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New York Knicks: 15 greatest draft picks in franchise history

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 25: Kristaps Porzingis meets with Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks in the First Round of the 2015 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 25, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 25: Kristaps Porzingis meets with Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks in the First Round of the 2015 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 25, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 2: Washington Bullets Chris Webber (R) reaches for the ball as New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing holds it away during the first half of their NBA game in New York 02 December 1994. Ewing scored no points in the first half but the Knicks led at the half 53-45. (Photo Credit: MARK D. PHILLIPS/AFP/Getty Images) /

One could quite easily argue that Patrick Ewing is the greatest selection in New York Knicks history. Perhaps the most controversial lottery win of all-time produced the opportunity for the Knicks to secure a landscape-altering player.

Ewing went on to set almost every record imaginable for the Knicks, as well as lead the franchise to one of its greatest runs of success in its illustrious history.

Ewing ranks No. 1 in franchise history in an everlasting list of areas. That includes games (1,039), minutes (37,586), field goals (9,260), free throws (5,126), total rebounds (10,759), steals (1,061), blocks (2,758), and points (23,665)—reason enough to believe he’s the franchise GOAT.

I won’t put up much of an argument against that belief, as Ewing could be regarded as the best individual talent in the history of the orange and blue.

Beyond the individual feats, Ewing led the Knicks to an unrivaled string of 13 consecutive postseason appearances. That includes trips to the 1994 and 1999 NBA Finals, and four runs to the Eastern Conference Finals.

If ever a player could be described as a snub for the No. 1 spot, one could certainly list Ewing as such—even if there is a justification coming.