All-Time New York Knicks Mount Rushmore
When discussing the topic of basketball greats, NBA fans frequently refer to a ‘Mount Rushmore’, consisting of — in their opinion — four of the greatest players of all-time. Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls, Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers are just a few of the names frequently mentioned as members of this elite four.
Despite their rich history as one of the initial members of the NBA upon it’s inception, and their eclectic array of all-time greats, the New York Knicks have so far failed to produce a player able to break into this elite four. So while we wait for Kristaps Porzingis to get there, I’ve been tasked with creating a Mount Rushmore exclusive to those who have represented the blue and orange, as players, coaches and management.
In order to make the cut, the individual must have represented the Knicks for at least 82 games (a full season). I will be judging individuals based on their output solely as a Knick, rather than their career performance, ruling out any surprise Jason Kidd or Tracy McGrady appearances on this list.
Let’s get into it.
Honorable Mentions
Pat Riley:
The Godfather of the NBA spent four extremely successful seasons as the Knicks’ head coach long before he assembled his South Beach super team. After winning Coach of the Year in 1993, he went on to lead the Knicks to the 1994 NBA Finals. All 8 of his rings were won with either the Lakers or the Heat.
Earl Monroe:
Earl “The Pearl” Monroe formed one half of the formidable “Rolls Royce Backcourt” duo beside Clyde Frazier, winning his sole NBA championship with the Knicks.
Dave DeBusschere:
The Knicks won their only two championships with Dave DeBusschere dominating the boards, standing at just 6'6". DeBusschere joined the Knicks towards the twilight of his career, and enjoyed success after retirement as the team’s director of basketball operations, when he drafted Patrick Ewing in 1985.
Bernard King:
Bernard King wowed the Garden crowd with his scoring exhibitions. He was the first NBA player to score 50 points in consecutive games, and the 1985 scoring champion. A torn ACL saw the King’s reign come to an unfortunate end, after just 138 games in a New York uniform.
Carmelo Anthony:
It might not be saying much, but Carmelo Anthony is the best player to have graced the Garden floor since Patrick Ewing. The 2013 scoring champion has spent seven seasons as a Knick so far, but has only lead the team to three playoff appearances and one series win.
Kristaps Porzingis
Just wait on it.
The New York Knicks’ Mount Rushmore
Red Holzman:
One of the greatest coaches in NBA history and undoubtedly the greatest Knicks coach of all time. William “Red” Holzman was the architect and conductor of the greatest team that the Knicks ever assembled. At the time of his retirement, Holzman was the second winningest coach in NBA history, with a .535 winning percentage. The number 613 that hangs from the rafters in Madison Square Garden represents the number of victories Holzman oversaw as coach — by far the most in franchise history.
He is the only championship winning coach in the franchise’s history. The championships he lead the Knicks to in 1970 and 1973 remain the franchise’s only two, and for that reason alone he has earned his rightful place on the Knicks’ Mount Rushmore.
Clyde Frazier:
Long before his effervescent color commentary or his sideline styling and profiling, Walt “Clyde” Frazier was once dishing and swishing himself, and was arguably the best at it. A tenacious defender that made his teammates around him better, Frazier was just as important as Willis Reed was to New York’s post-season success in the 1970s — swooping and hooping his way to a playoff stat line of 20.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. His individual accolades as a Knick include seven All-Star appearances, an All-Star Game MVP, 4-time All-NBA First Team and 7-time NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Since his retirement, his playful rhymes, extensive vocabulary and tendency to refer to rookies as “neophytes” has kept Knicks fans entertained through some of the franchises darkest moments.
Willis Reed
When looking back on the 1970s — an era dominated by big men — one man in the middle is often overlooked. Willis Reed more than stood his ground playing against his more celebrated peers. He engaged in fierce battles in the paint with fellow all-time greats such as Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain.
Reed is a two-time NBA Champion, Finals MVP and the only New York Knick to be named regular season MVP. He was a leader on the court, and his victorious return from injury in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals remains one of the most iconic moments in NBA history.
Patrick Ewing
Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t. Patrick Ewing is the All-Time statistical leader for the Knicks in several categories, including games, rebounds, points, blocks and win shares.
Ewing won Rookie of the Year honors in 1986, and was named to the All Star team a franchise record 11 times. He anchored the staunch defense of the Knicks for well over a decade, partnering with Charles Oakley to form one of the best defensive front courts in league history.
Only Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon stood in the way of Ewing and the Knicks lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy. Toward the end of his career, the Knicks reached the 1999 NBA Finals, but Ewing was unable to suit up due to injury. Despite his lack of championship hardware, Patrick Ewing is the greatest Knick.
So that’s my (completely subjective) selection of the four greatest figures in New York Knicks franchise history. Let’s hope the next generation of Garden superstars give the old guard some serious competition for their spots on the NBA’s imaginary version of the famous granite sculpture.
