Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
League Search Page > NBA > New York Knicks > Roster & Statistics
The New York Knicks 1995-96 were powered by Patrick Ewing, whose scoring, rebounding, and rim protection remained the foundation of the team. John Starks provided secondary scoring and perimeter shooting, while Anthony Mason contributed versatile playmaking, rebounding, and defense from the frontcourt. The statistics reflect a physical, defense-first team that relied on interior strength, balanced rebounding, and complementary offensive production from its veteran core.
Roster
| NO. | PLAYER NAME | POS | HT | WT | DATE OF BIRTH | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | John Starks | SG | 6-5 | 180 | August 10, 1965 | Northern Oklahoma College, Oklahoma Junior College, Oklahoma State |
| 6 | Matt Fish | C | 6-11 | 235 | November 18, 1969 | UNC Wilmington |
| 6 | Charles Smith | PF | 6-10 | 230 | July 16, 1965 | Pitt |
| 7 | J.R. Reid | PF | 6-9 | 247 | March 31, 1968 | UNC |
| 11 | Derek Harper | PG | 6-4 | 185 | October 13, 1961 | Illinois |
| 14 | Anthony Mason | SF | 6-8 | 250 | December 14, 1966 | Tennessee State |
| 20 | Ron Grandison | PF | 6-6 | 215 | July 9, 1964 | University of California, Irvine, New Orleans |
| 21 | Charlie Ward | PG | 6-2 | 190 | October 12, 1970 | Florida State |
| 23 | Gary Grant | PG | 6-3 | 185 | April 21, 1965 | Michigan |
| 32 | Herb Williams | PF | 6-11 | 260 | February 16, 1958 | Ohio State |
| 33 | Patrick Ewing | C | 7-0 | 240 | August 5, 1962 | Georgetown |
| 34 | Charles Oakley | PF | 6-9 | 225 | December 18, 1963 | Virginia Union University |
| 35 | Doug Christie | SF | 6-6 | 200 | May 9, 1970 | Pepperdine |
| 40 | Willie Anderson | SG | 6-7 | 190 | January 8, 1967 | Georgia |
| 41 | Monty Williams | SF | 6-8 | 225 | October 8, 1971 | Notre Dame |
| 44 | Hubert Davis | SG | 6-5 | 183 | May 17, 1970 | UNC |
| 54 | Brad Lohaus | PF | 6-11 | 230 | September 29, 1964 | Iowa |
Regular Season Per Game
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Ewing | C | 33 | 76 | 76 | 36.6 | 22.5 | 10.6 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 19.2 | 8.9 | .466 | 0.4 | 0.1 | .143 | 6.1 | 4.6 | .761 |
| Anthony Mason | SF | 29 | 82 | 82 | 42.2 | 14.6 | 9.3 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 9.7 | 5.5 | .563 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 3.6 | .720 | |
| Derek Harper | PG | 34 | 82 | 82 | 35.3 | 14.0 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 11.5 | 5.3 | .464 | 4.0 | 1.5 | .372 | 2.5 | 1.9 | .757 |
| John Starks | SG | 30 | 81 | 71 | 30.8 | 12.6 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 10.4 | 4.6 | .443 | 4.9 | 1.8 | .361 | 2.1 | 1.6 | .753 |
| Hubert Davis | SG | 25 | 74 | 14 | 24.0 | 10.7 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 7.6 | 3.7 | .486 | 3.6 | 1.7 | .476 | 1.7 | 1.5 | .868 |
| Charles Oakley | PF | 32 | 53 | 51 | 33.5 | 11.4 | 8.7 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 8.5 | 4.0 | .471 | 0.5 | 0.1 | .269 | 4.0 | 3.3 | .833 |
| Charles Smith | PF | 30 | 41 | 4 | 21.7 | 7.4 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 7.2 | 2.8 | .388 | 0.4 | 0.0 | .133 | 2.5 | 1.8 | .709 |
| Charlie Ward | PG | 25 | 62 | 1 | 12.7 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 1.4 | .399 | 1.6 | 0.5 | .333 | 0.9 | 0.6 | .685 |
| Gary Grant | PG | 30 | 47 | 1 | 12.7 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 3.9 | 1.9 | .486 | 0.5 | 0.2 | .333 | 1.2 | 1.0 | .828 |
| J.R. Reid | PF | 27 | 33 | 16 | 20.3 | 6.6 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 4.8 | 2.7 | .550 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .782 | |
| Willie Anderson | SG | 29 | 27 | 2 | 18.4 | 5.0 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 4.9 | 2.1 | .421 | 0.9 | 0.2 | .200 | 1.1 | 0.7 | .613 |
| Herb Williams | PF | 37 | 43 | 2 | 12.6 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 3.3 | 1.4 | .410 | 0.1 | 0.0 | .250 | 0.5 | 0.3 | .650 |
| Doug Christie | SF | 25 | 23 | 0 | 9.5 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 1.5 | .479 | 0.8 | 0.4 | .526 | 1.0 | 0.6 | .591 |
| Brad Lohaus | PF | 31 | 23 | 7 | 14.1 | 3.9 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 1.4 | .405 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .421 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.000 |
