With the New York Knicks making their long-awaited return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, and having already laid down a statement win in Game 1 against Victor Wembenyama’s San Antonio Spurs 95-105, we asked AI who it thinks are the 10 greatest players to put on the Big Apple jersey.

10

Dick Barnett

Entry number 10 on this list is a basketball Hall of Famer held in the highest esteem. The shooting guard started his career in the league at Syracuse Nationals (later renamed the Philadelphia 76ers) as the fourth pick in the 1959 NBA Draft following an incredibly proficient college stint at Tennessee A&I State College, where he won three NAIA basketball championships under the tutelage of John McLendon, often attributed as the founder of the fast break and full-court press.

Joining the Knicks in 1965 from the Los Angeles Lakers after averaging solid points per game returns, that trade turned out to be a stroke of genius for his new team, with a 23.1 scoring average in his first season for “Fall Back Baby.” The early ’70s were when it really started to come together in New York, culminating in NBA championship wins in 1970 and again in 1973.

With both those wins coming against the Lakers, the LA-based franchise must have wondered why they ever let the No. 12 leave.

9

Earl Monroe

NBA fans of a certain era will need no introduction to the next man to grace this list. Earl “The Pearl” Monroe was something of a unique entity in the ’70s. Known for an impossible-to-guard spin move that left defenders questioning their profession, the Baltimore Bullets took to their 1968 rookie of the year instantly.

When its hated rivals, the New York Knicks, came calling with an offer the future NBA champion couldn’t resist in 1971, he took that rookie-season productivity to a whole new level, helping secure the 1973 NBA Championship alongside Dick Barnett.

In 2021, the four-time NBA All-Star was selected for the NBA 75th-anniversary team. His showstopping, high-scoring output, and impact on the league, made his inclusion a nailed-on certainty.

8

Bill Bradley

Bill Bradley’s high-IQ plays were an essential cog in the ever-present 1970 team that won two championships, perhaps even more so than the aforementioned stars.

“Dollar Bill” wasn’t flashy, but what he gave to the Knicks in terms of structure and court awareness was worth its weight in gold. His nickname belies that fact, not because he spent his money on fast cars or nights out, but because he was always a sure thing when he played at Madison Square Garden.

Accomplished long before he entered the NBA scene, he captained the US Olympic basketball team to glory at Tokyo 1964. He even put his league aspirations on hold to attend Oxford University, where he studied economics and history, and won a EuroLeague title on the side with Olimpia Milano.

The two-time champion and 1973 NBA All-Star’s No. 24 jersey now proudly hangs in the rafters of the arena where he achieved so much.

7

Carmelo Anthony

Now switching our attention to a more modern player, watching Carmelo “Melo” Anthony was a joy. Making his way into the league in 2003 in a draft class that had no equal (LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade), he left his mark in the NBA with 28,289 points, placing him just outside the top 10 on the all-time scoring list.

A decorated Olympian, he also played a contributing factor in three consecutive gold medals for Team USA in 2008, 2012, and 2016. While he never obtained a ring during his 19-year NBA career, his stats speak for themselves.

6

Dave DeBusschere

An all-around athlete, DeBusschere was always destined for greatness, but that greatness could have been found outside the NBA court if things had turned out differently.

Long before Michael Jordan took up Major League Baseball at the peak of his prowess, another man had already made a similar decision, choosing to focus his future on basketball. A talented pitcher in his own right, DeBusschere signed for the Chicago White Sox in 1962, with his last appearance coming a year later.

Around this time, the NBA came calling for this defensive 6-foot-6 powerhouse, who averaged 11.0 rebounds per game across his illustrious career with the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks from 1962 to 1974, making him a vital cog in the Knicks’ championship-winning team.

5

Bernard King

A menace on the fast break, Bernard King was the model of what a small forward should strive to be.

A 4x NBA All-Star who consistently shot above 50% from the field in an era more focused on strength and size than on scoring productivity, King helped change the game of basketball in the 1980s.

Inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012, few could argue against that. 19,655 points (22.5 PPG) and a scoring champion in the 1985 season with a dizzying 32.9 average. It begs the question: just how much greater would his productivity have been in the modern era?

4

Jalen Brunson

A few may think it’s premature to add Jalen Brunson to this list as an active NBA player, but when you consider the transformative journey the New York franchise has been on since Brunson arrived, it makes a whole lot of sense.

Once seen as the basement dwellers of the NBA, the league’s landscape began to change when “The Brunson Burner” came to town. From finishing 11th in the East in 2021-22 to consecutive postseason appearances, the landscape in NY has changed, thanks in no small part to Brunson’s stat line. 2025-26 was proof of that, with 26.0 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game.

And having made their way to the NBA Finals off the back of a convincing sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brunson and co. will be hoping to guide the organisation to its first NBA Championship since 1973, a sentence that would have been alien to fans just a short time ago.

3

Willis Reed

Captain, leader, legend. Those are just some of the words that would best describe Willis Reed.

“The Captain” was a certified great who lifted his franchise to greatness. Spending the entirety of his NBA career with the New York Knicks, dominant and combative in equal measure, he won the NBA Rookie of the Year despite being selected in the second round of the NBA Draft of 1964.

Despite being a glass operative, his scoring average in that first year in the league was seventh overall with an even better rebound proficiency (14.7 rpg). In the 1969-70 season, it all clicked together. The Knicks, having recruited well, enjoyed a franchise-record 60-game record.

But it is that famous Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals on the 8th of May 1970 that Reed will be most remembered for. The regular-season MVP, who had injured himself in Game 5 and missed Game 6 with a thigh injury, was expected to be out of action for the final match. Reed had other ideas and produced one of the NBA’s most iconic moments as he took to the court to nullify Wilt Chamberlain’s output and secure the Knicks’ first NBA championship.

2

Walt Frazier

Widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in Knicks’ history, Walt “Clyde” Frazier’s performance in the aforementioned Game 7 was as legendary as Willis Reed’s shock appearance.

Carrying the brunt of the weight on the night, Frazier delivered 36 points, 19 assists, and seven rebounds. A floor general who could defend the rim and score at will, he was a monstrous talent that many opponents, including that legendary LA Lakers team, had little answer for.

Making seven consecutive NBA All-Defensive First Team appearances from 1969-1975, he would repeat the feat once more in 1973. His legacy as one of the greats was secured when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987.

1

Patrick Ewing

Who else could have been number one on this list?

The first overall pick of the NBA Draft of 1985 lived up to every one of his sizeable billing. An 11-time NBA All-Star, the center spent 15 of his 17 NBA seasons as a certified Knicks fan-favourite.

Leading the Knicks to the NBA Finals in the ’90s (1994 and 1999), during the era of Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, he gave New Yorkers hope that anything was possible.

Often listed as one of the best players to never win an NBA ring, Ewing proved that a legacy can be cemented even without one. Despite leaving the Knicks in 2000, his record as the franchise’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks has stood the test of time.

Through some very solid work in the transfer window in recent years, Real Madrid have built one of the most impressive young squads in all of football. With the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe and Thibaut Courtois all playing for the team, there aren’t many sides in world football who can compete with them.

As a result, though, they’re certainly having to pay for their talent and their payroll is pretty hefty. While Kylian Mbappe and Trent Alexander-Arnold both joined the club at the end of their contracts at previous clubs, both men are on eye-watering salaries at the Bernabeu. They aren’t the only ones, either. Below are the wages earned by each member of Los Blancos’ first-team squad.

Goalkeepers

In goal, it should come as a surprise to no one that Thibaut Courtois is comfortably the highest earner. The Belgian joined Madrid in 2018 from Chelsea and has been their number one choice since. Aside from spells out with injuries, there’s never any doubt about his spot in the starting lineup and his weekly wage reflects that. Courtois is on £249,824-a-week.

In some distance behind him, Andriy Lunin is the only other goalkeeper currently in the first team squad and he is on £76,280-a-week. As Courtois’ back-up, first-team opportunities aren’t something he’s expected to be presented with too often, but he has stepped up magnificently during the former Chelsea man’s absences whenever needed.

