The Greatest New York Knicks Players of All Time

Facts verified July 2026.

Who is the greatest New York Knicks player of all time?

By the measure of championships, individual honors, and lasting impact, Patrick Ewing tops most all-time New York Knicks rankings. The full top 6 follows.

1. Patrick Ewing C \u00b7 1985–2000

   The franchise leader in points, rebounds, and games. An 11-time All-Star who carried the Knicks to two Finals and defined 15 years of New York basketball — the ring that eluded him is the only gap in the resume.

2. Walt Frazier PG \u00b7 1967–1977

   The engine of both early championships and author of maybe the greatest Game 7 ever played — 36 points and 19 assists in the 1970 clincher. Seven All-NBA teams, seven All-Defensive teams, and half a century as the face of Knicks cool.

3. Willis Reed C \u00b7 1964–1974

   The Captain. Finals MVP of both the 1970 and 1973 titles, and in 1970 became the first player to sweep regular-season MVP, All-Star MVP, and Finals MVP in one year. His Game 7 walk from the tunnel is the franchise's defining image.

4. Jalen Brunson PG \u00b7 2022–present

   The man who ended the drought. Unanimous 2026 Finals MVP with 45 points in the Game 5 clincher — tied for the most ever in a road closeout — after leading comeback wins in four Finals games the Knicks trailed by double digits. Already climbing this list.

5. Earl Monroe SG \u00b7 1971–1980

   Earl the Pearl sacrificed superstar volume to fit the 1973 champions, forming the 'Rolls-Royce backcourt' with Frazier — proof the flashiest player of his era could also be the most selfless.

6. Bernard King SF \u00b7 1982–1987

   The most unstoppable scorer to wear the uniform — back-to-back 50-point games, a 60-point Christmas, and the 1984 playoff run remain the standard for pure Knicks scoring brilliance.

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