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All-time five

All-time New York Knicks starting five

The best Knicks at every position, drawn from the 1960s to the 2020s of franchise history — and what the SweepSzn engine makes of them as one starting five.

The starting five

  1. PGWalt Frazier1974–75 · 1970s
    PTS
    21.5
    REB
    6.0
    AST
    6.1
    7× All-Star · 6× All-NBA (4 1st) · 7× All-Defense
  2. SGJalen Brunson2023–24 · 2020s
    PTS
    28.7
    REB
    3.6
    AST
    6.7
    1× All-Star
  3. SFCarmelo Anthony2013–14 · 2010s
    PTS
    27.4
    REB
    8.1
    AST
    3.1
    10× All-Star · 6× All-NBA
  4. PFPatrick Ewing1989–90 · 1980s
    PTS
    28.6
    REB
    10.9
    AST
    2.2
    9× All-Star · 7× All-NBA (1 1st) · 3× All-Defense
  5. CBob McAdoo1977–78 · 1970s
    PTS
    26.5
    REB
    12.8
    AST
    3.8
    1× MVP · 5× All-Star · 2× All-NBA (1 1st)
Projected record
50–32

The SweepSzn engine projects this five at 50-32 (C playoff).

See the full breakdown →

How this five was picked: by career accolades, one per position. Players are ranked by All-Star selections plus MVP, All-NBA and All-Defense voting, weighted toward what they did for the Knicks, with full-time starters (30+ minutes a night) first. Each position goes to the best-ranked player who can play it, one season per player — no engine optimizing. How the engine works.

Legends by decade

The most decorated Knicks of each era, each shown in his best season with the franchise that decade.

1960s

  1. Walt Frazier1969–70 · PG
    20.9 PTS · 6.0 REB · 8.2 AST
    7× All-Star · 6× All-NBA (4 1st) · 7× All-Defense
  2. Willis Reed1968–69 · PF/C
    21.1 PTS · 14.5 REB · 2.3 AST
    1× MVP · 7× All-Star · 5× All-NBA (1 1st) · 1× All-Defense
  3. Dave DeBusschere1968–69 · SF/PF
    16.4 PTS · 11.4 REB · 2.7 AST
    8× All-Star · 1× All-NBA · 6× All-Defense
  4. Richie Guerin1961–62 · SG
    29.5 PTS · 6.4 REB · 6.9 AST
    6× All-Star
  5. Walt Bellamy1965–66 · C
    23.2 PTS · 16.0 REB · 3.0 AST
    4× All-Star

1970s

  1. Walt Frazier1974–75 · PG
    21.5 PTS · 6.0 REB · 6.1 AST
    7× All-Star · 6× All-NBA (4 1st) · 7× All-Defense
  2. Bob McAdoo1977–78 · PF/C
    26.5 PTS · 12.8 REB · 3.8 AST
    1× MVP · 5× All-Star · 2× All-NBA (1 1st)
  3. Dave DeBusschere1973–74 · SF/PF
    18.1 PTS · 10.7 REB · 3.6 AST
    8× All-Star · 1× All-NBA · 6× All-Defense
  4. Willis Reed1970–71 · PF/C
    20.9 PTS · 13.7 REB · 2.0 AST
    1× MVP · 7× All-Star · 5× All-NBA (1 1st) · 1× All-Defense
  5. Jerry Lucas1971–72 · PF/C
    16.7 PTS · 13.1 REB · 4.1 AST
    7× All-Star · 3× All-NBA (2 1st)

1980s

  1. Patrick Ewing1989–90 · PF/C
    28.6 PTS · 10.9 REB · 2.2 AST
    9× All-Star · 7× All-NBA (1 1st) · 3× All-Defense
  2. Bernard King1983–84 · SF
    26.3 PTS · 5.1 REB · 2.1 AST
    4× All-Star · 4× All-NBA (2 1st)
  3. Michael Ray Richardson1980–81 · SG
    16.4 PTS · 6.9 REB · 7.9 AST
    4× All-Star · 2× All-Defense
  4. Mark Jackson1987–88 · PG
    13.6 PTS · 4.8 REB · 10.6 AST
    1× All-Star
  5. Maurice Lucas1981–82 · PF
    15.8 PTS · 11.3 REB · 2.2 AST
    4× All-Star · 1× All-NBA

1990s

  1. Patrick Ewing1991–92 · PF/C
    24.0 PTS · 11.2 REB · 1.9 AST
    9× All-Star · 7× All-NBA (1 1st) · 3× All-Defense
  2. Latrell Sprewell1999–00 · SG/SF
    18.6 PTS · 4.3 REB · 4.0 AST
    4× All-Star · 1× All-NBA (1 1st) · 1× All-Defense
  3. Anthony Mason1995–96 · SF/PF/C
    14.6 PTS · 9.3 REB · 4.4 AST
    1× All-Star · 1× All-NBA · 1× All-Defense
  4. Charles Oakley1996–97 · PF/C
    10.8 PTS · 9.8 REB · 2.8 AST
    1× All-Star · 2× All-Defense
  5. Mark Jackson1991–92 · PG
    11.3 PTS · 3.8 REB · 8.6 AST
    1× All-Star

2000s

  1. Stephon Marbury2004–05 · PG/SG
    21.7 PTS · 3.0 REB · 8.1 AST
    2× All-Star · 2× All-NBA
  2. Latrell Sprewell2000–01 · SG/SF
    17.7 PTS · 4.5 REB · 3.5 AST
    4× All-Star · 1× All-NBA (1 1st) · 1× All-Defense
  3. David Lee2009–10 · SF/PF/C
    20.2 PTS · 11.7 REB · 3.6 AST
    2× All-Star · 1× All-NBA
  4. Marcus Camby2000–01 · PF/C
    12.0 PTS · 11.5 REB · 0.8 AST
    4× All-Defense
  5. Allan Houston2002–03 · SG
    22.5 PTS · 2.8 REB · 2.7 AST
    2× All-Star

2010s

  1. Carmelo Anthony2013–14 · SF/PF
    27.4 PTS · 8.1 REB · 3.1 AST
    10× All-Star · 6× All-NBA
  2. Amar'e Stoudemire2010–11 · PF/C
    25.3 PTS · 8.2 REB · 2.6 AST
    6× All-Star · 5× All-NBA (1 1st)
  3. Derrick Rose2016–17 · PG
    18.0 PTS · 3.8 REB · 4.4 AST
    1× MVP · 3× All-Star · 1× All-NBA (1 1st)
  4. Tyson Chandler2011–12 · PF/C
    11.3 PTS · 9.9 REB · 0.9 AST
    1× All-Star · 1× All-NBA · 3× All-Defense
  5. Julius Randle2019–20 · PF/C
    19.5 PTS · 9.7 REB · 3.1 AST
    2× All-Star · 1× All-NBA

2020s

  1. Jalen Brunson2023–24 · PG/SG
    28.7 PTS · 3.6 REB · 6.7 AST
    1× All-Star
  2. Karl-Anthony Towns2024–25 · PF/C
    24.4 PTS · 12.8 REB · 3.1 AST
    5× All-Star · 1× All-NBA
  3. Julius Randle2020–21 · PF/C
    24.1 PTS · 10.2 REB · 6.0 AST
    2× All-Star · 1× All-NBA
  4. Josh Hart2024–25 · SG/SF
    13.6 PTS · 9.6 REB · 5.9 AST
  5. OG Anunoby2024–25 · SF/PF
    18.0 PTS · 4.8 REB · 2.2 AST
    1× All-Defense

Think you can beat the all-time Knicks? Go for 82-0.

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