New York Knicks: Wrapping up the 2010s, including the decade’s stars

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 12: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks waves to the fans as he walks off the court after the 114-113 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2017 in New York City. 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 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 12: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks waves to the fans as he walks off the court after the 114-113 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2017 in New York City. 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 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

With the 2010s ending, a brief look back at the decade that was for the New York Knicks.

The 2010s are just about over. The New York Knicks already wrapped up their final game of the decade, featuring a win over the Washington Wizards. It left a full 10 years to look back on, including incredible highs and disastrous lows. It can be evaluated through the following:

Stars of the decade

  1. Carmelo Anthony: The definitive star of the 2010s, Anthony never found complete success with the Knicks, but his parts of seven seasons were still some of the most memorable in franchise history.
  2. Amar’e Stoudemire: Injuries destroyed Stoudemire’s 30s, but that first year in New York was special enough.
  3. Tyson Chandler: A Defensive Player of the Year award highlighted Chandler’s superb three years with the Knicks.
  4. Kristaps Porzingis: Beyond the “what could have been” thoughts, Porzingis still had a good two-plus years with the Knicks, before the January 2019 trade that sent him away.
  5. JR Smith: Before winning a title in Cleveland, Smith won a Sixth Man of the Year award during the organization’s best years of the decade.

Records

  • 2010-11: 42-40
  • 2011-12: 36-30
  • 2012-13: 54-28
  • 2013-14: 37-45
  • 2014-15: 17-65
  • 2015-16: 32-50
  • 2016-17: 31-51
  • 2017-18: 29-53
  • 2018-19: 17-65
  • 2019-20: 9-24

Playoff appearances

  • 2010-11: Lost in first round
  • 2011-12: Lost in first round
  • 2012-13: Lost in second round

Head coaches

  • Mike D’Antoni: 2010-12 – D’Antoni’s run started in 2008. He resigned after tension built with Carmelo Anthony.
  • Mike Woodson: 2012-14 – Woodson got the short end of the stick to close his Knicks tenure, but he’s still the architect of their best year of the decade.
  • Derek Fisher: 2014-16 – Fisher’s year-plus at MSG was a nightmare.
  • Kurt Rambis: 2016 – Rambis was the interim coach after Fisher’s departure.
  • Jeff Hornacek: 2016-18 – Highlighted by a spat with Joakim Noah, Hornacek’s two years were mostly forgettable.
  • David Fizdale: 2018-19 – Fizdale could not survive two full seasons after having pressure laid on him to win early and often.
  • Mike Miller: 2019-present – At 5-6, the Knicks are trending in the right direction under Miller. The rest of the story has yet to be told.

Draft picks

  • 2010: Andy Rautins (Round 2, Pic 38), Landry Fields (Round 2, Pick 39) – Fields partook in the earliest teams of the decade, while Rautins only made an NBA cameo.
  • 2011: Iman Shumpert (Round 1, Pick 17) – Shumpert built a defensive reputation during his time with the Knicks. He was eventually traded to Cleveland for almost nothing.
  • 2012: Kostas Antetokounmpo (Round 2, Pick 48; traded to Portland) – Antetokounmpo’s rights were traded.
  • 2013: Tim Hardaway Jr. (Round 1, Pick 24) – Hardaway flashed his volatile scoring across two stints.
  • 2014: Cleanthony Early (Round 2, Pick 34), Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Round 2, Pick 51) – Early’s opportunities with the Knicks went poorly, while Antetokounmpo only returned to the NBA this season due to his superstar brother’s presence.
  • 2015: Kristaps Porzingis (Round 1, Pick 4) – The story has been told with Porzingis.
  • 2017: Frank Ntilikina (Round 1, Pick 8), Damyean Dotson (Round 2, Pick 44), Ognjen Jaramaz (Round 2, Pick 58) – Ntilikina and Dotson remain steady contributors, while Jaramaz has yet to make his NBA debut.
  • 2018: Kevin Knox (Round 1, Pick 9), Mitchell Robinson (Round 2, Pick 36) – Knox’s first year-plus has been inconsistent. Robinson, however, has flashed the potential of anchoring this defense through the 2020s.
  • 2019: RJ Barrett (Round 1, Pick 3), Kyle Guy (Round 2, Pick 55; traded to Sacramento) – Barrett has shown promise at just 19 years old. Guy’s rights were traded for Ignas Brazdeikis.

What is in the cards for the New York Knicks in the 2020s?