New York Knicks: 25 Greatest Players of All-Time

11. Charles Oakley

Not many players better embodied the identity of the 1990s New York Knicks than Charles Oakley. The 19-year NBA veteran spent every season from 1988-89 to 1997-98 with the Knicks.

Oakley’s numbers never blew people away, but he set the tone for everything that made New York a genuine contender.

Oakley commanded respect. More times than not, he received it. He was a powerful interior force who could dominate defensively, take over on the boards or flourish as a very underrated offensive playmaker.

In 1993-94, Oakley started all 82 regular season and 25 postseason games during New York’s first run to the NBA Finals since 1973.

1994 was also the season during which Oakley was selected to the All-Star Game and made the All-Defensive First Team. It was the signature year in one of the Knicks’ all-time great careers.

Oakley will never be forgotten by the New York faithful.

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