While Jalen Brunson may ultimately end up on this list, the New York Knicks' star is still shy of earning a seat on the all-time franchise Mount Rushmore at this point.
On this list, you won't find Carmelo Anthony or Dave DeBusschere. There's simply not enough room on this mountain. No disrespect to either of them. Anthony had his moments, including his electric mixtape of clutch jumpshots. So did DeBusschere, who was one of many factors leading the Knicks to a 1973 NBA championship, much due to his incredible defense.
The Knicks, as a whole, have so many legends that it's a tall order to rank them down to four.
We'll stick our neck out to attempt to solve an argument that has numerous acceptable answers, but it was four Basketball Hall of Famers who made our final cut.
The Honorable Mentions
- Dave DeBusschere (1968-1974)
- Carmelo Anthony (2011-2017)
- Bernard King (1982-1987)
- Bill Bradley (1967-1977)
- Red Holzman (coach from 1967-1982)
- Allan Houston (1996-2005)
4. Earl Monroe (1971-1980)
A common theme on this list is the number of Knicks mentioned on the 1973 NBA championship-winning team. DeBusschere and Bradley are both examples, but Monroe was a true standout on those Knicks teams. Monroe played in nine of 14 seasons with the Knicks, and was one of two of the Knicks' backcourt with Walt Frazier that inspired numerous future point guards with their smooth style.
Monroe's 15.5 points per game helped lead the Knicks to a 57-25 regular season in 1973, and they took down the Lakers in five games, in large part due to Monroe's average of 16 points and 4.2 assists in the NBA championship.
Monroe's No. 15 rightfully hangs in the rafters of Madison Square Garden, and the Philadelphia native brought an electrifying style of offense that makes his career legendary to this day.
3. Willis Reed (1964-1974, Coach in 1977-1978)
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Reed was another central fixture on the ultra-talented Knicks teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The most famous moment of Reed's career, however, was when he played through a badly injured leg in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, setting the sort of tone you hope for out of your captain.
The 1965 Rookie of the Year and 1970 MVP also won a Finals MVP award in both of his appearances. Reed's incredible resume will forever live in Knicks folklore, and can be argued to be anywhere in the top three in Knicks history.
2. Walt "Clyde" Frazier (1967-1977)
These days, Frazier is more known for his flashy fashion sense (not anything new for him, though) and lovable color commentary on MSG, but back in the day, he was one of the most legendary and decorated Knicks players in history.
There's no better representation of the quintessential New York point guard than Frazier, who intensely commandeered the Knicks offense and made seven All-Star games, six All-NBA teams, and the Hall of Fame in 1987.
1. Patrick Ewing (1985-2000)
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Ewing is the lone player on this list to not have won an NBA Finals nor appeared on the 1973 NBA Finals-winning team. The Jamaican-born big man has a nearly clean sweep of the Knicks' all-time leaderboards, serving as the all-time best in a plurality of categories, notably including field goals, minutes played, points, blocks per game, and rebounds.
Averaging nearly 23 points and over 10 rebounds per game while in New York, there's no one better to represent the Knicks at the very top of the mountain than the No. 1 overall pick in the 1985 draft. The 11-time All-Star was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
