New York Knicks: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

Mar 2, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Charlotte Hornets associate head coach Patrick Ewing against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Charlotte Hornets associate head coach Patrick Ewing against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Mar 2, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Charlotte Hornets associate head coach Patrick Ewing against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Charlotte Hornets associate head coach Patrick Ewing against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks have had plenty of luck in their team’s history regarding NBA Draft picks. Here are the franchise’s 10 best picks of all time.

The New York Knicks are one of the more iconic and profitable franchises in sports history, recently valued in Forbes magazine at $3.3 billion. Along with the profitable success has brought plenty of criticism and poor play that would value them much lower fundamentally.

The upcoming 2017 NBA Draft will provide the Knicks a opportunity to turn things around with another much-needed young star. The possible departure of perennial All-Star Carmelo Anthony will influence the team’s strategy moving forward.

All the draft talk regarding this year’s young talent brings back pleasant memories of when the Knicks actually made great selections. It’s always important to recognize the past to hopefully build positive karma heading into the future and in New York’s case, all levels of luck are welcomed.

With that in mind, here are the top 10 Knicks draft picks that have either made big strides with the franchise or led them to championship glory in the 1970s.

Honorable mentions:  Bill Cartwright (1979),  Gerald Wilkins (1985), Iman Shumpert (2011)