Defenders

Like in goal, there’s a clear winner in terms of the highest-paid defenders at Real Madrid, with David Alaba making almost £100,000-a-week more than any other defender in the squad. The Austrian full-back takes home £374,736 on a weekly basis. That’s more than Trent Alexander-Arnold’s £277,638, while Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao are both making the exact same amount of money each week, on £242,829 each.

Similarly, Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy are on the same wages, with the full-backs earning £173,545-a-week each. Fellow defenders, Alvaro Carreras and Dean Huijsen, earn £149,228. Raul Asencio and Fran Garcia round out the list of defenders, on £104,093 and £86,772 every week, respectively.

Ibrahima Konate has agreed to join the club from Liverpool on a free transfer when his contract expires. According to reports, he will earn just shy of £200,000 weekly.

Midfielders

Jude Bellingham has been one of the best midfielders in the world since his move to Real Madrid in 2023 and he’s being paid like the best midfielder in the world too. The Englishman is on £ 346,923 per week at the Santiago Bernabeu and is comfortably ahead of Federico Valverde in second place out of the club’s midfielders.

The Uruguayan is making £277,638 every seven days, with Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga also making over £200k, on £208,187 each week. Dani Ceballos is expected to leave this summer, but is currently earning a handsome £173,545 ever week as it stands.

Forwards

Kylian Mbappe is far and away the highest earner at Real Madrid right now, taking home over half a million pounds every single week. It’s an astonishing figure and shows just how highly he’s rated at the Santiago Bernabeu. He’s done a solid job repaying them, though, having enjoyed an electric first two seasons at the club individually. Some way behind him in second place among the forwards is Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian superstar is making just over £400,000-a-week.

His compatriot Rodrygo is on £277,638-a-week,while Brahim Diaz and Franco Mastantuono are the last forwards making over £100k-a-week. They are both on £121,415-per-week, while Arda Guler, Endrick and Gonzalo Garcia round out the group, taking home £86,772, £34,642 and £27,814 every week, respectively.

All figures courtesy of Capology and Transfermarkt and accurate as of 04-06-26.

Tottenham are set to rekindle their interest in Manchester City winger Savinho, GIVEMESPORT understands.

Spurs made a series of offers for the Brazilian last summer, with the highest bid exceeding £60million. Savinho wanted to join, but GMS understands Manchester City board member Ferran Soriano blocked the move.

City felt selling Savinho was a mistake, believing his high-ceiling was just cause to keep him at the club. The Brazilian went on to make 24 Premier League appearances last season, scoring just once.

Savinho will miss the World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico

The 22-year-old Savinho failed to make Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the World Cup and will now consider his Manchester City future. Key to any decision will be incoming new manager Enzo Maresca, and whether Savinho feels he will get enough game time at the Etihad Stadium.

Spurs’ bid last summer was viewed as competitive, but Manchester City decided not to sell at any price.

There has been no new bid for Savinho yet, but that could change this month as Spurs want to move quickly to back Roberto De Zerbi in the transfer market.

Agreements in principle are already in place with defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi to sign on free transfers from Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively. Spurs want to move quickly to formalise both deals to avoid any surprises.

Spurs have also seen a bid rejected by Brighton for centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke. Brighton are thought to be holding out for a fee in the region of £70million for the defender who has just one year left on his contract.

Two midfielders Tottenham are interested in signing

And a new central midfielder is on the cards too. Joao Palhinha, who spent the season on loan at Spurs from Bayern Munich, is open to staying, and clarity on his future is expected soon. De Zerbi has already admitted that he would “100%” like to sign the Portuguese permanently.

Spurs are also one of the clubs to have considered Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, but Everton are considered frontrunners for his signature.

And there is an appreciation for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, who is also on Manchester United’s list of options to sign this summer. Bournemouth intend to try and ward off suitors for him by offering Scott a new deal as they hope to end summer speculation over his future.