20 People who turned their backs on the New York Knicks

Charles Smith

When most Knicks fans think of Charles Smith, they think of Game 5 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals. With the series tied 2-2, Smith had a chance to win it for the Knicks in the final seconds. Instead, Smith missed four consecutive shots under the basket. Chicago went on to win the series, 4-2. 

Smith joined the Knicks ahead of the 1992-93 season. Like many other players on this list, it was thought that Smith would help New York win its third championship. His Knicks stint was full of promising flashes but ultimately resulted in disappointment. 

Before the 1996 deadline, the Knicks traded Smith to the Spurs to clear up cap space, as he was still owed $19.2 million of the $26 million deal he signed.

After Smith arrived in San Antonio, he filed a grievance against the Knicks, saying that he sustained “further damage” to his injured knee in New York because he wasn’t “fully informed” about the injury. The 1996-97 season with the Spurs was his last in the NBA. 

Smith is regarded as one of the most disliked Knicks players in franchise history. If only he had dunked the ball in 1993!