| Monty Williams | SF | 24 | 14 | 0 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 0.5 | .318 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | .625 | |
| Ron Grandison | PF | 31 | 6 | 0 | 9.5 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 1.2 | .467 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | .667 | |
| Matt Fish | C | 26 | 2 | 1 | 8.5 | 6.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | .600 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | .000 | |
| Team Totals | 82 | 82 | 241.8 | 97.2 | 40.0 | 22.2 | 7.9 | 4.6 | 15.5 | 77.8 | 36.6 | .471 | 15.7 | 5.9 | .377 | 23.8 | 18.0 | .757 |
Playoff Per Game
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Ewing | C | 33 | 8 | 8 | 41.0 | 21.5 | 10.6 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 17.1 | 8.1 | .474 | 0.3 | 0.1 | .500 | 7.9 | 5.1 | .651 |
| John Starks | SG | 30 | 8 | 8 | 39.3 | 16.0 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 3.1 | 10.9 | 4.9 | .448 | 5.6 | 2.6 | .467 | 4.9 | 3.6 | .744 |
| Charles Oakley | PF | 32 | 8 | 8 | 38.5 | 13.1 | 8.6 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 9.8 | 4.9 | .500 | 0.8 | 0.3 | .333 | 4.5 | 3.1 | .694 |
| Anthony Mason | SF | 29 | 8 | 8 | 43.8 | 12.6 | 7.8 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 9.8 | 5.1 | .526 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 2.4 | .679 | |
| Derek Harper | PG | 34 | 8 | 8 | 36.6 | 10.0 | 2.1 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 10.3 | 3.6 | .354 | 4.4 | 1.4 | .314 | 1.9 | 1.4 | .733 |
| Hubert Davis | SG | 25 | 8 | 0 | 18.1 | 6.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 2.1 | .548 | 2.4 | 1.3 | .526 | 1.4 | 1.1 | .818 |
| Charlie Ward | PG | 25 | 7 | 0 | 13.1 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 1.9 | .481 | 1.7 | 0.4 | .250 | 1.0 | 0.4 | .429 |
| Willie Anderson | SG | 29 | 4 | 0 | 16.0 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 5.5 | 1.8 | .318 | 1.5 | 0.3 | .167 | 1.8 | 1.5 | .857 |
| Herb Williams | PF | 37 | 5 | 0 | 6.6 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | .600 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | .750 | |
| Gary Grant | PG | 30 | 1 | 0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | .400 | 3.0 | 2.0 | .667 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| J.R. Reid | PF | 27 | 1 | 0 | 7.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Ron Grandison | PF | 31 | 2 | 0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.5 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Team Totals | 8 | 8 | 243.1 | 88.6 | 37.0 | 18.6 | 6.5 | 3.8 | 17.8 | 69.3 | 32.0 | .462 | 16.1 | 6.4 | .395 | 26.3 | 18.3 | .695 |
Regular Season Per 36 Mins
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | Min | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Ewing | C | 33 | 76 | 76 | 2783 | 22.1 | 10.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 18.8 | 8.8 | .466 | 0.4 | 0.1 | .143 | 6.0 | 4.5 | .761 |
| Anthony Mason | SF | 29 | 82 | 82 | 3457 | 12.5 | 8.0 | 3.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 8.3 | 4.7 | .563 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.3 | 3.1 | .720 | |
| Derek Harper | PG | 34 | 82 | 82 | 2893 | 14.3 | 2.5 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 11.7 | 5.4 | .464 | 4.0 | 1.5 | .372 | 2.6 | 1.9 | .757 |
| John Starks | SG | 30 | 81 | 71 | 2491 | 14.8 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 12.2 | 5.4 | .443 | 5.7 | 2.1 | .361 | 2.5 | 1.9 | .753 |
| Hubert Davis | SG | 25 | 74 | 14 | 1773 | 16.0 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 11.5 | 5.6 | .486 | 5.4 | 2.6 | .476 | 2.6 | 2.3 | .868 |
| Charles Oakley | PF | 32 | 53 | 51 | 1775 | 12.3 | 9.3 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 9.1 | 4.3 | .471 | 0.5 | 0.1 | .269 | 4.3 | 3.5 | .833 |
| Charles Smith | PF | 30 | 41 | 4 | 890 | 12.3 | 6.5 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 11.9 | 4.6 | .388 | 0.6 | 0.1 | .133 | 4.2 | 3.0 | .709 |
| Charlie Ward | PG | 25 | 62 | 1 | 787 | 11.2 | 4.7 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 3.6 | 10.0 | 4.0 | .399 | 4.5 | 1.5 | .333 | 2.5 | 1.7 | .685 |
| Gary Grant | PG | 30 | 47 | 1 | 596 | 14.0 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 2.7 | 10.9 | 5.3 | .486 | 1.4 | 0.5 | .333 | 3.5 | 2.9 | .828 |
