Let’s start this off by being completely honest about New York’s point guard history. For the better part of the last three decades, the position has been a total nightmare. The Knicks spent years wandering through a wasteland, hoping for someone competent enough to run a simple pick-and-roll or bring the ball up without causing a turnover against a press. As fans, we talked ourselves into the Emmanuel Mudiay reclamation project. We lived through the Alexey Shved era. We found ourselves debating Frank Ntilikina’s defensive metrics and trying to convince each other that Chris Duhon was a long-term answer.
However, when you trudge through the muck and zoom out a bit, a different story comes to life. When the Knicks actually have an elite floor general, the team does not just compete. They win championships.
This Mt. Rushmore is not about empty box scores. It is not a mountain for guys who sold a lot of shoes and put up 20 points a night while the team zombie-walked to 50 losses. Yeah, I am looking at you, Stephon Marbury. It is not even about brief, two-week flashes of global phenomenon status, either. Jeremy Lin, we will always love you, but a fortnight does not make the mountain. Our Mt. Rushmore is reserved for impact on winning, setting the culture, and elevating the franchise when it mattered most.
Two spots on the mountain are already set. Just look to 1970, 1973, and 2026. Today, we look to carve out the final two faces. Of course, we need to show some love to the undisputed point guard royalty in New York.
Walt “Clyde” Frazier may be known by most younger fans as the guy with the cool suits and rhymes for days. But before he blessed the MSG Network with his commentary, he served as the engine behind the Knicks’ only two championships of the 20th century. Without him, New York basketball history looks very different.
For his era, Frazier’s numbers are insane. Thriving at both ends of the court, he averaged 19.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game, while also making the All-Defensive First Team seven times. In a time dominated by the likes of Jerry West and Oscar Robertson, Clyde settled in as the premier two-way perimeter player. Consistently turning defense into transition offense, he possessed a top-notch ability to read passing lanes and cause turnovers.
The main reason Frazier’s face is the first one carved into our Mt. Rushmore of Knicks floor generals is Game 7 of the 1970 Finals. Yes, we all know the game because of the Willis Reed injury and the legendary tunnel walk. However, the only reason the Knicks actually won that game was that Walt completely carried the team. On the biggest stage imaginable, he recorded 36 points, 19 assists, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals. To this day, his performance in that game remains one of the most clutch in NBA history.
After Frazier, the next obvious point guard to make the mountain is Jalen Brunson. When Leon Rose signed Brunson away from Dallas, the national media had a field day dubbing the acquisition a massive overpay for an undersized secondary option. Boy were they all wrong. Instead, Brunson pulled the Knicks out of the dark ages and turned New York back into the basketball hotbed it’s supposed to be.
Brunson’s footwork in the paint, his midrange mastery, and his unmatched will to win late in games transformed New York’s gritty, hard-working roster into an offensive powerhouse. He racked up All-NBA selections, typically kept his point total close to 28 points per game, and took on the heaviest offensive burden.
Of course, his spot was cemented when he led the Knicks to the 2026 NBA Championship. Breaking the curse that haunted this fanbase for generations, Brunson buried the 90s heartbreaks and 2000s embarrassments for good. There is no debate that his face is right next to Clyde’s on the giant rock.
So who fills the rest of Mt. Rushmore? This is where the real debate begins. There are a few point guards who left their mark on the franchise, but only two can join Clyde and Brunson.
If we consider breathing life back into Madison Square Garden, Mark Jackson has a case. Drafted 18th overall in 1987 out of local St. John’s, Jackson immediately electrified his hometown team after the Knicks suffered through a rough few years in the mid-80s.
Averaging 13.6 points and 10.6 assists a game, Jackson won the 1988 Rookie of the Year. The next season, he made his way to the All-Star team. Flashy, tough, and elite at setting up his teammates, Jackson embodied a true New York point guard. He successfully orchestrated the offense, assisting in the rise of another Knicks legend, Patrick Ewing. Mastering the alley-oop and executing the teardrop floater, Jackson helped build a foundation of success that lasted a decade.
Sometimes, it serves us well to dive back into New York’s deep history, even if the highlights can be tricky to decipher.
Dick McGuire was the original point guard behind Knicks basketball. Another St. John’s product, “Tricky Dick” was a skillful and unselfish playmaker known for his behind-the-back passes. Leading the NBA in assists as a rookie in the 1949-1950 season, McGuire made five All-Star teams during his eight seasons in New York.
Of course, the real argument for including him is the sustained success the Knicks experienced with him at point guard. He led New York to three consecutive NBA Finals, garnering enough respect in the franchise to share in the retirement of his number 15, along with Earl Monroe. Though most of us were not around to watch McGuire strut his stuff, you don’t lead a team to three straight Finals and share the rafters with “The Pearl” for being a slouch.
We cannot have a serious conversation about the point guard position without showing a little love to Charlie Ward. Possessing all the traits of the ‘90s Knicks, he was a true glue guy and a fan favorite.
A former Heisman Trophy winner, Ward successfully translated his football player mentality to the basketball court. Never the most athletic or fastest player, he earned his playing time through intelligence and toughness. Ward started 68 games during the lockout-shortened 1999 season and ran the point for the eighth-seeded Knicks as they made a miraculous run to the NBA Finals. A complete pest defensively, he also served as a reliable 3-point shooter for his era.
While it’s important to mention Ward, he does fall just short of making the mountain. An elite role player, he lacked the franchise-altering accolades of Jackson or McGuire.
After traveling through the eras, sifting through the stats, and considering the cultural significance and impact on winning, the final Mt. Rushmore for Knicks floor generals is set. At the end of the day, the mountain belongs to Walt Frazier, Jalen Brunson, Dick McGuire, and Mark Jackson. We have our two champions in Clyde and Brunson representing the highest moments in New York basketball. We have a pioneer responsible for building an early foundation and setting the standard in McGuire. Finally, there is the hometown kid who helped bring magic back to the Garden in Jackson.
So, where did I go wrong? Is it right to leave a member of the 1999 run off the mountain, or should Ward replace McGuire? DoesMarbury’ss raw talent warrant deeper consideration, or was it right to write him off completely? Make sure to share your thoughts and your point guard Mt. Rushmore below.
See More:
* [Knicks Analysis](/knicks-analysis)
* [Knicks History](/knicks-history)