In all their time in the NBA, the New York Knicks have managed to unearth a number of unheralded talents through the draft.
The annual NBA Draft is the culmination of months of scouting research and research for all 30 teams. Whether blessed with the No. 1 overall pick or without a selection until the second round, each front office searches high and low, sometimes across the country, hoping to acquire a potential impact player.
That being said, the draft has never proven to be an exact science. Throughout history, top picks have flamed out before getting a second contract, while even the lowest of selections turn into future Hall of Famers. Teams can do all the preparation they want, but there are certain variables they just can’t calculate prior to making that leap of faith on a certain player.
It’s for this very reason some of the best players in any given draft aren’t always taken where their talent suggests they should be. A number of tremendously gifted ballers have managed to fall through the cracks of front offices over the years, creating headlines as both breakout stars and diamonds found in the rough.
The New York Knicks have been around the NBA longer than most teams. Their history in the draft is littered with both home-run swings and embarrassing whiffs. Along the way, they’ve managed to find both solid contributors and some of the best players in franchise history in some of the most unexpected place.
Was it sheer luck or competence from the organization? It’s never just one or the other. Instead, the organization did its due diligence and was rewarded by the basketball gods with talented players, ones other teams failed to recognize as legitimate NBA-caliber talents.