| J.R. Reid | PF | 27 | 33 | 16 | 670 | 11.8 | 7.1 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 8.6 | 4.7 | .550 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.3 | .782 | |
| Willie Anderson | SG | 29 | 27 | 2 | 496 | 9.9 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 9.7 | 4.1 | .421 | 1.8 | 0.4 | .200 | 2.3 | 1.4 | .613 |
| Herb Williams | PF | 37 | 43 | 2 | 540 | 8.8 | 5.5 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 9.6 | 3.9 | .410 | 0.3 | 0.1 | .250 | 1.3 | 0.9 | .650 |
| Doug Christie | SF | 25 | 23 | 0 | 218 | 15.4 | 5.6 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 12.1 | 5.8 | .479 | 3.1 | 1.7 | .526 | 3.6 | 2.1 | .591 |
| Brad Lohaus | PF | 31 | 23 | 7 | 325 | 10.0 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 8.8 | 3.5 | .405 | 6.3 | 2.7 | .421 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.000 |
| Monty Williams | SF | 24 | 14 | 0 | 62 | 11.0 | 9.9 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 12.8 | 4.1 | .318 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.6 | 2.9 | .625 | |
| Ron Grandison | PF | 31 | 6 | 0 | 57 | 11.4 | 8.2 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 9.5 | 4.4 | .467 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 2.5 | .667 | |
| Matt Fish | C | 26 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 25.4 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 21.2 | 12.7 | .600 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 0.0 | .000 |
Playoff Per 36 Mins
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | Min | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Ewing | C | 33 | 8 | 8 | 328 | 18.9 | 9.3 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 15.0 | 7.1 | .474 | 0.2 | 0.1 | .500 | 6.9 | 4.5 | .651 |
| John Starks | SG | 30 | 8 | 8 | 314 | 14.7 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 2.9 | 10.0 | 4.5 | .448 | 5.2 | 2.4 | .467 | 4.5 | 3.3 | .744 |
| Hubert Davis | SG | 25 | 8 | 0 | 145 | 13.2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 7.7 | 4.2 | .548 | 4.7 | 2.5 | .526 | 2.7 | 2.2 | .818 |
| Charles Oakley | PF | 32 | 8 | 8 | 308 | 12.3 | 8.1 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 9.1 | 4.6 | .500 | 0.7 | 0.2 | .333 | 4.2 | 2.9 | .694 |
| Charlie Ward | PG | 25 | 7 | 0 | 92 | 12.5 | 3.5 | 6.7 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 10.6 | 5.1 | .481 | 4.7 | 1.2 | .250 | 2.7 | 1.2 | .429 |
| Anthony Mason | SF | 29 | 8 | 8 | 350 | 10.4 | 6.4 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 8.0 | 4.2 | .526 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 2.0 | .679 | |
| Derek Harper | PG | 34 | 8 | 8 | 293 | 9.8 | 2.1 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 10.1 | 3.6 | .354 | 4.3 | 1.4 | .314 | 1.8 | 1.4 | .733 |
| Willie Anderson | SG | 29 | 4 | 0 | 64 | 11.8 | 5.1 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 12.4 | 3.9 | .318 | 3.4 | 0.6 | .167 | 3.9 | 3.4 | .857 |
| Herb Williams | PF | 37 | 5 | 0 | 33 | 9.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 5.5 | 3.3 | .600 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.4 | 3.3 | .750 | |
| Gary Grant | PG | 30 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 27.0 | 13.5 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 22.5 | 9.0 | .400 | 13.5 | 9.0 | .667 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| J.R. Reid | PF | 27 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 10.3 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Ron Grandison | PF | 31 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 12.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Regular Season Totals
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | Min | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Ewing | C | 33 | 76 | 76 | 2783 | 1711 | 806 | 160 | 68 | 184 | 221 | 1456 | 678 | .466 | 28 | 4 | .143 | 461 | 351 | .761 |
| Anthony Mason | SF | 29 | 82 | 82 | 3457 | 1196 | 764 | 363 | 69 | 34 | 211 | 798 | 449 | .563 | 0 | 0 | 414 | 298 | .720 | |
| Derek Harper | PG | 34 | 82 | 82 | 2893 | 1149 | 202 | 352 | 131 | 5 | 178 | 939 | 436 | .464 | 325 | 121 | .372 | 206 | 156 | .757 |
| John Starks | SG | 30 | 81 | 71 | 2491 | 1024 | 237 | 315 | 103 | 11 | 156 | 846 | 375 | .443 | 396 | 143 | .361 | 174 | 131 | .753 |
