 1990’s Knicks playoff teams along with Ewing. The 6’3 180 lb Guard has averages of 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists with percentages of 41.2% field goal, 34% from 3 and 76.9% from the line. He’s known for his famous dunks over the bulls and for his dunks in the slam dunk contest (in 1992). He also played for the Knicks from 1990 to 1998. In addition, he won the six man of the year award (1997), is a one time all star (in 1994), and a part of the all NBA defensive team (1993).
PF/C – Charles Oakley
Another one of the Knicks enforcers in the 1990’s Oakley has been on many NBA teams. Known for his physical play, he has career averages of 9.7 points, 9.5 rebounds with 2.5 assists along with a 47.1% field goal and 76.1% from the line. He has played for five teams but spent most of his career on the Knicks, spending ten seasons with the team. The NBA Journeyman is not afraid to mix it up with his opponents and will never back down from any challenge by anyone.
PF/C – Amare Stoudemire
The 6’10, 245 lb big man is most known for his days with the Phoenix Suns. He left Phoenix in 2010, joining the Knicks. He played for the Knicks for five seasons and has been part of the Knicks 2010 teams with Carmelo Anthony. He has career averages of 18.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, with 1.2 assists along with 53.7% from the field and 76.1% from the line. He was a part of the Knicks 2010-2011 team that had a strong start to the season, before Carmelo Anthony came and changed the team. Despite the Injuries, I felt Stoudemire deserved a place here, being on one of the few good playoff teams I remember doing well, along with Anthony.
PG – Mark Jackson
The journeyman NBA Point Guard turned broadcaster deserves a mention on this list for a couple of reasons. The 6’1, 180 lb Guard was a part of the early Ewing Knick teams in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He also returned to the Knicks for the 2001 and 2002 NBA seasons. The Veteran floor general has career numbers of 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 8 assists a game, along with 44.7% from the field, 33.2% from the 3, as well as 77% from the line. Jackson is also a one time NBA coach, who coached the Warriors from 2012-2014.
SF/PF – Larry Johnson
The 6’6, 250 lb combo- forward was a part of the Late 1990’s Knick teams. He was also a part of the Knicks 1999 NBA Finals teams. The dynamic forward has career averages of 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, with 3.3 assists, in addition to 48.4% field goal, 33.2% from 3 and 76.6% from the line. If he didn’t have many injuries, he could have been a more dynamic player. He still had an impact in the five years on the Knicks for the second half of his career.
PG/SG – Earl Monroe
The hall of fame combo guard became a hall of famer in 1990. Before that, he was a part of the 1973 championship team with Willis Reed. The 6’3, 185 lb guard has career averages of 18.8 points, 3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, along with 46.4% field goal and 80.7% from the line. He did this in an era with no 3 pointers. He also spent the Majority of his career with the Knicks (nine seasons) after spending a few seasons with the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards).
PG – Stephon Marbury
So, yeah Stephon Marbury won’t be in the Hall of Fame any time soon, however he’s on this list for a few reasons. One- he was the best player of my favorite team, the Knicks. Two- he did do pretty well after leaving the NBA, having a major impact playing basketball in China and the CBA. Marbury has career averages of 19.3 points, 3 rebounds, 7.6 assists along with 43.3% field goal, 32.5% from 3 and 78.4% from the line. The 6’2, 180 lb point guard played five hard years on the Knicks, from 2003 to 2008. Marbury has played in China from 2010 to 2018, before transitioning to becoming a coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters.
SG/SF – Latrell Sprewell
Last but not least, here we have Latrell Sprewell who was a part of the 1999 NBA finals team. He’s spent five years on the Knicks and played on the early 2000’s teams with Allan Houston. Standing at 6’5, 190 lbs, Sprewell has career averages of 18.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4 assists along with 42.5% field goal, 33.7% from 3 and 80.4% from the line. The swingman is best known for turning down an extension from Minnesota, thinking he was going to get more money but miss calculated his value unfortunately. Still, he did make the NBA finals with the Knicks and that something not to be ashamed of.
Honable Mentions
Bernard King
Anthony Mason
Bob McAdoo
Harry Gallatin
JR Smith
Jamal Crawford
Julius Randle
Dave DeBusschere
Bill Bradley
Jerry Lucas
Leon Collington
Born and Raised in the Greater NYC Area. Long time New York Knicks fan as well as a Huge NBA fan since 2006. You can follow him on twitter at @KyosotaComics.