HarthorneWingo wrote:Chanel Bomber wrote:zappafrank wrote:Tweets:
someone explain to me why Oak is deserving of having his number retired?
did they win anything with him? NO
does he hold a bunch of team records? NO
is he in the HOF? NO
the same holds for Starks + Melo.
Melo's a Hall-of-Famer.
His case is comparable to Bernard King as far as getting his jersey retired is concerned.
I think the Knicks should retire both King and Melo.
Maybe but King was a much better player and he had the heart of a lion.
Still didn't achieve any more than Melo did.
One series win each. Two playoff appearances for King. Three for Melo.
One 2nd place finish in MVP voting for King. One 3rd place finish in MVP voting for Melo.
There's one season where King was clearly more efficient than Melo (1983-84). Otherwise it's pretty much a wash.
Perhaps King was the better player but not by much (I'm focusing on Melo's prime years aka his first 3.5 years in NY). I don't doubt that he was the better leader. But their accomplishments as Knicks are basically similar.