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

9. Charlie Ward (PG) – No. 26 pick in 1994 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Knicks):  580 GP, 6.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.3 STL, 0.2 BLK, 1.7 TOV, 41.3 FG%, 36.6 3P%, 77.0 FT%

The name Charlie Ward is always going to be held in high regard at Florida State for college football, but it should be respected in many ways in the Big Apple. Ward was a surprise first round pick by the Knicks in 1994 after just winning the Heisman trophy in football, so many critics did not expect much. It wasn’t until the 1995-96 season he started to see more playing time, eventually becoming the team’s starting point guard in 1997 orchestrating Knicks teams constantly in playoff contention.

Ward spent 10 years as a member of the Knicks, splitting most of his minutes with other point guards such as Derrick Harper and Chris Childs. He currently ranks in the team’s top-five in three point field goals made (598) and in the top 10 all-time in steals (744) and assists (2,451).

The overlooked guard will always be remembered for his consistency and hounding defense on the league’s top point guards. He should also be the sneakiest win in a trivia contest of who started at point guard during the Knicks’ 1999 NBA Finals run?