No. 1 Worst: Jordan Hill
Frederic Weis may have had the distinction of never playing a game for the Knicks, but Jordan Hill was so bad that the Knicks traded him before he could even spend a full season in New York. He averaged 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game during his 24-game tenure as a Knick.
Hill ended up hanging around in the league for longer than anyone thought he would—even appearing in games as recently as the 2016-17 season. But Hill’s mere presence in the NBA was another cruel reminder of the most frustrating draft pick in the history of the franchise.
With Stephen Curry and his father Dell making it clear that he wanted to be chosen by the Knicks, it seemed like the Madison Square Garden faithful may be experiencing some newfound luck. But despite his desires to land in New York, the Golden State Warriors drafted Curry with the pick prior to the Knicks. Fast forward nine years later and Curry is the greatest shooter in the history of the sport, a two-time MVP, three-time NBA champion, and revolutionizing the way teams play the game.
There wasn’t much the Knicks could do once the Warriors decided that Curry was their man, but that’s not the only painful part. They passed up on four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan who the Toronto Raptors scooped up with the 10th pick.
Jordan Hill was sandwiched between one of the greatest players of all time and a player who has developed into a perennial All-Star. Woof.
No. 1 Best: Willis Reed
The man, the myth, the legend: Willis Reed. He’s at the top of this list for one main reason. Reed got it done when it counted the most. The two-time NBA Finals MVP led the way for the Knicks in 1970 and 1973.
Not to mention, Reed had one of the most iconic moments in sports history when he hobbled onto the floor for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals with a torn right thigh muscle. He couldn’t stay in the game, but he scored the first two buckets for the Knicks and gave his team the energy it needed to take down the Lakers in Game 7.
This is the most iconic moment in the history of the Knicks. There is no doubt about it. It’s not even an argument worth having.
The Hall of Famer was an excellent regular season player, averaging 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game during his career, but that’s not what New Yorkers care about. New Yorkers crave championships and in that respect, Willis Reed delivered more than any other Knick. His place among the All-Time Knicks greats is clear and his place as the best draft pick in the history of the organization is indisputable.
