The New York Knicks are on the cusp of yet another late lottery pick in the NBA draft. While picking at No. 11 isn’t ideal, especially when they’ll potentially miss out on top talents like Jaden Ivey, looking back through NBA history, this isn’t the worst position to be in.
In recent years, we’ve seen players like Domantas Sabonis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Myles Turner and James Bouknight all be taken at this spot. If the Knicks are looking for an impact player to join this young core that’s full of potential, then the No. 11 pick could be a whole lot worse.
This year, New York will have plenty of options to choose from, with names like Johnny Davis, Dyson Daniels, Mark Williams, Tari Eason and Jalen Duren all expected to remain on the board when the Knicks’ selection comes around. But that’s assuming that New York won’t move up to No. 4 like some have predicted in recent days.
5 greatest NBA players (including two formers Knicks) to be drafted at No. 11
Whether the Knicks indeed move up to take a superstar like Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith Jr., and Ivey or stay at No. 11, there’s no reason to think they can’t find a player that will help this team immediately. The following five players prove to us that superstar level players can be taken anywhere in the NBA draft.
New York Knicks</a> are on the cusp of yet another late lottery pick in the NBA draft. While picking at No. 11 isn’t ideal, especially when they’ll potentially miss out on top talents like Jaden Ivey, looking back through NBA history, this isn’t the worst position to be in.</p>
<p>In recent years, we’ve seen players like Domantas Sabonis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Myles Turner and James Bouknight all be taken at this spot. If the Knicks are looking for an impact player to join this young core that’s full of potential, then the No. 11 pick could be a whole lot worse.</p>
<p>This year, New York will have plenty of options to choose from, with names like Johnny Davis, Dyson Daniels, Mark Williams, Tari Eason and Jalen Duren all expected to remain on the board when the Knicks’ selection comes around. But that’s assuming that New York won’t move up to No. 4 <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/01/espn-nba-draft-analyst-jonathan-givony-bold-prediction-knicks/">like some have predicted in recent days</a>.</p>
<h2>5 greatest NBA players (including two formers Knicks) to be drafted at No. 11</h2>
<p>Whether the Knicks indeed move up to take a superstar like Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith Jr., and Ivey or stay at No. 11, there’s no reason to think they can’t find a player that will help this team immediately. The following five players prove to us that superstar level players can be taken anywhere in the NBA draft.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A sharpshooter out of Duke </a>
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<img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-128996" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1170,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F06%2F141193075.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, JJ Redick" width="1600" height="1170" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/141193075.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/141193075-768x562.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">JJ Redick, Orlando Magic. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
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<h3>5. JJ Redick (2006)</h3>
<p>JJ Redick may have never been a superstar player in the NBA, but he knew his role within the league and played it fantastically. He put in a solid 15-year term in the league, averaging a respectable 12.8 points per game with several teams such as the Magic, Mavericks, and Sixers.</p>
<p>Redick is likely most famous for his time as a Duke Blue Devil, where he became one of the most disliked college players of all time, but his NBA career is one that most college athletes would aspire to have. He was a valuable role player on every single team he played with throughout his years.</p>
<p>Redick ended his career without an NBA championship and many significant achievements (All-Star selections, MVPs, etc.), but he was a very valuable player and a great leader for his teams.</p>
<p>With the 11th overall pick, you can do a lot worse than a player like Redick. With the importance placed on 3-point shooting in today’s league, a guy like Redick may have been valued even higher than the No. 11 pick if he were leaving college for the NBA in today’s world.</p>
<p>But even back in 2006, his shooting skills were recognized, and the No. 11 overall pick became quite an impressive player throughout his career.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A former Knick </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128997" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2221,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F06%2F1161458319.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Kiki VanDeWeghe" width="3200" height="2221" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/1161458319.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/1161458319-768x533.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Kiki VanDeWeghe, New York Knicks. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>4. Kiki VanDeWeghe (1980)</h3>
<p>Over the years in the NBA, there have been many good scorers who turned out to be just that, and while that’s no bad thing, it leaves a lot of potential on the table.</p>
<p>Kiki VanDeWeghe is one such player, and although it’s unlikely that the former Knick makes the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, he was a great scorer over his 13-year career. He averaged almost 20 points per game for four teams — Denver, Portland, New York, and the Los Angeles Clippers.</p>
<p>VanDeWeghe’s peak came with the fantastic Nuggets teams of the early 80s, where in his best season, he would average over 29 points a game. While he won’t be that remembered by casual NBA fans due to his lack of big-time success as a player, he was someone that could always get it done on the court.</p>
