New York Knicks: Ranking the top 15 Hall of Fame Players
By Teresa Powe
10. Walt Bellamy
He may have seemed to be a bit laid back in off the court, but Walt Bellamy was an offensive and defensive powerhouse. When he took the floor, the 6-11 center owned the paint.
In four seasons with the New York Knicks, Bellamy averaged 18.9 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Despite his outstanding numbers, he was traded to Detroit in 1968 for a player who would be a crucial part of the Knicks 1970 championship team, Dave DeBusschere.
When Bellamy retired in 1974, he was sixth all-time in scoring and third in rebounds.
9. Jerry Lucas (1980)
Jerry Lucas spent the final three seasons of his 11-year career in New York. He may not have been the all-star player he was in his younger days but he was an active force in the Knicks second championship win. He averaged 11.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 221 games.
8. Richie Guerin (2013)
In his 14-year NBA career as a player, Richie Guerin played eight of those seasons with the Knicks. He was an All-Star six straight years leading the team in points and assists four times. For his Knicks career, Guerin averaged 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists.
7. Bill Bradley (1983)
Not only was Bill Bradley, a United States Senator, and a Rhodes Scholar, but his basketball I.Q. was off the charts. “Dollar Bill” always knew just when to pass the ball and when to shoot it. He helped the Knicks to their first title in 1970 and was also a member of the 1973 championship team.
Bradley spent his entire 10-year NBA career in a New York Knicks uniform. He averaged 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
6. Earl Monroe (1990)
Earl Monroe, also known as Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, came to New York from the Baltimore Bullets on November 10, 1971. He was with the Knicks for the next nine seasons. Five of those years he teamed with Walt Frazier as the duo became one of the greatest backcourts in NBA history.
The guard from tiny Winston-Salem State averaged 19.9 points and 4.3 assists per game with the Knicks. He made two All-Star Games finished among the top-20 in scoring three times.