Daily Knicks
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NY Knicks: Top 5 bench fan favorites from 2000-2009

By Andrew Pistone

SEATTLE - DECEMBER 3: Frank Williams #30 of the New York Knicks moves the ball during the game against the Seattle SuperSonics on December 3, 2003 at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. The Sonics won 95-87. 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 Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images)
SEATTLE - DECEMBER 3: Frank Williams #30 of the New York Knicks moves the ball during the game against the Seattle SuperSonics on December 3, 2003 at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. The Sonics won 95-87. 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 Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images) /
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25 Nov 2001: Point guard Moochie Norris #12 of the Houston Rockets stretches on the court during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers defeated the Rockets 90-83. (Credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images). /

1.  Knicks end-of-bench favorites: Moochie Norris

While his lack of talent was evident and accepted, there was something so cool about calling Moochie Norris one of ours. He had socks up to his knees, and an ever-changing hair style (afro, braids, fully shaved head, etc). He was a crafty lefty who was listed at 6-foot-1, but in reality may have been closer to 5’10”. And for heavens sake, his name was Moochie.

There’s no better place to start then to address how he got his unique nickname. His real name is actually Martyn Bernard Norris, a perfectly fine name in its own right, but his grandfather gave things a bit of a twist.

"“My grandfather used to love Cab Calloway. The song ‘Minnie the Moocher’ was his favorite song, so when I was born, that was one of the songs he sung for me,” Norris said (via ESPN.com)."

Moochie played for the Vancouver Grizzlies, Seattle Supersonics and the Houston Rockets before reaching the Big Apple. His best year in the league came in 2001-2002 with the Rockets, where he played all 82 games (yes, that used to be a thing), averaging just over 8 points per game in over 27 minutes per night. Norris actually played in all 82 games for three straight seasons in Houston before coming to the Knicks in the 2003-2004 season.

To make his Knicks tenure even more special, his acquisition was the first trade ever made in the Isiah Thomas era. Norris career game with New York came on April 12, 2004, against the New Orleans Hornets. He played just under 40 minutes in relief of a resting Stephon Marbury, and scored 21 points. Moochie had never made the playoffs in his career prior to that season, and was pumped that he would finally be on a team playing in the postseason.

While the trade didn’t exactly catapult the Knicks into championship contention, Knicks fans are better off for having experienced Norris’ flair and style that was perhaps best suited for an appearance in The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.

Next. Bench favorites since 2010. dark

Honorable Mentions: Luc Longley, Michael Doleac, Jackie Butler, Jerome Williams, Trevor Ariza, Malik Rose, Maurice Taylor, Mardy Collins, Earl Barron