<p>If this list were based on head coaching performances from No. 11 overall picks, VanDeWeghe may go down as the worst of all time, as his coaching record stands at a measly 12-53 in his one season for the New Jersey Nets. But as a player, VanDeWeghe was a key scorer in a very important era on some great teams.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A Knicks front office executive </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-129002" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1245,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F06%2F51708502.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Allan Houston" width="1600" height="1245" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/51708502.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/51708502-768x598.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Allan Houston, New York Knicks. (Photo by Matt Campbell/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>3. Allan Houston (1993)</h3>
<p>While Allan Houston was drafted in 1993 by the Pistons, most fans will remember him from <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"https://apnews.com/article/9dfbf65421881a5d42176bdaaf4d2368" target="_blank" rel="noopener">when he became a Knick</a> in 1996. He had plenty of memorable, game-winning moments at the Mecca, where he is regarded by most New York fans as a favorite, and it will remain that way perhaps forever.</p>
<p>The talented shooting guard was way ahead of his time, and throughout his fantastic career he managed to put up 17.3 points a game, with that number being cranked up to almost 20 points a game during his six career playoff runs.</p>
<p>Houston was never the best all-around player, perhaps due to being overshadowed by the likes of John Starks and Patrick Ewing, but Houston played his role perfectly. While he never quite starred for the team that drafted him, the Knicks knew just how good he was and would love to get an Allan Houston 2.0 in the 2022 NBA Draft.</p>
<p>There are players in this draft that fit this prototype, and if New York wants to rise through the ranks of the Eastern Conference in 2022-23, finding a modern-day Houston would be a good way to go about it.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #007BC1" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> A 3-time champion (and counting) </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-129003" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F06%2F1401248427.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/1401248427.jpeg 3200w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/1401248427-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
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<h3>2. Klay Thompson (2011)</h3>
<p>By the end of his career, Klay Thompson will likely go down as the No. 1 player on this list, as he already has three NBA Championships under his belt, and potentially a fourth. It’s his exploits as the prototype ‘3&D’ guy that makes him so valuable to the Golden State Warriors dynasty.</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>Along with fellow ‘Splash Brother’ Steph Curry, Thompson has put up incredible scoring runs over his 11-year career in the NBA. While his time is far from done, Thompson has already put together a Hall of Fame worthy career, as he is arguably one of the five greatest shooters in the history of basketball.</p>
<p>This Warriors team has been built off the back of their fantastic work in the draft, something the Knicks have aspired to do with the drafting of RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, and whoever they take this month.</p>
<p>Thompson is the perfect example of this. He wasn’t predicted to be a top pick in the 2011 draft, but through great scouting and excellent development, he, along with Curry and Draymond Green, have put together one of the NBA’s best dynasties.</p>
<p>Ultimately, if New York was able to land someone at No. 11 who’s somewhat comparable to Thompson, the organization should be over the moon. His exploits on both ends have taken the Warriors to heights that few expected when they drafted him over 10 years ago.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-129004" src=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1240,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fdailyknicks.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2022%2F06%2F51689262.jpeg" alt="New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Reggie Miller" width="1600" height="1240" srcset="https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/51689262.jpeg 1600w, https://dailyknicks.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2022/06/51689262-768x595.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers. (Photo by Matt Campbell/AFP via Getty Images) – New York Knicks</p>
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<h3>1. Reggie Miller (1987)</h3>
<p>Knicks fans won’t like seeing this name, as Reggie Miller in his prime with the Indiana Pacers became notorious for being a plague on the entire franchise. But compiling a career that lasted 18 years, including five NBA All-Star bids, is quite impressive and earns Miller the top spot on this list.</p>
<p>Throughout his career, Miller had countless highlights en route to averaging an impressive 18.2 points per game. But it was the playoffs in which Miller shone most bright, highlighted by two separate runs that saw him average 31 points per game (even if both of those runs only lasted four games).</p>
<p>We won’t go into Miller’s <a href=https://dailyknicks.com/2022/06/10/ranking-5-greatest-nba-players-drafted-no-11-honor-knicks-pick/"https://dailyknicks.com/2022/05/22/reggie-miller-believes-reason-star-players-stay-away-knicks/">post-playing career as an announcer</a>, as many fans believe that it’s as bad as what he did to New York at points in his career, but on the court, it’s hard to argue just how successful Miller became for a great Pacers squad.</p>
<p>He ended his career without an NBA championship, but dedicating an entire 18-year career to one franchise is impressive, and that’s just what Miller did for Indiana.</p>
<p>Until Ray Allen and Curry came along, Miller was regarded as one of, if not the best shooter of all time, and this is just another great example of the fact that you don’t need to be a top five pick in the NBA Draft to do great things in the league.</p>
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