This also holds true for the upcoming “Who Wore it Best?” rounds.
As we approach the dog days of summer, a similar sentiment applies to the next few rounds of “Who Wore it Best?” Before delving into “Who Wore it Best? #25,” it’s remarkable to think we are just 18 numbers away from completing the series. Taking into consideration the retired numbers 24 and 33, we will leave untouched, as well as the one-hit wonders of 28, 36, 46, 49, 67, 77, 85, and 91, and the many numbers that have never been worn Our two closest debates to date were segments #21 and #23, and with #34 likely going to Charles Oakley, #30 may serve as the last great debate between Bernard King and Julius Randle. But, before we get that far, we need to spark the debate over the #25.
There have been fourteen players in Knicks history to wear the #25. Milt Williams was the first to wear it in 1971, and Mamadi Diakite was the most recent Knick to rock the number in 7 total appearances for the Knicks this season for a total of 23 minutes.
Bill Cartwright seems the obvious choice, but Knicks fans of the ‘90s might favor Doc Rivers. Meanwhile, the younger generation may lean towards Derrick Rose, who wore the number during a tumultuous year many fans would prefer to forget in which he literally went missing in action, and most Knicks fans would like to forget.
Bill Cartwright: When I think of Bill Cartwright, I think of the Chicago Bulls big man of the early 90’s who was the team’s starting center during their first three-peat. I also think of the weirdest shooting form in league history. If you were born in the 80s like me and grew up on the Knicks-Bulls rivalry of the 90s, it would be hard as a kid to even understand that Cartwright was once a Knick, and a darn good one at that. Just how good was Cartwright? The Knicks drafted him 3rd overall in 1979, just two picks behind Magic Johnson. As a rookie, Cartwright made the 1980 NBA All-Star team (his lone All-Star appearance and was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team. During his rookie year in which he started all 82 games for the Knicks, Cartwright averaged a career-high 21.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. His play was just as stellar as his sophomore season during which he averaged 20.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game over another year without missing a single game.
Cartwright was a 7’1” and 245-pound big man who was developing into one of the league’s elite centers before lingering foot injuries began to take a toll on his body, forcing him to miss the entire 1984-85 season. Following that year, the Knicks drafted Patrick Ewing. As Ewing developed into the face of the franchise, Cartwright’s playing time and stock diminished year over year before ultimately being traded to the Chicago Bulls for Charles Oakley and two draft picks.
Throughout eight seasons with the Knicks, Cartwright appeared in 963 games, starting in 839 of them. His Knicks career averages were 16.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Without a doubt, he is the greatest Knick to wear #25, but to me, no matter how hard I try, I can’t shake the vision of a red Chicago Bulls #24 jersey.
Doc Rivers: Before Doc Rivers became one of the greatest coaches in the league, he served as a strong role player for the 90’s era Knicks between 1992-1994. Before joining the Knicks in 1992, Rivers played eight seasons with the Hawks, and one with the Clippers. In 1987, he made the All-Star team, averaging a career-high 14.2 points and a second career-best 9.3 assists per game.
The Knicks acquired Doc Rivers from the Clippers as part of a three-team deal with Orlando, trading their beloved point guard Mark Jackson. Joining a roster already filled with multiple stars, Rivers took on a more subdued role than he was accustomed to during the first nine years of his career. During his two seasons with the Knicks, Rivers appeared in 99 regular-season games, starting 64 of them. He averaged 7.7 points and 5.2 assists per game, with his scoring average nearly half of what it had been with the Hawks.
Rivers’ biggest claim to fame as a member of the Knicks came on March 23, 1993, when he started one of the most infamous brawls in team history. After taking a hard elbow to the chest from Suns point guard Kevin Johnson, Rivers, with the wind knocked out of him, fell to the floor. He quickly jumped to his feet and chased Johnson down the court. Fists flew, benches cleared, and ultimately six players were ejected. Knicks coach Pat Riley even ripped his pants during the melee.
After his stint with the Knicks, Rivers played two more years with the Spurs. Three years later, he began his head coaching career with the Orlando Magic, winning Coach of the Year honors in his first season. In 2004, Rivers took over as head coach of the Boston Celtics and led the team to an NBA championship in 2008. Rivers is currently the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, and as of the 2023-24 season, he has a career coaching record of 1,896-1,114. He is considered one of the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history.
Derrick Rose: This week’s segment marks the second time Derrick Rose has appeared in a “Who Wore it Best” segment, the first being “WWIB? #4.” While Rose played a pivotal role in his final year with the Knicks, serving as a mentor to Jalen Brunson during Brunson’s first year with the team, the same cannot be said about Rose’s first go-around with the Knicks in 2017 when he wore the #25 in honor of the late Ben Wilson, Chicago basketball legend whose life was taken to soon while still in high school.
New York Knicks v Toronto Raptors
Most Knicks fans would probably prefer to forget about Derrick Rose’s first stint with the team, which will likely hinder his chances in this week’s poll despite his talent. Midway through the 2017 season, tensions between Rose and the organization escalated to the point where Rose went AWOL, missing a game against the Pelicans and leaving the team unable to locate him. Two months later, after the situation appeared to be resolved, Rose tore his meniscus, requiring his fourth knee surgery in nine years. Throughout the season, Rose had made it clear that he didn’t want to remain with the team, and both sides eventually moved on.
The Knicks re-acquired Derrick Rose in a trade with the Timberwolves in 2021, but it was unclear which version of Rose they were getting. With Phil Jackson no longer running the team, Rose was reunited with his former Bulls coach, Tom Thibodeau. This reunion, along with his new number 4 jersey, seemed to breathe new life into Rose’s career. The negative attitude he was once perceived to have had vanished. Rose became a leader, embracing a bench role he had previously resisted. His influence extended beyond the court, as he mentored the Knicks’ younger players. The Knicks chose not to re-sign Rose last summer. He signed with Memphis, Rose signed with Memphis for his veteran leadership and ability to mentor their young gun (no pun intended) Ja Morant. He appeared in 24 games this past year, averaging eight points and 3.3 assists per game.