Top 5 Shooting Guards In New York Knicks History

Top 5 Shooting Guards In Team History

Latrell Sprewell
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Historically, the New York Knicks have struggled to find any success in the NBA. Aside from the two championships in 1970 and 1973, New York has failed to compete at a championship level throughout the majority of their existence. Despite these flaws, New York has been home to a multitude of talented shooting guards. Here are the top five in Knicks history.

5. Allan Houston

Allan Houston
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5. Allan Houston

Allan Houston
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Allan Houston's rise to fame was during the Knicks' run in the late 1990s, when Patrick Ewing was running wild. Serving as a primary offensive weapon, Houston helped lead the Knicks to a Finals run in 1999 and back-to-back All-Star appearances thereafter. Unfortunately, Houston's illustrious run in New York was cut short by multiple unlucky knee injuries.

4. Latrell Sprewell

Latrell Sprewell
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4. Latrell Sprewell

Latrell Sprewell
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Although the Knicks acquired Latrell Sprewell in the second half of his career, he still was able to contribute majorly as he too aided the Knicks in a shocking Finals run in 1999. Fueled by Sprewell's 20 points per game off the bench, New York made history as the first No. 8 seed to make it to the Finals. Again, the Knicks fell short of a title, but the mere fact that they made it is an accomplishment in itself and Sprewell was a major piece.

3. John Starks

John Starks
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3. John Starks

John Starks
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Statistics simply cannot measure the true toughness and impact John Starks had on the Knicks in his eight seasons with the team. Highly renowned for his dunk over Michael Jordan in the 1993 playoffs, Starks built his career based on pure tenacity. The success of the Knicks heavily relied on Starks' energy as exhibited by the tremendous success of the team in the 90s.

2. Dick Barnett

Dick Barnett
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2. Dick Barnett

Dick Barnett
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When the Los Angeles Lakers traded away Dick Barnett to New York in 1965, the Knicks were in the beginning stages of constructing a serious contender. Barnett was outstanding in his first two seasons, but his career was elevated by the arrival of Walt Frazier in 1967. The dual backcourt threat led the Knicks to the franchise's first NBA title in 1970. Barnett did win in 1973 as well, but by that time his knees were a serious issue.

1. Earl Monroe

Earl Monroe
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1. Earl Monroe

Earl Monroe
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A still beloved New York Knick today, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe served as a replacement to Dick Barnett in the tail end of his career. Known for his smooth, beautiful style of play, Monroe became recognized as simply "The Pearl". Monroe would appear in three All-Star games during his tenure in New York, including an NBA title and perhaps the most exciting backcourt of all time with Walt "Clyde" Frazier. There'll simply never be another Earl Monroe.

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