New York Knicks: All-time starting five, no teammates allowed

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Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks (Photo: DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images) /

Knicks All-Time No-Teammates Starting 5: Patrick Ewing, C

We start with the greatest, or at least one of the two greatest players in Knicks history. At center, standing seven feet tall from Georgetown: PAT-RICK EWING.

While an argument could be made for “The Captain” Willis Reed, there is no player in Knicks history who represents the face of the franchise more than Patrick Ewing. He didn’t limp out of the Madison Square Garden tunnel to help lead his team to an NBA championship, but for 15 years he was a dominant force in New York, leading the Knicks to the playoffs in thirteen consecutive seasons, coming within a few shots of winning an elusive championship in 1994.

The Hall-of-Fame big man reached the All-Star Game eleven times while in New York. He was a seven-time All-NBA selection, on top of a three-time All-Defensive honoree. The number one overall pick in the 1985 draft, you could argue he was the last bit of good fortune for a franchise that has been down on their luck since his departure in 2000.

You can’t build an all-time Knicks starting lineup without Patrick Ewing at center.