Who was the Knicks' first Rookie of the Year?

The Knicks' first Rookie of the Year was Willis Reed, who won the NBA award for the 1964–65 season. He became the first player in New York franchise history to receive the honor.

Reed joined the Knicks after playing at Grambling College and quickly established himself as a powerful center and rebounder. He earned NBA All-Rookie First Team recognition and began a ten-year career spent entirely with New York. His arrival helped launch the core of the Knicks team that later became a championship contender.

The award is sometimes confused with Reed's later honors. He was also the NBA's Most Valuable Player and Finals MVP in 1970, when he famously returned from a severe leg injury to start Game 7 and helped New York win its first championship. Those achievements came years after his rookie season.

A nearby fact fans often ask about is the Knicks' next Rookie of the Year winner: Patrick Ewing won in 1986, more than two decades after Reed.