Daily Knicks
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 16
Next
Bill Cartwright, New York Knicks
PORTLAND, OR – 1987: Bill Cartwright #25 of the New York Knicks shoots against the Portland Trailblazers at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon circa 1987. Copyright 1987 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Big men who played for the San Francisco Dons faced an unfortunate comparison: Bill Russell. Bill Cartwright may not have reached the Russell level of play, but he proved to be one of the best draft picks in New York Knicks history nonetheless.

Highlighted by a decorated rookie season, Cartwright rewarded the Knicks’ investment by thriving individually and leading the franchise back to the playoffs.

Cartwright made the All-Star Game during what was an unforgettable rookie season. He averaged 21.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game, shooting 54.7 percent from the field and 79.7 percent from the free throw line.

Cartwright followed that rookie season by averaging 20.1 points per game in 1980-81—thus confirming the belief that he was an up-and-coming standout.

Cartwright played eight healthy seasons for the Knicks, with a foot injury ultimately costing him his ascension. Nevertheless, he was one of the most productive players in franchise history and helped produce the only 50-win season between 1974 and 1988.

To date, Cartwright is second in franchise history in blocks and one of the 25 greatest players to ever don the orange and blue.