| Hubert Davis | SG | 25 | 74 | 14 | 1773 | 789 | 123 | 103 | 31 | 8 | 63 | 566 | 275 | .486 | 267 | 127 | .476 | 129 | 112 | .868 |
| Charles Oakley | PF | 32 | 53 | 51 | 1775 | 604 | 460 | 137 | 58 | 14 | 104 | 448 | 211 | .471 | 26 | 7 | .269 | 210 | 175 | .833 |
| Charles Smith | PF | 30 | 41 | 4 | 890 | 303 | 160 | 29 | 18 | 51 | 61 | 294 | 114 | .388 | 15 | 2 | .133 | 103 | 73 | .709 |
| Charlie Ward | PG | 25 | 62 | 1 | 787 | 244 | 102 | 132 | 54 | 6 | 79 | 218 | 87 | .399 | 99 | 33 | .333 | 54 | 37 | .685 |
| Gary Grant | PG | 30 | 47 | 1 | 596 | 232 | 52 | 69 | 39 | 3 | 45 | 181 | 88 | .486 | 24 | 8 | .333 | 58 | 48 | .828 |
| J.R. Reid | PF | 27 | 33 | 16 | 670 | 219 | 132 | 28 | 18 | 7 | 30 | 160 | 88 | .550 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 43 | .782 | |
| Willie Anderson | SG | 29 | 27 | 2 | 496 | 136 | 60 | 48 | 17 | 8 | 24 | 133 | 56 | .421 | 25 | 5 | .200 | 31 | 19 | .613 |
| Herb Williams | PF | 37 | 43 | 2 | 540 | 132 | 82 | 27 | 13 | 31 | 22 | 144 | 59 | .410 | 4 | 1 | .250 | 20 | 13 | .650 |
| Doug Christie | SF | 25 | 23 | 0 | 218 | 93 | 34 | 25 | 12 | 3 | 19 | 73 | 35 | .479 | 19 | 10 | .526 | 22 | 13 | .591 |
| Brad Lohaus | PF | 31 | 23 | 7 | 325 | 90 | 31 | 27 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 79 | 32 | .405 | 57 | 24 | .421 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 |
| Monty Williams | SF | 24 | 14 | 0 | 62 | 19 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 22 | 7 | .318 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | .625 | |
| Ron Grandison | PF | 31 | 6 | 0 | 57 | 18 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | .467 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | .667 | |
| Matt Fish | C | 26 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 6 | .600 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | |
| Team Totals | 82 | 82 | 19830 | 7971 | 3278 | 1822 | 645 | 377 | 1230 | 6382 | 3003 | .471 | 1285 | 485 | .377 | 1954 | 1480 | .757 |
Playoff Totals
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | Min | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Ewing | C | 33 | 8 | 8 | 328 | 172 | 85 | 15 | 1 | 25 | 30 | 137 | 65 | .474 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 63 | 41 | .651 |
| John Starks | SG | 30 | 8 | 8 | 314 | 128 | 29 | 33 | 13 | 1 | 25 | 87 | 39 | .448 | 45 | 21 | .467 | 39 | 29 | .744 |
| Charles Oakley | PF | 32 | 8 | 8 | 308 | 105 | 69 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 28 | 78 | 39 | .500 | 6 | 2 | .333 | 36 | 25 | .694 |
| Anthony Mason | SF | 29 | 8 | 8 | 350 | 101 | 62 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 78 | 41 | .526 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 19 | .679 | |
| Derek Harper | PG | 34 | 8 | 8 | 293 | 80 | 17 | 38 | 10 | 1 | 14 | 82 | 29 | .354 | 35 | 11 | .314 | 15 | 11 | .733 |
| Hubert Davis | SG | 25 | 8 | 0 | 145 | 53 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 31 | 17 | .548 | 19 | 10 | .526 | 11 | 9 | .818 |
| Charlie Ward | PG | 25 | 7 | 0 | 92 | 32 | 9 | 17 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 27 | 13 | .481 | 12 | 3 | .250 | 7 | 3 | .429 |
| Willie Anderson | SG | 29 | 4 | 0 | 64 | 21 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 7 | .318 | 6 | 1 | .167 | 7 | 6 | .857 |
| Herb Williams | PF | 37 | 5 | 0 | 33 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | .600 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | .750 | |
| Gary Grant | PG | 30 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | .400 | 3 | 2 | .667 | 0 | 0 | |
| J.R. Reid | PF | 27 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Ron Grandison | PF | 31 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Team Totals | 8 | 8 | 1945 | 709 | 296 | 149 | 52 | 30 | 139 | 554 | 256 | .462 | 129 | 51 | .395 | 210 | 146 | .695 |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Ewing | Franchise Interior Engine (1.1) | 36.6 | High | 22.5 | 10.6 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 101.64 | The Knicks still ran their offense through Ewing’s interior gravity, with his post scoring and defensive presence forming the structural base of the roster. His 2.4 blocks per game also underline how much responsibility he carried on the back end, while the broader reporting on this Knicks era consistently depicts Ewing as the defensive anchor around which New York’s physical identity was built. Independent retrospective on the Ewing-led Knicks | NBA All-Star (1996) |
