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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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David Lee, New York Knicks
CLEVELAND – MARCH 1: David Lee #42 of the New York Knicks moves the ball against Leon Powe #44 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game at Quicken Loans Arena on March 1, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers won 124-93. Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

David Lee’s inclusion on this list is as much about the value received from the pick at which he was selected as it is his contributions on the court. Lee came off the board with the final selection in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft, which led many to the belief that he was a fringe player.

While the New York Knicks never managed to make the playoffs with Lee on the roster, he was a fan favorite and an All-Star during his tenure.

Lee was utilized sporadically as a rookie, but he quickly developed into a double-double machine. He averaged 10.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game in his second NBA season, and upped the ante to 16.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per contest in year four.

It was in his fifth and final season in New York, however, that Lee made his first career All-Star Game appearance with a truly memorable showing.

Lee averaged 20.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.0 steal per game during the 2009-10 campaign. In turn, he became the sixth player in franchise history to average at least 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds during a single season.

More important than any numbers or accolades, however, was the manner in which Lee endeared himself to Knicks fans with his relentless work ethic.