NY Knicks: Top 5 end of the bench fan favorites since 2010

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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 07: Roy Hibbert #55 of the Indiana Pacers and Cole Aldrich #45 of the New York Knicks fight for position at Madison Square Garden on March 7, 2015 in New York City.The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 92-86.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) /

4. Knicks end-of-bench favorites: Cole Aldrich

Cole Aldrich’s timing wasn’t the best, as he got to New York just when their fortunes started to change for the worse in the 2013-2014 season. He arrived at a time when Tyson Chandler’s days as an elite defensive center were winding down, and when Andrea Bargnani’s defen…well, let’s just say the former number one overall pick wasn’t exactly an intimidating paint presence.

Aldrich was known for his energy and toughness while playing for the Kansas Jayhawks, and very nearly averaged a double double in each of his sophomore and junior seasons in Lawrence. Just as impressive, he averaged 3.5 blocks per game, deterring Big 12 guards from venturing too far into the paint.

It was that type of defensive resume that enticed the Oklahoma City Thunder to invest a lottery pick in him, selecting him 11th overall in the 2010 draft. This led him to re-unite with another former Jayhawk, Nick Collison, and we can only imagine how many nights the two spent singing “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” together.

Aldrich was viewed as a solid, if not unspectacular, addition to the Knicks, who were actually hoping for uber-athletic prospect Jeremy Tyler to get healthy and pan out. Unfortunately, Tyler never could get fully healthy, and Aldrich was left to man the paint for a few minutes each night in 2013-2014. He had a larger role in 2014-2015 when the season got away from the Knicks in a hurry, including this impressive block on yet another Kansas alum Andrew Wiggins, but was always viewed as nothing more than a journeyman in the post.

Aldrich’s other claim to fame was his sometimes there, other times not, front tooth. He might have wanted to moonlight as a defenseman for the Rangers with that rugged look, but he’ll always have a place in our hearts.