Who is the Best New York Basketball Player?
If you ask someone to name the best New York basketball player, you will get a wide variety of answers. Some people would say, Clyde Frazier, others might say Dwayne Washington, while others would point out Connie Hawkins. But who is the best?
Shamorie Ponds
Shamorie Ponds is a very talented basketball player. This isn’t to say he’s the best of the bunch, but he has a good chance of being the best in New York. He can also do a few things you might not expect from a kid from Brooklyn.
As a freshman, he ranked in the top 50 nationally in points scored. His 573 points set the freshman record.
Ponds’ scoring output improved in his sophomore season. He averaged 17.4 points per game and 4.4 rebounds. He made more free throws and shot a better percentage from outside the arc.
Dwayne Washington
If you’re a New York basketball scene fan, you may know Dwayne Washington. He is known for his up-tempo, fast-pace played. But he also is a great leader and is well-verse in both playing and coaching.
Washington was one of the most highly recruit players in the country. He earned first-team All-Big East recognition from 1986 to 1987. In 2005, he was named to the conference’s all-time team.
Washington became a household name in New York even before he went to college. He was a star at Boys & Girls HS in Brooklyn and was the first overall pick in the 1983 National High School Basketball Player of the Year rankings.
Connie Hawkins
Connie Hawkins is one of the most underrated players in basketball history. His style of play and above-the-rim style made him the proto-Michael Jordan. He also paved the way for Julius Erving.
Connie, “The Hawk” Hawkins, was an athletic forward that was known for his high-flying dunks and acrobatics. He played in both the American Basketball League and the NBA.
He is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. However, he was banned from the NBA for point-shaving.
Billy Cunningham
Bill Cunningham is one of the most famous basketball players in the history of the NBA. He is a two-time All-Star member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He compiled a career record of 454 wins and 196 losses as a player.
In 1967, Bill Cunningham was a vital member of the Philadelphia 76ers team that won the championship. The team racked up a 68-13 record that season and won the Eastern Division title. They also defeated the New York Knicks in the playoffs.
Dolph Schayes
Dolph Schayes is a New York basketball player consider one of the best in the game’s history. He led the Syracuse Nationals to an NBA championship in 1955 and became an NBA Hall of Famer. He was also a 12-time All-Star during his playing career and scored over 15,000 points.
Dolph Schayes grew up in the Bronx and began his professional basketball career when he was just 20 years old. In his first season, he was named the Rookie of the Year.
Roger Brown
Roger Brown is the best New York basketball player of all time. His accomplishments in the game go far beyond his stats. He led the Indiana Pacers to three ABA titles and was one of the greatest one-on-one players in basketball history.
Roger Brown dominated the ABA in the 1960s. He helped the Pacers make five championship appearances. However, he was blackball by the NBA after his career was cut short by a gambling scandal.
As a high schooler, Roger Brown played for an amateur team in Dayton, Ohio. After a successful college career at Dayton, he signed a four-year deal with the Indiana Pacers.
Walter Berry
There is no doubt that Walter Berry is one of the most successful and renowned Basketball Players in the history of New York. The basketball legend, born on May 14, 1964, is known for his incredible athleticism and success in basketball.
He was drafted into the NBA in 1986 and has been with various teams. After playing his rookie season for the Portland Trail Blazers, he was trade to the San Antonio Spurs.
Clyde Frazier
Walt “Clyde” Frazier is one of the greatest basketball players. A New York Knicks player, he helped lead his team to two NBA titles in the 1970s. As a Knick, he was an All-Star seven times and an All-NBA selection. He also earned four All-NBA first teams.
During his career, he averaged 18.9 points per night. In the Knicks’ Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics, he had 36 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. His performance was deeme the best in NBA postseason history.