Knicks: 5 best free agent signings since 2000

3. Knicks best free agent signings since 2000: Chris Duhon

We didn’t really know it at the time, but New York Knicks point guard Chris Duhon was about to strike gold in a role that later became hallowed for its statistical output. Duhon was the first Mike D’Antoni starting point guard during the coach’s first couple of seasons in New York after he left the Phoenix Suns.

The Knicks signed Chris Duhon as an unrestricted free agent from the Chicago Bulls in the summer of 2008, almost a full two months after D’Antoni agreed to coach the team. It was an interesting time for D’Antoni to give the keys of his offense to a young player who had not exactly shown star potential early on in his career.

Stephon Marbury was still on the roster, but the new coach clearly did not feel like he was going to be a fit for what he wanted to run, so he entrusted the pass first point guard out of Duke University.

D’Antoni knew what Duhon could bring to the table, and called it out even before the 2008-2009 NBA season got underway.

"“I think you’ll have career years out of a lot of guys on this team, starting with the point guard,” D’Antoni said Via NY Times"

Duhon ended up spending two years with New York, and not surprisingly, his highest career assist per game averages took place during his tenure with the Knicks.

Perhaps his crowning achievement with the team took place on November 29, 2008, when he posted a Knicks franchise record 22 assists in a wild victory against the Golden State Warriors.