New York Knicks: Top five point guards in franchise history

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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 6: Banners in honor of Dave DeBrusschere #22, Willis Reed #19, Earl Monroe #15, Dick McGuire #15, and Dick Barnett #12 of the New York Knicks – Retired Hall of Fame New York Knicks players photographed before the game against the Miami Heat on April 6, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The New York Knicks had point guards cycle through their organization over the decades. Who stands as the best five in franchise history?

The New York Knicks have decades of history to sort through, with franchise-altering players and hall of famers that played in different eras. There were stars at all positions, including center, but what about the top figures at point guard?

New York had star point guards in its incarnation, through the championship-winning ’70s and into the modern-day teams. Some flashed more than others, but these players handled the ball-distributing duties for some of the organization’s best scorers.

Who stood tall as the top five point guards in Knicks history? Is the top spot in doubt? Let’s take a look:

5. Dick McGuire

One of the earliest New York Knicks point guards, Dick McGuire was selected in the 1949 NBA Draft, three years into the franchise’s existence. So, into a run that stretched through most of the ’50s, McGuire became an early face of the team.

McGuire played point guard for New York from 1949-57. The game of basketball differed from anything seen, so some stats, especially for smaller guards, were not as gaudy. Though, in this stretch, he averaged 8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists, showing the ability to do a little of everything.

McGuire also went to five NBA All-Star games in his eight-year run, representing the Knicks with others in the earliest days of this organized professional basketball league.

At age 29, McGuire topped out at 9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.6 assists, a career-high.

Over 60 years since his last Knicks game, McGuire still holds the No. 3 spot on the franchise’s all-time assists leaderboard, with 2,950, behind just Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Mark Jackson.

33 years after retirement, McGuire entered the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. His No. 15 jersey was also raised to the rafters at Madison Square Garden, so there’s much to celebrate from this original Knick and everything he did in the ’50s, when everything still felt new.