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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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Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 5: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks dunks against the Indiana Pacers on November 5, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

13. player. 27. . Power Forward. Round 1, Pick 4 in 2015. Kristaps Porzingis

It’s still early in his career, but Kristaps Porzingis is already one of the greatest selections in franchise history. Taken at No. 4 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Porzingis was booed at the event and criticized by pundits everywhere.

It hasn’t taken much time at all for the Latvian phenom to prove that he was well worth the investment made by Phil Jackson and Clarence Gaines Jr. at No. 4 overall.

Porzingis made a mark as early as 2015-16, when he became the first rookie in NBA history to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 75 three-point field goals made. Beyond the numbers, he brought life back to Madison Square Garden.

In year two, Porzingis averaged 18.1 points per game and became the first player in franchise history to record at least 100 blocks and 100 three-point field goals in a single season.

An injury ended Porzingis’ 2017-18 season early, but not before he was selected to the All-Star Game. He was leading the NBA in blocks per game at the time he went down, and was doing so while averaging 2.4 blocks per game.

For perspective, only two players in Knicks history have averaged at least 20.0 points and 2.0 blocks per game in a single season: Porzingis and Patrick Ewing.