WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 07 : Charlie Ward #21 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Washington Wizards at the MCI Center on December 7, 2002 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
5 Knicks role players who will never be forgotten for their services
Hubert Davis, New York Knicks. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Allsport)
1. Hubert Davis
During his four-year tenure with the Knicks, Hubert Davis made his name known as one of the best three-point shooters in the league. He shot 40% or higher from behind the arc in three out of the four years he spent with the team.
In addition to this, Davis often came up clutch when it mattered, like when he hit two clutch free throws against the Bulls in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals. He helped the Knicks go on to win the series in seven games to eventually go to the NBA Finals.
In his four seasons in New York, Davis would average 9.5 PPG on 44.9% shooting from three. He was truly an elite shooter not only at the time but even by today’s standards as his stats are still impressive.
While Davis would sadly be traded to the Toronto Raptors in 1996, the time that he spent with the Knicks will never be forgotten.
New York Knicks</a> have had several role players who have come and gone with some leaving their marks on the team, and some not.</p>
<p>While these players were not stars by any means, they made their names known with their flashy play, gritty defense, or just the general excitement they brought on the court when they played.</p>
<p>The Knicks fanbase has always been iconic for loving and admiring their role players, even when they weren’t always all that good. This love is something that has always been fun, as it shows just how passionate the fanbase is about their team.</p>
<h2>5 New York Knicks role players who will never be forgotten</h2>
<h3>5. Charlie Ward</h3>
<p>The <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/08/06/5-knicks-role-players-never-forgotten-services/5/"https://dailyknicks.com/2015/02/01/charlie-ward-new-york-knicks-heisman-trophy-winner/">former Heisman Trophy winning QB turned NBA point guard</a>, Charlie Ward would be selected by the Knicks in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft. While he did not have the greatest career statistically, only averaging 6.5 PPG, 4.2 APG, and 1.3 SPG in his 10 seasons in New York, Ward was more known for his elite defense and, for the time, his great three-point shooting.</p>
<p>Ward was a huge part of the famed 1999 NBA Championship run, leading the Knicks’ elite defense from the eighth seed to the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs where they would eventually lose in five games.</p>
<p>Despite this, Ward was the definition of effort during his time in New York, even putting it all on the line during his epic fight against P.J. Brown in the 1997 playoffs.</p>
<p>While he may not have had the big moments of some other role players in Knicks history, his background of transitioning from another sport, alongside his unrelenting effort, stamped his name in the memory of every fan as one of the best role players in team history.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-131393 size-full" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/08/06/5-knicks-role-players-never-forgotten-services/5/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F96675745.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/96675745.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/96675745-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Nate Robinson, New York Knicks. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>4. Nate Robinson</h3>
<p>Whether it be his three slam dunk contest wins while standing at 5’9”, blocking a 7’6” Yao Ming, or his game-winner against the 76ers, Nate Robinson had his fair share of huge moments during his rather short tenure with the Knicks.</p>
<p>Despite only spending four-plus seasons with the Knicks and not making the playoffs in any of them, his flashy style of play and success for his height stole the hearts of fans after they traded for him in the 2005 NBA Draft.</p>
<p>While New York traded some pretty solid players in Quentin Richardson and Kurt Thomas to get the undersized guard, the excitement Robinson brought on the court was worth the price.</p>
<p>During Robinson’s time with the Knicks, he averaged 12.5 PPG, 2.8 APG, and 2.9 RPG. Despite not having the lengthy career of Charlie Ward, Robinson’s time in New York was truly something special. It’s just <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/08/06/5-knicks-role-players-never-forgotten-services/5/"https://dailyknicks.com/2019/08/25/new-york-knicks-2010-trade-unload-nate-robinson/#:~:text=So%2C%20before%20the%202010%20NBA,the%20look%20of%20both%20franchises.">a shame that he wasn’t around</a> for the Knicks’ playoff runs in the early 2010s.</p>
