15 stars you forgot played for the New York Knicks
7. Steve Francis
In yet another “what if”, Steve Francis‘ story could have gone much differently had he been luckier when it comes to injuries.
On Feb. 22, 2006, Francis was traded to the New York Knicks, in exchange for a young Trevor Ariza and Penny Hardaway. Francis would spend about 18 months in New York, before getting traded to the Portland Trail Blazers who would immediately cut him.
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Even though Francis had some injury issues prior to his move to the Knicks, his problems became much worse once he moved to The Big Apple. His constant tendonitis in his right knee prevented him from showcasing his true talents in front of the NY crowd.
Steve Francis, in Player’s Tribune, summing up stint in NY: “It’s definitely not worth talking about those Knicks years. ...It was a mess, man. It takes you 5 minutes of being in the locker room before you realize: Nope. No wins here. You can tell in a minute. It’s a culture.”
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) March 17, 2018
Francis was the first player to win the Rookie of the Year award for this century, narrowly edging out No.1 pick Elton Brand.
He would go on to blossom almost instantly, earning three All-Star selections during his first 5 seasons in the NBA. Steve “Franchise” version was a baller straight out of the neighborhood and a staggering athlete to watch.