For the better part of the last three decades, New York’s point guard position has been a total nightmare, just an absolute wasteland. We spent years watching this team wander around, hoping for someone, *anyone*, competent enough to run a simple pick-and-roll or just bring the ball up court without coughing it up against a press. What a brutal stretch, right? We actually tried to convince ourselves Emmanuel Mudiay was a reclamation project. We lived through the Alexey Shved era. And yeah, we found ourselves debating Frank Ntilikina’s defensive metrics or trying to convince each other Chris Duhon was a long-term answer. It was rough, man.
The Mountain’s Standard: No Empty Box Scores Allowed
But hold up, when you zoom out a bit from all that muck, a different story emerges. When the Knicks actually have an elite floor general, this team doesn’t just compete. They win championships. No way, man, this isn’t about empty box scores. This isn’t a mountain for guys who just sold a lot of shoes and put up 20 points a night while the team zombie-walked to 50 losses. Yeah, I’m looking at you, Stephon Marbury. And it’s not even about some brief, two-week flash of global phenomenon status, either. Jeremy Lin, we’ll always love you, but a fortnight doesn’t make the mountain. Our Mt. Rushmore is reserved for real impact on winning, setting the culture, and elevating the franchise when it mattered most. Two spots on this mountain are already set, carved in stone. You just gotta look at 1970, 1973, and that massive 2026 championship.
Clyde Frazier: The Undisputed King of the Court
The first undisputed spot on that mountain belongs to pure royalty: Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Yeah, younger fans might know him for the cool suits and rhymes on MSG Network, but before he blessed us with his commentary, he was the ENGINE behind the Knicks’ *only* two championships of the 20th century. Without Clyde, New York basketball history looks totally different, believe me. His numbers for his era are absolutely insane. He thrived on both ends, averaging 19.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game, while also making the All-Defensive First Team seven times. Seven times! In a time dominated by legends like Jerry West and Oscar Robertson, Clyde settled in as the premier two-way perimeter player. He consistently turned defense into transition offense, with a top-notch ability to read passing lanes and cause turnovers. That’s the kind of absolute legend you need at the point.
Now, with Clyde’s face proudly carved, and the 2026 championship solidifying another spot, we’re left with the thrilling task of carving out the final two faces for this epic mountain. Who else made that kind of impact? Who else elevated this franchise to championship glory? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
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