Into the Top-10 Knicks of All-Time

The Knicks was able to draft Bill Bradley as a territorial pick because New York was one mile closer to Princeton than Philadelphia (home of the 76ers).

The most recent installment in our "The Top 75 Knicks of All Time" series finished off with Earl Monroe at the 11th spot, which means we are about to enter the Top 10. 

• 10. Allan Houston

Drafted 11th overall by the Pistons in the 1993 draft, Houston played three seasons in Detroit before hitting the free agent market in 1996 as a rising star. That summer, New York inked him to a seven-year deal worth around $55 million. Houston would replace John Starks as the team's starting shooting guard, with Starks serving as the squad's Sixth Man. Houston's picture-perfect form would be a mainstay in the Garden for the next nine years. 

Houston will forever have a special place in the hearts of Knicks fans because he drove a stake through the heart of Pat Riley on May 16, 1999. With time winding down in the deciding Game 5 of the Knicks-Heat first-round playoff series, Houston curled off a screen, caught the pass and took a couple of dribbles before releasing a running one-hander from 16 feet. The ball danced on the front of the rim and bounced off the backboard before falling through the net with 0.8 seconds left on the clock. New York became just the second eighth seed in the history of the NBA to knock off a number one seed. That Knicks team would eventually advance all the way to the Finals, which is the last time the 'Bockers have scaled those heights. 

Houston went to back-to-back All-Star games in 2000 and 2001 (the last New York guard to make an All-Star team!!) and is among Knicks' all-time leaders in several offensive categories. Houston ranks fourth on the franchise's all-time career scoring list, trailing only Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier and Willis Reed. He is also second in three-point field goals. Unfortunately, Houston is also remembered for signing a $100 million contract with the Knicks in 2001 and subsequently being forced into retirement due to injury issues. 

• 9. Carmelo Anthony

Ranking Melo is difficult, as he has played a majority of his career in Denver (564 career games as a Nugget vs. 412 as a Knick). Also, he enjoyed his greatest team success and playoff performances as a member of the Nuggets. Denver qualified for the postseason in each of his seven seasons. In contrast, the Knicks failed to make the playoffs in each of his final four years in New York.