Best draft picks in New York Knicks history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, compiled a list of the best draft picks in New York Knicks history using data from . Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's , career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their 爆料TV score. Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy r茅sum茅 for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#50. Glen Gondrezick
- 爆料TV score: 3.5
- 26th overall pick in 1977
- Played two seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 5.8 PTS, 4.5 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 15.9 win shares, 0.2 box plus/minus, 4.2 VORP
#49. Dave Budd
- 爆料TV score: 3.5
- 10th overall pick in 1960
- Played five seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 7.1 PTS, 4.6 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.7 win shares
#48. Obi Toppin
- 爆料TV score: 4.1
- Eighth overall pick in 2020
- Played three seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 8.7 PTS, 3.5 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.7 win shares, 1.2 box plus/minus, 5.4 VORP
#47. Jim Barnes
- 爆料TV score: 4.3
- First overall pick in 1964
- Played one season with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 8.8 PTS, 6.5 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.2 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1969 NBA Champ
#46. Wilson Chandler
- 爆料TV score: 4.9
- 23rd overall pick in 2007
- Played three seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 12.5 PTS, 5.3 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.0 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 3.5 VORP
#45. Dean Meminger
- 爆料TV score: 5.0
- 16th overall pick in 1971
- Played four seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 6.1 PTS, 2.6 REB, 2.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 16.6 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1973 NBA Champ
#44. Hubert Davis
- 爆料TV score: 5.0
- 20th overall pick in 1992
- Played four seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 8.2 PTS, 1.5 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.7 win shares, -0.9 box plus/minus, 4.2 VORP
#43. Frank Brickowski
- 爆料TV score: 5.1
- 57th overall pick in 1981
- Career averages: 10.0 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.8 win shares, -1.1 box plus/minus, 3.7 VORP
#42. Barry Clemens
- 爆料TV score: 5.6
- 22nd overall pick in 1965
- Played one season with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 6.7 PTS, 3.2 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 18.6 win shares
#41. Dave Stallworth
- 爆料TV score: 6.1
- Fifth overall pick in 1965
- Played five seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 9.3 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 20.3 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1970 NBA Champ
#40. Gerald Wilkins
- 爆料TV score: 6.2
- 47th overall pick in 1985
- Played seven seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 13.0 PTS, 2.9 REB, 3.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.9 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 5.3 VORP
#39. Nate Robinson
- 爆料TV score: 6.5
- 21st overall pick in 2005
- Played four seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 11.0 PTS, 2.3 REB, 3.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.8 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 8.6 VORP
#38. Immanuel Quickley
- 爆料TV score: 6.8
- 25th overall pick in 2020
- Played three seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 14.4 PTS, 3.5 REB, 4.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.9 win shares, 1.5 box plus/minus, 9.2 VORP
#37. Walter Dukes
- 爆料TV score: 7.2
- Eighth overall pick in 1953
- Played one season with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 10.4 PTS, 11.3 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.0 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#36. Mike Woodson
- 爆料TV score: 7.4
- 12th overall pick in 1980
- Played one season with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 14.0 PTS, 2.3 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 34.6 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 8.5 VORP
#35. Henry Bibby
- 爆料TV score: 7.4
- 58th overall pick in 1972
- Played two seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 8.6 PTS, 2.3 REB, 3.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 24.5 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1973 NBA Champ
#34. Lonnie Shelton
- 爆料TV score: 7.5
- 25th overall pick in 1976
- Played two seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 12.0 PTS, 6.1 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.5 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 7.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1979 NBA Champ
--- 1981-82 All-Defensive
--- 1x All Star
#33. Kurt Rambis
- 爆料TV score: 7.7
- 58th overall pick in 1980