| Anthony Mason | Point-Forward Offensive Hub (1.1) | 42.2 | High | 14.6 | 9.3 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 77.88 | Mason’s defining feature was how much creation New York could get from a power-sized forward who could rebound, initiate offense and find cutters without needing a conventional point guard possession after possession. Don Nelson’s Knicks gave Mason an unusually expansive role, and later reporting specifically identifies his increased responsibility and position-fluid usage as one of Nelson’s major tactical ideas. Posting and Toasting on Don Nelson’s Knicks approach | — |
| Charles Oakley | Physical Frontcourt Enforcer (1.05) | 33.5 | Medium | 11.4 | 8.7 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 55.67 | Oakley supplied the rugged interior work that allowed New York’s more creative pieces to operate without softening the team’s physical edge. His value went beyond scoring; rebounding position, screens, interior resistance and willingness to absorb the difficult defensive assignment were central to the Knicks identity, a role later independent coverage still associates closely with his New York years. Posting and Toasting’s Knicks power-forward retrospective | — |
| Derek Harper | Veteran Floor General (1.05) | 35.3 | Medium | 14.0 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 51.98 | Harper remained the stabilizing veteran at the point, responsible for organizing possessions while also providing enough perimeter scoring to prevent defenses from loading entirely toward Ewing. His importance was particularly tied to control and decision-making rather than raw usage, giving a roster undergoing a coaching transition a dependable half-court organizer. | — |
| John Starks | Perimeter Shot-Creation Guard (1.05) | 30.8 | Medium | 12.6 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 48.05 | Starks brought the volatility New York’s half-court offense otherwise lacked, attacking off the dribble, spacing the floor and pressuring opposing guards defensively. His career identity with the Knicks was built around that combination of toughness and shot-making, and independent retrospective coverage emphasizes both his defensive intensity and his willingness to take difficult shots in high-pressure situations. AS basketball retrospective on Starks and the Knicks identity | — |
| Hubert Davis | Movement Shooting Specialist (1.0) | 24.0 | Medium | 10.7 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 31.46 | Davis functioned as a floor-spacing specialist whose value came from making defenses pay when they collapsed toward the Knicks’ interior scorers. Nelson’s more free-flowing offensive approach gave Davis increased responsibility, and his .476 three-point shooting shows why his perimeter shooting could materially change the geometry of New York’s second-unit offense. Posting and Toasting on Don Nelson’s Knicks approach | — |
| Charles Smith | Interior Scoring Reserve (1.0) | 21.7 | Low | 7.4 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 27.20 | Smith was primarily an interior scoring and physical frontcourt option rather than a creator, fitting the bruising style that had defined New York’s forward rotation. His season was interrupted by the February trade to San Antonio, leaving his Knicks role fragmented rather than allowing him to establish a consistent place within the rotation. 1995-96 Knicks transaction coverage | — |
| J.R. Reid | Interior Rotation Finisher (1.05) | 20.3 | Low | 6.6 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 25.41 | Reid entered the Knicks rotation as a physical interior option after the midseason trade, giving New York another big body capable of finishing around the basket and competing on the glass. His .550 field-goal percentage reflects a role built around selective interior attempts rather than perimeter creation, and his 16 starts show that he was trusted for more than emergency minutes. 1995-96 Knicks transaction coverage | — |
