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New York Knicks: It’s time to finally rebuild the right way

By Ken Tavarez

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Former New York Knicks Bill Bradley (L) and Walt Frazier are introduced during a ceremony honoring the 1972-73 New York Knicks Championship team at halftime of the Knicks game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on April 5, 2013 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Bucks 101-83. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Former New York Knicks Bill Bradley (L) and Walt Frazier are introduced during a ceremony honoring the 1972-73 New York Knicks Championship team at halftime of the Knicks game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on April 5, 2013 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Bucks 101-83. 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 Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 23: Jaylen Brown shakes hands with Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted third overall by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 23, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of 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 Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Paths to winning

There are only a few ways to build a championship contender. The obvious route is to get one of the top picks in a draft that has generational talent. It’s no coincidence that LeBron James has more Finals appearances than any franchise in the NBA. When a generational talent enters the league, they will eventually win championships, it’s just the way it is.

Knicks draft record

Unfortunately for the Knicks, they are have not put themselves in position to select generational talents in the draft. Since 1973, the Knicks have only picked in the top 3 of the draft 3 times, and only 6 times within the top 5. Those picks have yielded 2 multiple time All-Stars and 1 Hall-of-Famer: Michael Ray Richardson and Patrick Ewing.

It has also yielded two players that made 1 All-Star game appearance each: Bill Cartwright and Kristaps Porzingis. Since their last championship, the Knicks have only put themselves in position to get a franchise player 5 times in 47 years: 1979, 1985,1986, 2015 and 2019.

Lakers and Celtics draft records

Now compare that to the Lakers and the Celtics. The Lakers have had 2 number one overall picks in Magic Johnson and James Worthy. They have picked a total of 6 times within the top 2, and 8 times within the top 5 picks.

As for the Celtics, they have picked 5 times within the top 3, and 6 times within the top 5. That does not include Larry Bird, who was selected 6th overall in the 1978 draft. He would have gone a lot higher if he and the Celtics didn’t engage in nefarious tactics to ensure he landed in Boston.

The Celtics’ high draft picks have resulted in one player from their championship core, Kevin McHale, but their draft capital also allowed them to trade for other core pieces in Robert Parrish and Dennis Johnson. Their latest set of top 3 picks has produced 2 of the core pieces on their current team: Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum.

While it doesn’t sound like the Lakers and the Celtics have received that many more opportunities in the draft, keep in mind, they were competing for championships during most of the past 47 years. Imagine if the Knicks would have had a few more opportunities to draft another franchise player to pair with Patrick Ewing?

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