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5 Knicks role players who will never be forgotten for their services

By Desmond Novack

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07 : Charlie Ward #21 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Washington Wizards at the MCI Center on December 7, 2002 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07 : Charlie Ward #21 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Washington Wizards at the MCI Center on December 7, 2002 in Washington, DC. 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 G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Over the years, the New York Knicks have had several role players who have come and gone with some leaving their marks on the team, and some not.

While these players were not stars by any means, they made their names known with their flashy play, gritty defense, or just the general excitement they brought on the court when they played.

The Knicks fanbase has always been iconic for loving and admiring their role players, even when they weren’t always all that good. This love is something that has always been fun, as it shows just how passionate the fanbase is about their team.

5 New York Knicks role players who will never be forgotten

5. Charlie Ward

The former Heisman Trophy winning QB turned NBA point guard, Charlie Ward would be selected by the Knicks in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft. While he did not have the greatest career statistically, only averaging 6.5 PPG, 4.2 APG, and 1.3 SPG in his 10 seasons in New York, Ward was more known for his elite defense and, for the time, his great three-point shooting.

Ward was a huge part of the famed 1999 NBA Championship run, leading the Knicks’ elite defense from the eighth seed to the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs where they would eventually lose in five games.

Despite this, Ward was the definition of effort during his time in New York, even putting it all on the line during his epic fight against P.J. Brown in the 1997 playoffs.

While he may not have had the big moments of some other role players in Knicks history, his background of transitioning from another sport, alongside his unrelenting effort, stamped his name in the memory of every fan as one of the best role players in team history.