I think criteria for numbers going to the rafters should be based on team impact, NYC impact, and popularity with fans. Championships would just be a bonus. By my logic Spree, Melo, Oak, and BK deserve a jersey in the rafters. At least arguably. I missed BK's Knick run. I was just getting into basketball back then and I was rocking with the Lakers and Magic Johnson. Knicks came on my radar when they drafted Ewing and I been rolling ever since.
Spree: Brought excitement to the Garden and gave us the first player a legit threat to score 20 other than Ewing in the Ewing era. No Starks was not a legit threat for that. He could score 3 points as often as he could score 20. H20 didn't average 20 on a consistent basis until Ewing was gone. LJ back was done when he came.
Oak: I hated Oak offensively. But he was the heart of the early 90s Knicks and Ewings enforcer. His rugged style of play defined NYC at the time. He deserves a jersey. Plus Oak could rebound his ass off despite not being able to jump over a phone book.
BK: Like I said, I missed his Knick run other than the few games he played at the end of Ewings rookie year. But his name definitely rung out in my circle. When he returned, Ewing was hurt for the season but I was like damn. This dude is nice. NY let him go at the end of that season and he became an all-star again in Washington but I used to wonder what could have been with a King-Ewing-Mark Jackson core.
Melo: Don't front. After whiffing on Lebron during the summer 2010 free agency period, Melo was a nice consolation prize. 2010-2011 Melo was a top 7 player. Don't front. Just stop it. Gallo & Chandler can't stay healthy and haven't amounted to anything worthwhile lamenting losing. We even got Ray Felton back a few seasons later. Mozgov?
Melo gave us great Garden moments, wild scoring outbursts, and returned us to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Stop fronting. Mike Woodson's 54 win team was the pinnacle of Melo's Knick career and showed what he could accomplish with competent pieces around him. He led the league in scoring and was a legit MVP candidate. Just stop. Unfortunately that team was too old and Stat's knees were too damaged to sustain past that season. And you Knickas have never forgiven Melo since. I remember when we first got Melo one of you Knickas were gushing about talking to your older brother and you supposedly asked "was this what it was like to have Bernard King on the team??
"
Your brother: "Yeah
"
So just stop Knickas. Melo can go to the rafters too.
Spree: Brought excitement to the Garden and gave us the first player a legit threat to score 20 other than Ewing in the Ewing era. No Starks was not a legit threat for that. He could score 3 points as often as he could score 20. H20 didn't average 20 on a consistent basis until Ewing was gone. LJ back was done when he came.
Oak: I hated Oak offensively. But he was the heart of the early 90s Knicks and Ewings enforcer. His rugged style of play defined NYC at the time. He deserves a jersey. Plus Oak could rebound his ass off despite not being able to jump over a phone book.
BK: Like I said, I missed his Knick run other than the few games he played at the end of Ewings rookie year. But his name definitely rung out in my circle. When he returned, Ewing was hurt for the season but I was like damn. This dude is nice. NY let him go at the end of that season and he became an all-star again in Washington but I used to wonder what could have been with a King-Ewing-Mark Jackson core.
Melo: Don't front. After whiffing on Lebron during the summer 2010 free agency period, Melo was a nice consolation prize. 2010-2011 Melo was a top 7 player. Don't front. Just stop it. Gallo & Chandler can't stay healthy and haven't amounted to anything worthwhile lamenting losing. We even got Ray Felton back a few seasons later. Mozgov?
Melo gave us great Garden moments, wild scoring outbursts, and returned us to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Stop fronting. Mike Woodson's 54 win team was the pinnacle of Melo's Knick career and showed what he could accomplish with competent pieces around him. He led the league in scoring and was a legit MVP candidate. Just stop. Unfortunately that team was too old and Stat's knees were too damaged to sustain past that season. And you Knickas have never forgiven Melo since. I remember when we first got Melo one of you Knickas were gushing about talking to your older brother and you supposedly asked "was this what it was like to have Bernard King on the team??
"Your brother: "Yeah
"So just stop Knickas. Melo can go to the rafters too.
At an underwhelming run being one of the greatest runs in Knicks history. Consititlently missing the playoffs in a weak eastern conference doesn't equal having Jersey retirements. The dumb shyt I read on thecoli man.
