The New York Knicks are the polar opposite of the Los Angeles Lakers, who are considered the best winning franchise in the league. Despite being as well-known as practically no other team, it does not have the same illustrious history as its more noble sisters.
Despite having multiple stars, the reputation of a disorganized squad has developed over the years as a result of its frequent failures, seasoned with recurrent reconstructions.
So, let's see who ranks in the top ten scorers in New York Knicks history.
10. Bill Bradley
Photo: kosmagazin
In the history of the first player on the list, Bill Bradley, there is a piece of Italy. His first work experience, after graduating from Princeton, transported him to the old continent, to the then Simmenthal Milan.
The squad reached the final of the European Cup in 1966, where it defeated Slavia Prague and became the continental champion on the first attempt, thanks to the participation of the American basketball star. His time in Italy, however, was limited to that season: at the end of the year, he returned to the United States, where he would play for the rest of his career with the New York Knicks.
Bill Bradley used his fame throughout his career to draw attention to numerous social and political problems, spending himself first person to address the problems of his community with journalists, public officials, and academics. His 9,217 points and two NBA titles in 1970 and 1973 are paradoxically only a slice of his life.
Bill Bradley focused his energy on his public profession after getting his boots on the ground, entering into politics until he was elected Senator of New Jersey for the Democratic Party.
9. Dick Barnett
Photo: nba
Dick Barnett played 14 seasons in the NBA, nine of them with the New York Knicks. He was best known for the way he kicked his legs back while attempting his jump shot.
His 9,442 points made a big contribution to the success of the New York Knicks, with whom he won the NBA championship twice, in 1970 and 1973.
8. Earl Monroe
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Earl The Pearl Monroe opted to join the New York Knicks after four years with the Baltimore Bullets, which was led at the time by one of his closest opponents on the court, Walt Frazier.
Arriving in New York with a reputation as an unstoppable scorer, his early years saw him frequently compromise his traits in favor of the team's success. His results were not long in coming, even if his average achievements showed a noticeable fall.
After a rocky first season, Monroe found his stride in 1973, winning the coveted title of NBA champion by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. Earl Monroe was recognized in New York as a scorer, amassing a stunning record of 9,679 points in the following seasons, while still holding his sole NBA title. In 1986, the New York Knicks retired his number 15 jersey as a tribute to his accomplishments.
7. Carmelo Anthony
Photo: bleacherreport
Carmelo Anthony's skills as a lethal scorer with the Denver Nuggets anticipated his arrival in New York in 2011, just as Earl Monroe's did.
Unlike the Hall of Famer, the Knicks' attack was immediately drawn to the orbit of their new star, who, within six seasons, turbocharged the team's fate, both good and bad.
The numerous Playoff disappointments, as well as a relationship with Phil Jackson that never fully blossomed, progressively spoiled relations with the New York management, leading to his subsequent trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017, in exchange for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott, and a second-round pick.
Despite the poor results, his total of 10,186 points in six years is still a remarkable amount, demonstrating his unquestionable scoring talent, which has earned him the title of the best player in the franchise's recent history for the time being.
6. Richie Guerin
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Richie Guerin was one of the most skilled and beloved players to ever wear the New York Knicks jersey. He was regarded as one of the best point guards of the 1950s.
He was drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1954 NBA Draft while still serving in the Marine Corps Reserve, and he didn't make it to the league until 1956 because of his gritty style, he managed to fire up the throngs of roaring fans on several occasions. Madison Square Garden is his name.
He spent seven seasons with the New York Knicks, scoring 10,392 points and leading the league in assists for five straight seasons.
5. Carl Braun
Photo: alchetron
Carl Braun, a Brooklyn native, should have made it to the major leagues before an injury forced him to switch to his least favorite sport, basketball.
He spent the majority of his career with the New York Knicks, but despite his 10,449 points, he never won a title. He played his final season with the Boston Celtics, with whom he won his only NBA title, due to his passion to win.
4. Allan Houston
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He was hired by the Knicks in 1996 after two seasons with the Detroit Pistons, ready to give Patrick Ewing the offensive shoulder he earned.
Despite some ups and downs, the decision allowed the New York Knicks to enjoy one of their most lucrative periods in recent history, culminating in the NBA Finals in 1999, where they were defeated by the overwhelming might of Tim Duncan and David Robinson's San Antonio Spurs.
Following Ewing's departure, Allan Houston became the team's cornerstone. Despite his 11,165 points, the player was no longer able to lead his club to the heights he deserved, owing to a series of injuries, which forced him to retire in 2005 and was later made official in 2008.
3. Willis Reed
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Willis Reed became the protagonist of one of the most crucial events in NBA history, in addition to becoming a New York Knicks legend. He suffered a muscular rupture while playing against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1970 Finals, which doctors said would have damaged his ability to play.
Willis Reed limping onto the pitch in the decisive game of the Finals, much to the surprise of the entire Madison Square Garden, his teammates (who were only warned at the last minute), and the stunned looks of the Los Angeles crowd, scoring the first two baskets of the game and emotionally dragging his teammates to final victory, against all odds.
2. Walt Frazier
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He was selected with the fifth pick in the 1968 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, and he was the team's emblematic player for a decade, as proven by his 14,617 points. He created one of the NBA's strongest sporting rivalries with Earl Monroe and later formed an even more legendary dynamic tandem with him, which led them to the 1973 NBA title.
He was given the nickname Clyde because of his propensity of wearing a hat identical to the one worn by Warren Beatty in the 1967 film Gangster Story, in which he played the part of Clyde Barrow.
1. Patrick Ewing
Photo: nba
Finally, Patrick Ewing is the all-time leading scorer for the New York Knicks. The Kingston center is regarded as not just the best but also the most representative of the franchise.
Patrick Ewing, the first pick in the 1985 NBA Draft, leads the franchise with 23,665 points, which is matched by the team's records for games played, blocks, and rebounds (sixth overall in the NBA).
Even though Ewing never won an NBA championship, he was still able to show off his Team USA jersey, which he wore to win the gold medal in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona
