Who are the Greatest Knicks Small and Power Forwards?

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Knicks Honor Great Forwards on Feb 24 Hardwood Classics Night presented by The History Channel

Who are the Greatest Knicks Small Forwards?

by Tom Kertes


The Knicks honor their great forwards on Thursday, February 24 as the Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers at The Garden for the season’s third Hardwood Classics Night presented by The History Channel. On Tuesday, NYKnicks.com reviewed the greatest Knick power forwards and in this article we give our two cents on the greatest Knicks small forwards.
NEW YORK, February 23, 2005 -- Just because the greatest Knick small forwards of all time include "only" one NBA Hall Of Famer -- as opposed to a record five centers and a trio of power forwards -- does that mean that the "three" spot was a relative New York weakness over the years? Not necessarily. In fact, the quality of depth at the position is loudly witnessed by the fact that Tom Gola, another Hall Of Famer, couldn't quite make the top five. "He was a great player -- but his stint with the Knicks was toward the twilight of his career," explains onetime Knick forward and longtime television commentator Cal Ramsey.

The top Knick "three-s" are a delightfully eclectic bunch as well -- really, what other team, at any position, could line up with the inventor of the gameface, a future U.S. Presidential Candidate, and Ramsey's roommate on the road?

1. BERNARD KING

Atlanta Hawks Hall Of Famer Dominique Wilkins once said of the King of New York: "He's the only forward I fear." And who could blame him? King was as intense and driven a player as the league has ever seen. "That's what made him unstoppable," says Knicks guard Mike Glenn who just missed playing with The King but watched him in awe both as an opponent and as a TV commentator. "That focus.....Bernard literally closed out the rest of the world when he was on the floor. Then he had that face on....Sure, players wore expressions before but, I'm telling you, the 'gameface' weas not called the 'gameface' until Bernard began to wear it."

"Bernard was quick, a terrific post player who also ran the floor relentlessly -- and he could shoot with the best of them," says Ramsey. "He was the best offensive forward the Knicks have ever had." Along with Bob McAdoo, probably the best offensive player as well.

His 26.5 ppg. average over four seasons is the second best in Knick annals to McAdoo's 26.7. His 32.9 ppg. average in the 1984-85 season is the Knicks highest ever, only to be topped by his magical 1984 playoffs (an unreal 34.8 ppg. over 12 games). All this on can't-miss 54.3 per cent shooting, which he elevated to 57.5 per cent at playoff-time and 60.3 in All-Star games.

King scored the most points in a Knicks playoff game (46 against Detroit in the same 1984 series TWICE), also tallying the most consecutive points (23) and the most fieldgoals (19) by a Knick in the same playoff series. During the regular season, he owns the Knicks two highest-scoring games (60 and 57 points), as well as three of the top six. He scored 50 or more points in five different games. He also holds the Knicks record for highest scoring half (40), most fieldgoals in a game made without a miss (11), and most freethrows made in a game (22).

2. BILL BRADLEY

The Hall OF Famer -- and Presidential Candidate -- was the ultimate "basic player," a tried-and-true hoop fundamentalist who hardly ever made a mistake on the floor and was the ideal fit for total team concept run by Coach Red Holzman on the classic Knicks NBA Championship teams of 1970 and '73.

"He was an excellent passer and handler, and a terrific team player as well -- but, as a shooter, he really stood out," says Glenn, a great pure shooter himself. "He was maybe the best ever. I used to study him relentlessly. Butch Beard, who was a Knicks assistant at the time, would make tapes for me of Bill Bradley doing his thing -- and we'd go over them together, picking up on things like his rotation on the ball, how he would bend his knees and his back on the free throw line creating an aerodynamic shot, and how he would use screens to pop free for that jumper. Those tapes were of tremendous help to me. At those things, Bill was the master."

3. XAVIER McDANIEL

During the 1991-92 season, "X" marked the three spot on a 51-31, Atlantic Division Champion Knick team -- and it was a spot opponents did their best to avoid. "Along with Charles Oakley and Anthony Mason, Xavier symbolized the Knicks toughness and defensive prowess throughout that era," says Glenn. The difference was that Oak and Mase were bulkadelic power forwards with muscles in places they didn't even know existed. The X-man was a primetime defensive intimidator at SMALL forward -- a real rarity and, as such, a downright maddening matchup.

"Opponents were literally afraid of "X", smiles Glenn. "They would hear his footsteps the minute he entered the building." "His fierceness and defense set the tone and thus were integral parts of a very good team," says Ramsey. "X" could score, too (13.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg as a Knick) but that particular Knicks team, led by Patrick Ewing and John Starks, had lots of scorers and McDaniel always insisted on playing within the team concept.

4. LATRELL SPREWELL

Due to the presence of the equally excellent Allan Houston, natural two guard Spree played small forward for the Knicks most of the time -- and played it exceedingly well. A quick, extra-athletic slasher to the hoop, he could often be a defensive stopper as well and his status as a dangerous streakshooter -- though he was not a pure shooter like Houston -- was well-acknowledged around the NBA.