| Willie Anderson | Veteran Wing Utility Piece (1.0) | 18.4 | Low | 5.0 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 19.80 | Anderson’s contribution was largely connective: he could handle some secondary creation, defend the wing and keep possessions moving without demanding touches. His arrival from Toronto came during the roster reshuffling, leaving him with a relatively narrow role, but the 1.8 assists against limited scoring usage show the passing element he brought to the reserve perimeter group. 1995-96 Knicks transaction coverage | — |
| Charlie Ward | Defensive Point Guard Reserve (1.0) | 12.7 | Low | 3.9 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 17.20 | Ward’s early Knicks role was built around ball pressure, defensive activity and basic offensive organization rather than scoring volume. He appeared in 62 games but started only once, fitting the profile of a young reserve point guard being asked to protect possessions and give the veteran backcourt occasional relief. Charlie Ward player archive and season context | — |
| Matt Fish | Emergency Interior Reserve (1.0) | 8.5 | Low | 6.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 17.00 | Fish had only two appearances, so there is very little independent season-specific coverage from which to construct a meaningful tactical assessment. The available record points to an emergency center role, with his limited sample reflecting spot duty rather than a genuine rotation responsibility. | Limited contemporary independent coverage available; emergency roster role inferred cautiously from season usage. |
| Gary Grant | Backup Ballhandler (1.0) | 12.7 | Low | 4.9 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 16.80 | Grant served as a reserve organizer during a season in which New York’s point-guard hierarchy remained anchored by Harper. His modest scoring load and 1.5 assists per game fit a low-usage ballhandling assignment, with the veteran guard providing depth rather than functioning as another offensive focal point. 1995-96 Knicks roster and transaction record | — |
| Doug Christie | Defensive Wing Development Piece (1.0) | 9.5 | Low | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 14.40 | Christie had only a brief New York stint before being included in the February trade to Toronto, so his role never developed beyond a small reserve assignment. Even in limited minutes, the profile was that of a defense-first wing with enough passing ability to keep the ball moving rather than a player asked to manufacture offense. 1995-96 Knicks transaction coverage | — |
| Brad Lohaus | Stretch Frontcourt Reserve (1.0) | 14.1 | Low | 3.9 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 14.20 | Lohaus gave New York a different frontcourt look because he could pull opposing bigs away from the paint and attempt threes, an unusual skill for a reserve power forward of that era. Acquired with Reid in the February deal, he remained a situational piece rather than displacing the team’s established interior rotation. 1995-96 Knicks transaction coverage | — |
| Herb Williams | Veteran Interior Stabilizer (1.0) | 12.6 | Low | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 13.20 | Williams’ value came from veteran positioning, size and familiarity with New York’s physical frontcourt style rather than offensive volume. His role was disrupted by the February trade to Toronto and subsequent return, which explains why his season reads more like situational depth than a stable rotation assignment. 1995-96 Knicks transaction coverage | — |
| Ron Grandison | Short-Term Frontcourt Depth (1.0) | 9.5 | Low | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 12.80 | Grandison was essentially a roster-pressure valve, arriving late in the season on short-term contracts while New York navigated its changing frontcourt personnel. With only six appearances, there is limited contemporary independent coverage of his tactical responsibilities, so his role is best described as emergency depth rather than a conventional rotation position. 1995-96 Knicks transaction coverage | — |
| Monty Williams | End-of-Rotation Wing (1.0) | 4.4 | Low | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 6.00 | Williams was a developmental reserve whose season was cut short by the February trade to San Antonio. His four-point-four minutes per game and fourteen appearances indicate that New York viewed him primarily as depth behind Mason and the veteran wing group rather than as a player with a defined offensive responsibility. 1995-96 Knicks transaction coverage | — |