- Career averages: 5.2 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.3 win shares, 0.0 box plus/minus, 8.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 4x NBA Champ
#32. Channing Frye
- 爆料TV score: 7.7
- Eighth overall pick in 2005
- Played two seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 8.7 PTS, 4.5 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.9 win shares, -0.4 box plus/minus, 8.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2016 NBA Champ
#31. Trent Tucker
- 爆料TV score: 7.9
- Sixth overall pick in 1982
- Played nine seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 8.2 PTS, 2.0 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 34.3 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 10.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1993 NBA Champ
#30. Darrell Walker
- 爆料TV score: 8.0
- 12th overall pick in 1983
- Played three seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 8.9 PTS, 4.4 REB, 4.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 27.4 win shares, 0.8 box plus/minus, 13.0 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1993 NBA Champ
#29. Mitchell Robinson
- 爆料TV score: 8.7
- 36th overall pick in 2018
- Played eight seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 7.5 PTS, 8.0 REB, 0.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 41.0 win shares, 2.3 box plus/minus, 10.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2026 NBA Champ
#28. Phil Jackson
- 爆料TV score: 8.8
- 17th overall pick in 1967
- Played 10 seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 6.7 PTS, 4.3 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.3 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#27. Kevin Loughery
- 爆料TV score: 9.0
- 92nd overall pick in 1961
- Career averages: 15.3 PTS, 3.0 REB, 3.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.8 win shares
#26. Darrall Imhoff
- 爆料TV score: 9.1
- Third overall pick in 1960
- Played two seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 7.2 PTS, 7.6 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.1 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1x All Star
#25. Greg Anthony
- 爆料TV score: 9.2
- 12th overall pick in 1991
- Played four seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 7.3 PTS, 1.9 REB, 4.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.9 win shares, 1.3 box plus/minus, 13.3 VORP
#24. Charlie Ward
- 爆料TV score: 9.2
- 26th overall pick in 1994
- Played nine seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 6.3 PTS, 2.6 REB, 4.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.0 win shares, 2.1 box plus/minus, 14.5 VORP
#23. Mike Riordan
- 爆料TV score: 10.0
- 128th overall pick in 1967
- Played three seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 9.9 PTS, 2.9 REB, 2.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.2 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1970 NBA Champ
--- 1972-73 All-Defensive
#22. Ray Williams
- 爆料TV score: 10.6
- 10th overall pick in 1977
- Played five seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 15.5 PTS, 3.6 REB, 5.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 37.1 win shares, 1.6 box plus/minus, 16.8 VORP
#21. Bill Bradley
- 爆料TV score: 11.7
- Second overall pick in 1965
- Played 10 seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 12.4 PTS, 3.2 REB, 3.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.8 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 1x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#20. Micheal Ray Richardson
- 爆料TV score: 11.8
- Fourth overall pick in 1978
- Played four seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 14.8 PTS, 5.5 REB, 7.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 35.2 win shares, 2.5 box plus/minus, 21.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1979-80 AST Champ
--- 2x All-Defensive
--- 4x All Star
#19. Bill Cartwright
- 爆料TV score: 12.7
- Third overall pick in 1979
- Played eight seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 13.2 PTS, 6.3 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 72.8 win shares, -0.6 box plus/minus, 9.7 VORP
- Accolades
--- 3x NBA Champ
--- 1x All Star
#18. Kristaps Porzi艈模is
- 爆料TV score: 13.0
- Fourth overall pick in 2015
- Played three seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 19.5 PTS, 7.6 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 50.4 win shares, 2.6 box plus/minus, 18.9 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.1%
- Accolades
--- 2024 NBA Champ
--- 1x All Star
#17. Cazzie Russell
- 爆料TV score: 15.6
- First overall pick in 1966
- Played five seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 15.1 PTS, 3.8 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 51.7 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1970 NBA Champ
--- 1x All Star
#16. Danilo Gallinari
- 爆料TV score: 15.6
- Sixth overall pick in 2008
- Played two seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 14.9 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 65.4 win shares, 1.7 box plus/minus, 20.8 VORP