Spree averaged 17.9 ppg. as a Knick, a production he raised to 19.5 ppg. during his three playoffs. He holds the Knicks record for most treys made in a game without a miss (9) and had 49 (vs. Boston in 2001) and 48 point games (vs. Milwaukee in 2002) which both fit snugly into the Knicks Top 20.

5. WILLIE NAULLS

"Naulls was one of the best offensive forwards we as an organzation have ever had," says Ramsey. "And not just because he was my roommate. We were on the same team with Carl Braun and Richie Guerin -- though those guys were getting a bit older by then -- and Naulls was our best player. He was a rugged rebounder and just a terrific all-around offensive force."

Naulls has indeed averaged a rare double double (19.3 ppg and 10.7 rpg) in his seven Knicks seasons. The four time NBA All-Star had a 49-point game against Detroit on Feb. 7. 1961 (tied for 14th highest scoring game in Knicks history) and holds the Knicks record with 23 fieldgoals made (vs. the Pistons in the same game).

Other remarkable Knick small forwards include Hall of Fame-r Gola, 1950-s great Carl Braun (14.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg as a Knick), pureshooting current Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe, Cazzie Russell (an outstanding backup to Bradley on the 1970 titlist team), and the ever-underrated Johnny Newman who scored 13.0 ppg., as a Knick and stood out as a defensive force as well.

An interesting oddity: 6-7 small forward Chris McNealy played just 17 minutes a game throughout his three-year Knicks career. But in a game against Washington on March 4. 1986 the sticky-mitted McNealy stole the ball 8 times, the second highest total ever for a New York Knick (behind Michael Ray Richardson's 9 at Chicago on Dec. 23. 1980).

McNealy has just 90 steals in his 108 games in New York. It must have been one of those nights.

출처: http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/small_forwards_050222.html

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Who are the Greatest Knicks Power Forwards?

by Tom Kertes


The Knicks honor their great forwards on Thursday, February 24 as the Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers at The Garden for the season’s third Hardwood Classics Night presented by The History Channel. Today we look at the greatest Knick power forwards and on Wednesday, NYKnicks.com will profile the greatest Knicks small forwards.
NEW YORK, February 22, 2005 -- What is extraordinary about the greatest Knick power forwards of all time is just how extraordinary they were -- and in more ways than one.

The excellence, in such rarified company, is a given, of course. But the type of excellence they offered....The power forward position, traditionally, has been one of well, raw power, with bulkadelic Adonises playing in-your-shirt defense, setting severe screens, scoring bone-crunchingly in the post, and hitting the boards with a physically fearsome vengeance. Anything beyond that was an unexpected extra, at best.

Except when it came to the Knicks premiere power forwards. The first thing that strikes you is what all-around players these powerhouse Knicks were -- and thus, almost without exception, how much more they provided to their teams than even the very highest standard of excellence at the position required.

These unique power forwards were tough matchups for opponents-- even before the term "matchups" became fashionable. And none was a tougher matchup than the best of them all:

1. DAVE DeBUSSCHERE

Double D may be the most organically important Knick of all time, in that many experts feel that his trade to the Knicks (for Hall of Fame center Walt Bellamy and guard Howard Komives on Dec. 19. 1968) allowed Willis Reed to move to his true (center) position and thus provided the final chemical piece to the Knicks championship puzzle of 1970 and '73. "The Knicks now had five players who were totally team-oriented and, with the exception of Willis, every one of them were exceptional ball-handlers and passers as well," onetime Knick power forward and TV commentator Cal Ramsey said. "That uniqueness amounted to the famous 'team-first' philosophy and style -- and, more than anything else, that uniqueness -- which the teams of the era found it impossible to match up with -- is what led to the two titles."

In addition to being the physical forward to take the pressure of Willis Reed, "Dave brought toughness, devastating defense, and a certain sense of completeness to those classic Knick teams," said onetime Knicks guard Mike Glenn. "He was the consummate team player," added Ramsey. "And, as such, the perfect fit for the consummate T.E.A.M."

DeBusschere, who did play some guard at the University of Detroit, was indeed a smooth handler and a perceptive passer -- in addition to being an outstanding outside shooter with range and a take-no-prisoners rebounder. He was an NBA All-Star in all five of his full Knicks seasons and made the NBA All-Defensive team six times as a Knick.

A true renaissance man, DeBusschere was also a major league baseball pitcher, a player-coach for the Detroit Pistons, served as General Manager for both the Knicks and the Nets and, as the final Commissioner of the ABA, was instrumental in the 1976 merger of the two leagues.

2. BOB MCADOO

In reality, Big Mac was a power forward playing mostly center -- but what did it matter? Noone that size at that time could shoot the ball with the range and accuracy of the 6-9 McAdoo. "He was unbelievable," recalls longtime Knicks radio commentator Spencer Ross. "He once told me, "Spence, if we had the three point shot in my time I would have averaged 40 points a game." As it is, during his three Knicks seasons Mac was "only" good for 26.7 ppg, as well as over 12 rebounds, per game and a ton of blocks.

