NBA free agency: 30 worst free agent signings in NBA history
6 Years, $100 Million. Allan Houston. 5. player. 27. . New York Knicks
Worst free agency signings in NBA history: 5. Allan Houston, New York Knicks
Allan Houston had the glory days of his career with the New York Knicks. It’s also where he saw the demise of his career. Houston put up back-to-back NBA All-Star seasons in 2000 and 2001, marking solid reasoning for his contract extension in 2001, which paid him $100 million across six years.
He appeared in 77 contests in 2001-02, putting up 20.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while the Knicks finished with a 30-52 record. The following season, the Knicks went 37-45, despite seeing Houston average a career-high 22.5 points per game.
Things got a little better in 2003-04 when the team made the playoffs, but that’s when Houston begin facing knee issues. He missed 32 games during the regular season and the entire postseason which saw the Knicks get swept 4-0 in the first round by the then-New Jersey Nets.
Houston attempted to return in December of the 2004-05 NBA season, appearing in 20 games, but it looked like he was unable to recover from his lingering knee soreness in his left knee. He put up just 11.9 points, 2.1 assists and 1.2 rebounds per game in his final year in the NBA.
Houston retired from the league, hanging up his shoes for the Knicks with two years and $40 million left on his deal. He did manage to average 18.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 39.9 percent from the arc during his time in New York. However, injury woes made for a quick end for Houston.