Second-greatest player in the history of each NBA franchise

New York Knicks: Walt Frazier

Greatest Player: Patrick Ewing

The New York Knicks of the 1970s were some of the most beloved teams in franchise history, and Walt Frazier is a big reason why.

With so many offensive weapons on New York’s roster, the responsibility of engaging them all fell on the lap of the point guard. A perennial All-Star by his third season, Frazier was an ideal man for the job as a two-way floor general.

Frazier’s emergence into an All-Star directly coincided with New York’s rise to championship status, resulting in the franchise’s first championship and one of the most memorable games in league history.

Everyone knows of Willis Reed famously walking out of the tunnel for Game 7 of the 1970 Finals against the Lakers following a muscle tear two games prior and hitting two baskets.

Few are told of the minutes that followed, where Fraziers carried the Knicks to the win with 36 points, 19 assists and seven rebounds.

A return to the Finals two seasons later came in defeat before the Knicks bounced back to claim the 1973 title due in part to Frazier’s 16.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists in a five-game series win over LA.

Career Knicks averages of 19.3 points and 6.3 assists per game are good. So is a Hall of Fame nod. But it’s the two championships Frazier brought to a historic franchise and basketball-crazed town that help make him a fan-favorite to this day.