The New York Knicks

Have you ever heard of the Providence Steamrollers or the Toronto Huskies and wondered what they have to do with the New York Knicks? Well, along with seven other teams, they were all members of the original professional basketball league which eventually became the National Basketball Association. The New York Knickerbockers and the Boston Celtics are the only two teams to have stayed in the same city, keeping their original names since the beginning of the league. The Knicks in particular have had quite a history since playing their first game in 1946.

There are 17 former members of the New York Knicks in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Dick McGuire and Willis Reed are both in the Hall of Fame after storied careers playing for, and coaching, the Knicks. Even though Willis Reed's brief stint as the coach of the Knicks didn’t work out very well, he is considered the greatest Knick of all time, as he led the team to both of their NBA championships in the 1970’s. Willis Reed was also the league's Most Valuable Player in 1970, and won the NBA Championship MVP award in both of the Knick's title winning seasons.

The Knicks have retired a total of eight jersey numbers over the years, including the never worn number 613. The number 613 is significant because that is the number of Knicks victories that Red Holzman had during his coaching career. The most recent jersey retired by the Knicks is that of legendary center Patrick Ewing. Ewing was the first player ever picked under the NBA's draft lottery system. After his first two seasons, in which Ewing struggled with injuries, the 1987-88 Knicks barely made the playoffs on the last day of the season. With a healthy Ewing manning the front court, the Knicks then made the playoffs each of the next 13 years Ewing was with them. Ewing never lead the Knicks to a championship, as there always seemed to be a guy named Jordan who stood in the team's way.