| Team Totals | Team | 241.8 | — | 97.2 | 40.0 | 22.2 | 12.5 | — | The roster combined Ewing’s interior scoring and rim protection with Mason’s unusually expansive point-forward responsibilities, Harper’s veteran organization and the physical frontcourt presence of Oakley. The midseason coaching and personnel changes altered the rotation, but the team’s defining structure remained built around size, half-court defense and multiple secondary playmakers. Independent retrospective on the 1995-96 Knicks transition | — |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Ewing | Franchise Post Anchor (1.1) | 41.0 | High (1.2) | 21.5 | 10.6 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 98.21 | Interior offensive hub and defensive backbone, Ewing remained the Knicks’ most important half-court matchup. Against Chicago he was repeatedly asked to battle Dennis Rodman and Luc Longley inside, while his 3.1 blocks reflected the rim protection New York needed to stay in a series against the 72-win Bulls. Contemporary coverage also highlighted his Game 3 response, when he and John Starks supplied New York’s decisive fourth-quarter and overtime scoring. Washington Post playoff report | NBA All-Star (1996) |
| Anthony Mason | Point-Forward Offensive Hub (1.1) | 43.8 | High (1.2) | 12.6 | 7.8 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 64.15 | Versatile point-forward and physical matchup piece, Mason was one of the Knicks’ primary connective players throughout the run. New York leaned on his ability to handle the ball, initiate from the forward position and punish smaller defenders, while his huge minutes load showed how heavily Jeff Van Gundy depended on the veteran frontcourt. Independent retrospectives have specifically singled out Mason’s combination of defensive tenacity and offensive playmaking as central to his Knicks identity. ESPN Anthony Mason retrospective | — |
| John Starks | Primary Perimeter Shot Creator (1.05) | 39.3 | High (1.2) | 16.0 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 64.01 | Aggressive perimeter creator and emotional offensive spark, Starks was asked to manufacture offense whenever the Knicks’ half-court possessions bogged down. His series swung dramatically from an ugly shooting performance in Game 1 to 30 points in the pivotal Game 3 overtime win, where his outside shooting and late-game aggression helped New York become the only team to beat Chicago during the Bulls’ first 15 playoff games. Washington Post Game 3 coverage | — |
| Charles Oakley | Defensive Frontcourt Enforcer (1.05) | 38.5 | Medium (1.1) | 13.1 | 8.6 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 56.60 | Physical defensive enforcer and rebounding specialist, Oakley gave the Knicks their most confrontational interior presence alongside Ewing and Mason. His job was not simply to collect rebounds; he was expected to make Chicago’s frontcourt uncomfortable, protect the glass and absorb the hard defensive assignments. Contemporary coverage repeatedly framed the series as a brutally physical matchup, with Oakley’s toughness a major part of New York’s identity. El País playoff coverage | — |
| Derek Harper | Veteran Point-of-Attack Organizer (1.05) | 36.6 | Medium (1.1) | 10.0 | 2.1 | 4.8 | 1.4 | 42.27 | Veteran floor general and primary defensive organizer, Harper carried a particularly demanding assignment against Michael Jordan while also being responsible for settling New York’s offense. He guarded Jordan for long stretches and remained a trusted starter despite the offensive limitations that surfaced against Chicago. Harper’s bruised shoulder and strained neck late in the series further illustrated how much physical responsibility he was carrying. Straits Times playoff report | — |
| Hubert Davis | Perimeter Spacing Specialist (1.0) | 18.1 | Low (1.0) | 6.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 17.20 | Floor-spacing specialist and secondary scoring option, Davis supplied a very different offensive look from New York’s bruising starting group. He was used as a reserve shooter rather than a creator, with his value tied to stretching the defense and making the occasional open jumper around Ewing’s interior touches. His limited role became particularly apparent against Chicago, where he never entered the starting group despite remaining part of the playoff rotation. Bleacher Report Hubert Davis retrospective | — |
