Knicks vs. Bulls: Who Wins a Legends 5-on-5 Battle Led by Jordan and Ewing?

Tonight's contest between the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls may settle a temporary score, but the question of the ages is which team's all-time greats win in an epic 5-on-5 battle. 

If you think these two teams feature among the best present-day lineups, just imagine their starting fives if all their respective legends were available and in their primes.

Here are the position by position matchups and the final verdict for who comes out on top.

Point Guard: Derrick Rose vs. Earl Monroe

Did you really think Jeremy Lin would already qualify as New York's all-time greatest point guard?

Give him another couple of years. For the time being, the honor belongs to none other than Earl "The Pearl" Monroe.

Monroe's patented spin move made defenders look foolish in the 1970s. However, even in his most productive seasons with the Knicks in the mid-70s, Monroe never reclaimed the dominance he promised earlier in his career when playing with the Baltimore Bullets.

Perhaps more importantly, Rose's strength and quickness would prove too much for Monroe to handle. Give The Pearl style points for his unique ability to get in the paint and pull rabbits out of a hat, but Rose has already become one of the most dominant young point guards in history, an MVP and a leader well beyond his years.

Advantage: Bulls

Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan vs. Walt Frazier

Even the most diehard Knicks fan has to concede this one: No shooting guard in history gets the better of Michael Jordan, not even seven-time All-Star Walt Frazier.

To Frazier's credit, no New York Knick has more career assists to this day, and his 36 points and 19 assists in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals remains one of the great all-time clutch performances.

Unfortunately for "Clyde," no one can touch Jordan's accomplishments. M.J. averaged 41 points a game in the 1993 NBA Finals and scored 35.8 in the '92 NBA Finals. And well, you know all the rest. The six NBA Finals MVP awards and 14 appearances at the All-Star game speak for themselves.

Frazier may have revolutionized the art of picking pockets, but Jordan revolutionized just about everything else and remains the standard-bearer for greatness in the NBA.

Advantage: Bulls 

Small Forward: Scottie Pippen vs. Bernard King

Before tearing his anterior cruciate in 1985, Bernard King was one of the most dynamic scorers in the league. In 1984, King became the first player in 30 years to score 50 or more points in consecutive games. One season later, he led the NBA with 32.9 a contest.

In contrast, Scottie Pippen was arguably the best defensive wingman of the 1990s and one of the NBA's all-time great stoppers. Of course, he managed to be a pretty good scorer and facilitator too—so good, in fact, that his accomplishments stood out even in Jordan's larger-than-life shadow.

Pippen averaged at least two steals per game over the course of six seasons and was selected to the All-NBA Defensive First Team eight times. For his career, he also averaged over six rebounds and five assists per game, demonstrating a versatility that remains rare to this day.  

In their primes, it's hard to say which of these guys comes out on top. The only sure thing is that watching Pippen attempt to contain King would be quite a show.

Advantage: Tied 

Power Forward: Dennis Rodman vs. Willis Reed

Horace Grant may be the more iconic Bulls' forward, but Rodman makes the cut here as one of the game's all-time greatest rebounders. Rodman led the Bulls in rebounding in each of his three seasons with the team and did so with averages unheard of for a player under 6' 10''. He also played exceptional defense and ran on a motor that didn't stop.

For all their merits, Rodman and Grant alike would have their hands full with the Knicks' Willis Reed.

Reed was a seven-time All-Star, and in 1970 he became the first player ever to be named MVP of the All-Star game, the NBA regular season and the Finals. At only 6' 9'', he dominated both sides of the ball and averaged 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds for his career.

Advantage: Knicks

Center: Artis Gilmore vs. Patrick Ewing

After five seasons in the ABA, the 7' 2'' Gilmore played for Chicago from 1976 to 1983 and made it to four of his six NBA All-Star games while with the Bulls. Still, the NBA's all-time leader in field goal percentage, Gilmore averaged NBA career-highs in points (23.7) and rebounds (13.1) while helping a Bulls team that desperately needed him.

Ewing, however, absolutely defined the Knicks' most successful campaigns in the 1980s and 90s. A 12-time All-Star, Ewing had his finest season in 1989-1990 with 28.6 points and four blocks per game. One of the NBA's all-time greatest centers, Ewing played for 17 seasons and stood out at a time when the league also featured icons like David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon.

Ewing never collected the MVP awards or championships that Robinson and Olajuwon earned, but there has perhaps never been a Knick that was more deserving.

Advantage: Knicks

And the Winner Is...

It would take mythical talent to overcome a backcourt of Michael Jordan and Derrick Rose. The legendary Knicks could make it a close contest, but with such clutch leadership at the guard positions, this hypothetical pickup game goes to the Bulls.