The 15 greatest bigs in New York Knicks history

Bob McAdoo

While Bob McAdoo only spent four seasons with the New York Knicks, he was so prolific and versatile for a 6-9 center, he really was ahead of his time.

Not only did he manage a cool 26.7 points and 12 boards per game as a Knick, but he was registering 3.3 dimes, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals per tilt during that time as well. Those numbers are pretty unbelievable.

He is also one of the only players to have won consecutive scoring titles, back to back to back leading up to his trade. A Hall of Famer and five-time All Star, he made himself a New York legend by sharing his peak years between the then-expansion team Buffalo Braves and the Knicks.

Even if he finished his career as a member of the Los Angeles Laker Showtime squad, winning two titles in that time, all in all McAdoo, like many other legendary Knicks, gave the fans a big reason to come out and support the team during periods of time when they weren’t even making the playoffs.

His tenure from 1976 to 1979 was a particularly welcomed consolation after the fire of the early 1970s championship runs had died down. He was coached by Red Holzman and his tenure saw the last of the core that won those rings.

In fact, after his first season, the Knicks saw departures from both Bill Bradley and Walt Frazier. It was the end of a glorious era.