| Charlie Ward | Defensive Change-of-Pace Guard (1.0) | 13.1 | Low (1.0) | 4.6 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 19.80 | Defensive change-of-pace guard, Ward gave New York fresh legs and ball pressure when the veteran backcourt needed relief. His most useful playoff stretch came in Game 3 against Chicago, when he played 20 minutes and produced an energetic two-way contribution while Harper struggled offensively. That willingness to provide pressure defense and secondary playmaking made him a useful situational piece despite coming off the bench. Land of Basketball playoff series record | — |
| Gary Grant | Emergency Ballhandling Reserve (1.0) | 8.0 | Low (1.0) | 6.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 20.00 | Emergency ballhandling reserve with almost no sustained playoff role, Grant was used only briefly when New York needed another veteran guard. The limited independent coverage available from the series does not support a broader tactical description, so his impact is best viewed as situational depth rather than a meaningful part of the regular rotation. | Limited contemporary independent coverage available; his playoff role was largely situational. |
| Willie Anderson | Defensive Utility Wing (1.0) | 16.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 17.80 | Defensive utility wing and veteran reserve, Anderson was valued more for perimeter defense and lineup flexibility than offensive creation. His role expanded enough to produce 22 minutes in the deciding Game 5 against Chicago, where he contributed two steals and five rebounds while New York’s main starters were forced into heavy workloads. The Knicks had acquired him during the season specifically as part of a reshaped veteran rotation. RealGM 1995-96 transaction record | — |
| J.R. Reid | Interior Matchup Reserve (1.0) | 7.0 | Low (1.0) | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 8.00 | Interior matchup reserve, Reid never established a meaningful playoff rotation role after arriving in the midseason frontcourt reshuffle. His lone playoff appearance came against Chicago, reflecting how little the Knicks trusted their reserve bigs once the postseason tightened into a short rotation around Ewing, Mason and Oakley. Contemporary coverage of the roster transition offers only limited player-specific discussion of Reid’s playoff responsibilities. | Limited contemporary independent coverage available; one-game playoff role was strictly situational. |
| Herb Williams | Veteran Interior Insurance (1.0) | 6.6 | Low (1.0) | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 4.40 | Veteran interior insurance, Williams provided experience and size when New York needed a short spell from its primary frontcourt. His minutes were extremely limited, and the Knicks increasingly relied on Ewing, Mason and Oakley as the postseason progressed. Independent reporting around the series portrays the New York frontcourt as one of its defining strengths, leaving Williams primarily in an emergency-support role. El País Knicks-Bulls playoff coverage | — |
| Ron Grandison | End-of-Rotation Frontcourt Depth (1.0) | 1.5 | Low (1.0) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | End-of-rotation frontcourt depth, Grandison saw only token postseason action and was not part of the Knicks’ regular playoff rotation. Contemporary independent coverage provides very little player-specific analysis of his role, so there is no reliable basis for assigning him a larger tactical responsibility than emergency depth behind New York’s established frontcourt trio. Land of Basketball Game 5 coverage | — |
| Team Totals | — | 243.1 | — | 88.6 | 37.0 | 18.6 | 10.3 | — | **New York’s playoff identity was built around an enormous frontcourt workload: Ewing, Mason and Oakley all averaged more than 38 minutes, while the offense depended heavily on Ewing’s post presence, Mason’s point-forward skills and Starks’ perimeter shot creation. The Knicks swept Cleveland before pushing Chicago to five games, but the lack of offensive depth and creativity ultimately left the veteran core carrying too much of the burden against the eventual champions. Los Angeles Times Bulls-Knicks series retrospective | — |