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New York Knicks: 25 Best Players To Play For The Knicks

By Phil Watson

Mar 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; General view as the New York Knicks are introduced before the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; General view as the New York Knicks are introduced before the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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MANHATTAN, NY – CIRCA 1990’s: Guard John Starks #3 of the New York Knicks in action is guarded by Kendall Gil #13 of the Charlette Hornets circa early 1990’s during an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York. Starks played for the Knicks from 1990-98. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, NY – CIRCA 1990’s: Guard John Starks #3 of the New York Knicks in action is guarded by Kendall Gil #13 of the Charlette Hornets circa early 1990’s during an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York. Starks played for the Knicks from 1990-98. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

John Starks. 16. player. 27. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Unrestricted free agent, Oct. 1, 1990.. SG. 1990-98

John Starks came to the New York Knicks training camp expected to be nothing more than scrimmage fodder after he was signed in October 1990 after playing the previous year in the Continental Basketball Association and spending a summer in the World Basketball League.

Starks attempted to dunk on center Patrick Ewing during practice and injured his knee, preventing the Knicks from releasing him. By the time he was healthy, Trent Tucker was out with an injury and Starks had his chance.

NYK_16_STARKS
NYK_16_STARKS /

He made the most of it.

Starks was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 1996-97, was an All-Star in 1994 and made the All-Defensive team in 1992-93. He also led the NBA in 3-pointers in 1994-95.

He also helped the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1994, where they lost to the Houston Rockets in seven games. Starks averaged 17.7 points, 5.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 41.9 minutes per game in the series, shooting .368/.320/.769.

He spent nearly a decade in New York before he was traded with Terry Cummings and Chris Mills to the Golden State Warriors in January 1999 in exchange for Latrell Sprewell.

In eight seasons with the Knicks, Starks averaged 14.1 points, 4.0 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 28.7 minutes per game, shooting .423/.345/.769.

Undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 1988, he signed with the Warriors in October of that year, appearing in only 36 games before he was released in June 1989.

After going back to Golden State, he was traded in February 2000 as part of a three-team deal, ending up with the Chicago Bulls. In August 2000, he signed as a free agent with the Utah Jazz and retired after the 2001-02 season.

Starks is 48h in NBA history with 1,222 3-pointers.

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