#15. Trevor Ariza
- 爆料TV score: 15.8
- 43rd overall pick in 2004
- Played one season with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 10.4 PTS, 4.8 REB, 2.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 64.3 win shares, 0.6 box plus/minus, 21.8 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2009 NBA Champ
#14. David Lee
- 爆料TV score: 16.4
- 30th overall pick in 2005
- Played five seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 13.5 PTS, 8.8 REB, 2.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 76.0 win shares, 1.1 box plus/minus, 19.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2015 NBA Champ
--- 2012-13 All-NBA
--- 2x All Star
#13. Kenny Sears
- 爆料TV score: 17.1
- Fifth overall pick in 1955
- Played six seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 13.9 PTS, 7.8 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 55.8 win shares
- Hall of Fame probability: 2.1%
- Accolades
--- 2x All Star
#12. Johnny Green
- 爆料TV score: 18.3
- Sixth overall pick in 1959
- Played six seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 11.6 PTS, 8.6 REB, 1.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 58.0 win shares
- Hall of Fame probability: 4.9%
- Accolades
--- 4x All Star
#11. Tim Hardaway
- 爆料TV score: 19.9
- 24th overall pick in 2013
- Played three seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 13.7 PTS, 2.8 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.2 win shares, -1.2 box plus/minus, 5.2 VORP
#10. Dick Van Arsdale
- 爆料TV score: 23.1
- 13th overall pick in 1965
- Played three seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 16.4 PTS, 4.1 REB, 3.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 75.2 win shares
- Hall of Fame probability: 2.5%
- Accolades
--- 1973-74 All-Defensive
--- 3x All Star
#9. Rod Strickland
- 爆料TV score: 23.6
- 19th overall pick in 1988
- Played one season with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 13.2 PTS, 3.7 REB, 7.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 85.8 win shares, 2.3 box plus/minus, 36.6 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1997-98 AST Champ
--- 1997-98 All-NBA
#8. Mark Jackson
- 爆料TV score: 24.7
- 18th overall pick in 1987
- Played six seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 9.6 PTS, 3.8 REB, 8.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 91.8 win shares, 1.8 box plus/minus, 37.5 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1996-97 AST Champ
--- 1987-88 ROY
--- 1x All Star
#7. Dick McGuire
- 爆料TV score: 26.8
- Eighth overall pick in 1949
- Played eight seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 8.0 PTS, 4.2 REB, 5.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 50.9 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1949-50 AST Champ
--- 1950-51 All-NBA
--- 7x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#6. Richie Guerin
- 爆料TV score: 33.8
- 17th overall pick in 1954
- Played seven seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 17.3 PTS, 5.0 REB, 5.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 69.2 win shares
- Accolades
--- 3x All-NBA
--- 6x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#5. Harry Gallatin
- 爆料TV score: 37.1
- 20th overall pick in 1949
- Played nine seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 13.0 PTS, 11.9 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 78.4 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1953-54 TRB Champ
--- 2x All-NBA
--- 7x All Star
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#4. Willis Reed
- 爆料TV score: 38.7
- 10th overall pick in 1964
- Played 10 seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 18.7 PTS, 12.9 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 74.9 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 1969-70 MVP
--- 2x Finals MVP
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#3. Patrick Ewing
- 爆料TV score: 50.1
- First overall pick in 1985
- Played 15 seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 21.0 PTS, 9.8 REB, 1.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 126.4 win shares, 2.9 box plus/minus, 50.1 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1985-86 ROY
--- 7x All-NBA
--- 3x All-Defensive
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#2. Walt Frazier
- 爆料TV score: 50.7
- Fifth overall pick in 1967
- Played 10 seasons with New York Knicks
- Career averages: 18.9 PTS, 5.9 REB, 6.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 113.5 win shares
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
--- 6x All-NBA
--- 7x All-Defensive
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#1. Dolph Schayes
- 爆料TV score: 59.5
- Fourth overall pick in 1948
- Career averages: 18.5 PTS, 12.1 REB, 3.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 142.4 win shares
- Accolades
--- 1955 NBA Champ
--- 1957-58 MBWA NBA MVP
--- 1950-51 TRB Champ
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
