Looking back at the four best-undrafted talents that the New York Knicks helped put on the map.
The New York Knicks are one of the most iconic franchises in the NBA. They have a storied history and even though they haven’t experienced the most success over the last few decades, the league as a whole is always in a better place when New York is relevant.
As you would expect, the Knicks have churned out some of the biggest and best players the NBA has ever seen. But they’ve also helped jumpstart careers for some of the best underdog stories that the league has to offer.
The unlikelihood of success stories from undrafted players in the NBA
While there have been hundreds of undrafted players that have made a career for themselves in the league, there have only been five that have ever been named an “All-Star.” And one of those players was a product of the Knicks.
Let’s explore the four best-undrafted talents that the Knicks helped put on the map or jumpstart their respective NBA careers.
4. Timofey Mozgov, 2010 (undrafted)
Career achievements: NBA Champion (2016)
In somewhat of a surprise move, the New York Knicks signed Russian center Timofey Mozgov during the summer of 2010. During his rookie season in New York, Mozgov may have only averaged four points and three rebounds per game but he did flash enough on the occasion that suggested he could develop into a rotation player in the NBA.
Unfortunately, Mozgov’s stint in New York didn’t last long as he was included in a blockbuster package that helped the Knicks land Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets. And that’s when Mozgov’s career truly took off.
Mozgov would go on to play eight years in the NBA and averaged 10 points and seven rebounds on 56 percent shooting from the field in 2014-15 during his best season with the Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers.
He would also sign a lucrative four-year, $64 million with the Los Angeles Lakers during the summer of 2016.