The greatest sixth man from each NBA team

Greatest sixth man in New York Knicks history: John Starks

The New York Knicks have a long and storied history, albeit one with only a pair of distant titles that pale in comparison to annual expectations. While a number of stars have rotated through the starting lineups for the Knicks, there have also been a number of talented players to come off the bench and make an impact at Madison Square Garden.

John Starks was just that sort of player for the Knicks in the 1990s. An undrafted free agent, Starks worked his way into the rotation and in 1991-92 played in all 82 games, starting zero, and put up 13.9 points per game in 25.8 minutes. The following season he pushed his way into the starting lineup and was a regular starter for much of four seasons, allowing teammate Anthony Mason to thrive as the sixth man and take home the hardware in 1995.

In 1994 Starks was named an All-Star for a Knicks team with championship aspirations under head coach Pat Riley, and indeed they fought through the Eastern Conference to reach the NBA Finals to face the Houston Rockets. He was incredible for six games as the Knicks pushed the series to seven games, only for his shot to leave him in the final contest. Starks shot 2-18 from the field and the Knicks lost the title to Houston and with it their best shot at a title in the modern era.

By 1996 Starks was back on the bench as a sixth man, and he won Sixth Man of the Year in a familiar role. Along with Mason and J.R. Smith, Starks makes the Knicks one of just two franchises with three different winners of the award. His career-defining moment in Game 7 of the 1994 Finals has stuck with him as many New York fans blame him for their loss. By the time the Knicks returned to the Finals in 1999 (another loss) Starks was gone.