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<h3>3. Anthony Mason</h3>
<p>Despite only playing five years with the Knicks, Anthony Mason was <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/08/06/5-knicks-role-players-never-forgotten-services/5/"https://dailyknicks.com/2015/03/10/remembering-knicks-legend-anthony-mason/">a very important player during his tenure with the team</a>. He helped Patrick Ewing make the finals in 1994, while also being a key member of several deep playoff runs.</p>
<p>After having a long, tough journey into the NBA, Mason finally came into his own after signing with New York in 1991 and he became one of the toughest players in the entire league. During his five seasons with the Knicks, Mason averaged 9.9 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 2.6 APG, winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1995.</p>
<p>Mason never shied away from big moments in the playoffs either, racking up ten 15+ point playoff performances during his time with the Knicks. While this may not be the most impressive, it is worth noting that Mason was more of a defender than anything.</p>
<p>In addition to his play, Mason was part of a huge trade to the Charlotte Hornets that brought Larry Johnson to New York in 1996, who, as we know, was one of the biggest parts of the Knicks’ aforementioned 1999 finals run.</p>
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<h3>2. Iman Shumpert</h3>
<p>After being selected 17th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, it seemed like the future was bright for Iman Shumpert, as the gritty, defensive-oriented guard out of Georgia Tech was joining a Knicks team that desperately needed someone with his style of play.</p>
<p>Despite only spending three years in New York <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/08/06/5-knicks-role-players-never-forgotten-services/5/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/jr-smith-iman-shumpert-reveal-true-feelings-knicks-trade/">due to being stupidly traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for almost nothing in 2015</a>, the things Shumpert did for the Knicks will never be forgotten.</p>
<p>Following a rookie season in which he earned votes for the All-Defensive team, it seemed as if Shumpert was destined for greatness. However, during Game 1 of the first round of the 2012 Eastern Conference playoffs, Shumpert <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/08/06/5-knicks-role-players-never-forgotten-services/5/"https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/knicks-g-iman-shumpert-tears-acl-in-left-knee-out-for-6-to-8-months/#:~:text=Pick%2Dby%2DPick-,Knicks%20G%20Iman%20Shumpert%20tears%20ACL%20in%20left%20knee%2C%20out,6%2Dto%2D8%20months'&text=A%20promising%20rookie%20season%20is,ends%20his%202011%2D2012%20season." target="_blank" rel="noopener">went down with a torn ACL</a>.</p>
<p>While this would not have a major effect on his play, you could tell it hurt his chances of being great. Despite this, along with many other injuries he dealt with, Shumpert made his name known as one of the better defenders in the entire NBA during his time with the Knicks.</p>
<p>However, what most fans may remember him for was his insane athleticism. He was responsible for one of the greatest dunks in Knicks’ playoff history when he slammed down a filthy put-back dunk against the Pacers in the 2013 semifinals.</p>
<p>As unfortunate as it is that Shumpert did not spend much time in New York, I know several fans were very happy when he went on to win a championship with Cleveland in 2016.</p>
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<h3>1. Hubert Davis</h3>
<p>During his four-year tenure with the Knicks, Hubert Davis made his name known as one of the best three-point shooters in the league. He <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/08/06/5-knicks-role-players-never-forgotten-services/5/"https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/188/hubert-davis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shot 40% or higher</a> from behind the arc in three out of the four years he spent with the team.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>In addition to this, Davis often came up clutch when it mattered, like when he hit two clutch free throws against the Bulls in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals. He helped the Knicks go on to win the series in seven games to eventually go to the NBA Finals.</p>
<p>In his four seasons in New York, Davis would average 9.5 PPG on 44.9% shooting from three. He was truly an elite shooter not only at the time but even by today’s standards as his stats are still impressive.</p>
<p>While Davis would sadly be traded to the Toronto Raptors in 1996, the time that he spent with the Knicks will never be forgotten.</p>
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