New York Knicks: Ranking Team's Greatest Player by Decade

Back in 1946, the New York Knickerbockers basketball franchise was created.

Currently, the Knicks are one of only two NBA franchises (the Boston Celtics being the other) still located in its city of origin. 

The Knicks have experienced many highs and lows as an NBA franchise. In 1970, thanks to the guidance of William "Red" Holzman and inspiration from team captain Willis Reed, the Knicks won their first championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. The franchise would win their second and most recent championship three years later in 1973, defeating the Lakers in five games.

Over the next decade, things weren’t as golden for Madison Square Garden’s professional basketball squad. While there were some winning seasons, the Knicks didn’t return to the NBA Finals or even win their division.

After drafting Patrick Ewing in 1985, the Knicks had some very successful seasons, including two NBA Finals appearances and three division titles. Of course, as most Knicks fans can tell you, the franchise hasn’t seen its best days after Ewing’s departure in 2000. The good news is that the Knicks appear to be on the right track toward regaining prominence. 

Regardless of how tumultuous the franchise has been over the years, it has been fortunate enough to have some truly great players don its signature blue and orange colors.

Here is my list of the greatest New York Knicks player from each decade of the team's history.

1950s: Carl Braun

This was a very difficult selection.

For most Knick fans familiar with the teams of the 1950s, Hall of Famer Dick McGuire is the first name that comes to mind. However, after comparing the stats of Braun and McGuire, I had to give a slight edge to Braun—a five-time All-Star.

Braun was the Knicks’ leading scorer during his first seven seasons playing professional basketball, with five of those seasons coming in the 1950s. He was the franchise’s first star player and is currently its fifth highest scorer of all time.

Braun’s scoring mark becomes more impressive after taking into account that the first half of his career was played before the institution of a shot clock, the two missed seasons from 1950-1952 because of Army service and the NBA's 72-game seasons throughout his playing career.

In 1959, Braun averaged 12.9 points and five assists per game, while doubling as the team’s head coach during the last 48 games.

1960s: Willis Reed

Simply put, Willis Reed was a beast.

The Hall of Fame big man is best known for overcoming a torn right leg muscle in the 1970 NBA Finals, not allowing the injury to prevent him from playing in Game 7 of the series. His return was inspirational, as his teammates rallied around their injured captain and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to give their franchise its first ever NBA championship.

Reed was a stat-stuffer during his time as a Knick. In his six seasons during the 1960s, he averaged about 20 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. In his four postseason appearances in the 1960s, he averaged about 24.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game. His solid numbers helped him reach the All-Star Game every season from 1964—his rookie season—to 1970 and get selected to the All-NBA teams four times during the decade.

1970s: Walt Frazier

The Knicks’ most entertaining color commentator was also its best player during the 1970s.

Frazier was the Knicks’ leading scorer when they won their last NBA championship in 1973. He spent seven seasons with the franchise in the 1970s, amassing averages of about 20.7 points and 6.1 assists per game during that time.

Frazier was no slouch on defense either, evidenced by being a five-time selection to the All-NBA Defensive First Team in the 1970s. His smoothness and hustle at both ends of the floor helped him make the All-Star team six times in the decade.

1980s: Patrick Ewing

It was tough to choose between Ewing and the scoring machine known as Bernard King, but ultimately Ewing’s higher number of games and seasons played in New York during the 1980s gave him the nod.

Ewing was the NBA’s first prize of the draft lottery. Whether or not the selection process in 1985 was rigged is a debatable topic. What isn’t debatable, though, is that Ewing was excellent as a Knick—perhaps even the franchise’s greatest player.

In his five seasons during the 1980s, Ewing averaged about 22.9 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game. He also was a four-time All-Star selection and made the All-NBA team three times.

1990s: Patrick Ewing

This was probably the easiest selection.

Ewing was a beast for the Knicks in the 1990s, leading them to an NBA Finals appearance in 1994, and averaging about 22.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He was also a four-time All-NBA selection during that time.

Unfortunately for the former No. 1 overall pick out of Georgetown, his health began to deteriorate in the 1997-1998 season, resulting in his absence during the Knicks’ last NBA Finals appearance during the lockout-shortened season of 1999. He was able to play 62 games in the 1999-2000 season, but not nearly at the same level as before he turned 35.

2000s: Allan Houston

Bloated $100 million contract aside, Allan Houston was the Knicks’ best player this past decade. Had he been able to stay healthy past the 2002-2003 season, the Knicks might have been able to make more than just two playoff appearances in the 2000s.

In each of the decade’s first three seasons, Houston was the team leader in points per game at 20.6. In 2003-2004—his last effective season—Houston averaged 18.5 points per game, but he was only able to play 50 games because of injuries.

Houston was also the Knicks’ best player in the 1999-2000 season—the last time they won a playoff series.

2010s (Prediction): Chris Paul

Oh yeah, I went there!

Call me crazy. Do it.

I know it won’t be easy, but Chris Paul will soon become a New York Knick. CP3 will also be the franchise’s best player for this current decade when it’s all said and done.

I could go on for hours about why I believe Paul will become a Knick, but I’ll save that for another time. There are numerous articles on Bleacher Report and the rest of the Internet that explain why the formation of a Carmelo Anthony-Chris Paul-Amar’e Stoudemire Big Three in New York isn’t completely far-fetched. Likewise, there are also articles that explain why it won’t happen. 

Of course, with the current ambiguity of what the next CBA entails, only time will tell. Still, after considering how much Paul has had to carry the New Orleans Hornets, how good of friends he is with Carmelo and watching how his friends LeBron James and Dwyane Wade formed their own Big Three in Miami, the happiest dream of Knick fans everywhere could turn into a reality.