What made Mac so unique was his athletic quickness -- besides his consummate shooting (over 53 per cent as a Knick, mostly from the parking lot) he could fly down the lane, beat his always-slower defender, and get dunks by the bushel. And his focus: "He was the natural scorer to end all natural scorers," smiles teammate Glenn. "He would just tell Ray (Williams) and the rest of us 'You'd better run with me because if you don't I'll run all by myself and score!' Then Red (Coach Holzman) would tell us to run with him because that way he'll take good shots."

"With all those fantastic face-up skills, he didn't fit any center mold anyone knew of back then," says another Knicks teammate, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. "But, man, would he fit the NBA center mold now!" McAdoo was probably the Dirk Nowitzki of his time -- and a player way ahead of his own time.

3. SPENCER HAYWOOD

"Spencer was an extremely widely-read, highly intelligent guy -- and all of that reflected on his game," Glenn said. "He was a very talented a very articulate player who really believed in the benefits of communication on the floor. He was also the man of the world, well-travelled and tremendously experienced in all kinds of ways. ABA, NBA, Olympic Games, the first guy ever to declare hardship as a college undergraduate -- he did it all. He really initiated that whole thing."

"Spencer was a terrific offensive player with an advanced post game," said Ramsey. "He could go comfortably inside and out, way before that was a fashionable thing to do for big-bodied 6-9 guys. As a scorer, he was the whole package."

Just how talented was Spencer Haywood? Try averaging 30.0 ppg and 19.3 rpg. in his outrageous ABA Rookie of the Year season for the Denver Rockets, an astounding production which he actually increasedto 36.7 ppg and 19.5 rpg. in the playoffs. He has also had five double-double average seasons in the NBA, including one (19.9 ppg and 11.3 rpg.) for the Knicks in 1975-76.

Haywood was a four-time NBA All-Star who averaged 16.2 ppg., 7.0 rpg and shot over 50 per cent in the Knicks 1978 playoff appearance. His Knicks career statistics are 17.3 ppg and 9.0 rpg while his combined NBA and ABA career numbers are an outstanding 20.3 ppg. and 10.3 rpg.

4. CHARLES OAKLEY

Oak was a unique player in many ways: for one, he was a NBA power forward -- and an outstanding one, at that -- without ever developing a single post move.

Once you overcome that well-nigh incomprehensible fact, Oakley's place in the Knicks power forward pantheon is beyond-safe unquestionable. He pretty much symbolized the patented defensive toughness the Knicks were so well-known for during the team's second most successful -- and No. 1 most successful in terms of length -- period (the late 1980-s through the 1990-s). During Oakley's ten seasons in New York (1989-99), the Knicks had just a single losing slate while making the playoffs every time and the NBA Finals twice. And Oak, a tremendous screen-setter, raging rebounder, surprising long range shooter, and all-around tough guy -- Patrick Ewing often called him the team's "true MVP" -- had many tangible things (10.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg during the regular season, up to 10.8 and 10.1 in the playoffs) and even more intangible ones to do with that.

"Oak was the guy who would sweep the floor to go after a loose ball," says Glenn. "He didn't care what he had to do in order to win ballgames. He had that extra intensity mixed with a pinch of intimidation. When Oak was on the team, no one wanted to mess with the Knicks."

5. JERRY LUCAS

During 1971-72 season, when Willis Reed got hurt, Lucas -- a natural forward at only 6-9 -- stepped into the center void and led the Knicks into the NBA Finals by averaging 16.7 ppg and 13.1 rebounds a game while playing out of position. He was an exceptional long range shooter -- "If we had the 'three' back then he would have led the league," says Ross -- with terrific toughness on the boards. With Willis back, Lucas backed him up in the middle next year while also playing full-time forward -- and the Knicks won the NBA title.

Presently Lucas is one of the nation's foremost memory-experts -- and, according to teammate Pearl, the seeds were sown back then. "He was Mr. Efficiency," smiles Monroe. "Jerry had everything figured out scientifically down to a tee, the angle of rebounds, the shooting percentage he had from different spots on the floor, you name it. His mind turned his very good talent into extraordinary production."

And list of powerful Knicks power forwards hardly ends there: Maurice Lucas was an outstanding enforcer-type who only played one season in New York. Bigbodied, and hugely versatile, Anthony Mason was "the best-handling Knick power forward ever, even better as a ballhandler than DeBusschere," according to Ramsey. Larry Johnson was a bit of a 'three and a half" but a very good one. Bob Boozer (15.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg as a Knick) was a tough customer who could do it all. And 6-8, 260-pound Lonnie Shelton was an enormous talent who was literally the quickest player on his two Knicks teams (13.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg. during 1976-78).

출처: http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/power_forwards_050222.html

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저 역시 닉스 포워드 하면 제일 먼저 오클리가 생각납니다

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Bernard King!!!

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많은 사람들이 버나드 킹이 정말 도미넌트했다고 하더군요.............스쿱 잭슨이 엄청난 팬이죠...............전문가들이 많이 좋아하더라고요....

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파워 포워드틱한 strength에...스몰 포워드틱한 운동량...거기에 코트 어디에서라도 득점 가능한...James Worthy가 수비하기에 제일 싫었던 선수라더군요...