Forget the noise around point guard or shooting guard debates, because for the New York Knicks, the small forward spot? That’s where the real conversation starts. This ain’t just another position; it’s a goldmine, seriously. We’re talking pure scorers, gritty enforcers, and players who just *get* that quintessential New York City energy, matching it. The top two spots on this Mount Rushmore were simple to chisel in. Franchise legends, huge impacts on their eras, no brainer stuff. But spots three and four? That’s where the challenge truly kicks in. Let’s dive back into this mountain and get this thing settled, because the legacy is on the line.
Carmelo Anthony Pulled New York Out of the Dungeon
Okay, haters, let’s get that counterargument out of the way right now. Yes, his overall playoff resume during his Knicks tenure was far from perfect. Carmelo Anthony? The man took New York basketball out of the dungeon. He made it matter again. After what felt like ages inhabiting the NBA’s desert, one of basketball’s absolute greatest scorers willingly stepped up. He took on all that pressure of Madison Square Garden to drag the Knicks back to relevance. Melo was a complete offensive force, plain and simple. He had that physical strength to punish smaller defenders down low in the post, and then he’d effortlessly combine it with this soft, beautiful shooting touch from the perimeter.
He was the undisputed focal point of that legendary 2012-2013 54-win season, remember that? He captured the scoring title, dropping 28.7 points per game. Whether it was that mind-blowing 62-point explosion or those clutch threes he hit on Easter Sunday, Melo delivered moments. Moments that didn’t just win games, they defined a generation of Knicks basketball. He earned seven All-Star selections as a Knick, and get this, despite only playing six and a half seasons in New York, he still sits at seventh on the franchise’s all-time scoring list. There is absolutely no denying it: Carmelo Anthony’s face belongs on that mountain, end of story.
Bernard King’s Unstoppable Peak Before the Cruel Blow
Now, if we’re talking about pure, unadulterated peak performance, Bernard King might have actually had the highest ceiling of any single Knicks player. Before a devastating knee injury cruelly changed his entire career trajectory, King was arguably the most unstoppable player in the *entire NBA*. He was doing this when guys named Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were dominating! King was an absolute expert of the mid-range jumper, a one-person fast break, a force who completely overwhelmed defenders. His game was all about speed, raw power, and an unblockable release that just nobody could stop.
He captured the 1984-85 scoring title, averaging a mind-boggling 32.9 points per game. And who could forget Christmas Day against the Nets, when he just straight-up dropped 60 points? That’s the kind of performance that cements a legend.
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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