KNICKS HONOR FRANCHISE LEGENDS ON MARCH 23

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball OperationsDonnie WalshÂ announced today that the team will be honoring six of the greatest players to have played for the franchise with theÂ Knicks Legends AwardsÂ on March 23, when the team takes on the Orlando Magic. A seventh award, theÂ Knickerbocker Legacy Award,Â will also be presented to the individual who exudes the qualities of what it means to be a Knickerbocker: Pride, Tradition & Class.

â€œRecognizing the strong tradition and important contributions of our Knicks alumni is essential in preserving the teamâ€™s rich history, something that is important to all of us as we proceed into a new era of Knicks basketball,â€ Walsh said. â€œThese players – and their teams – represent a model for me as we move forward. There is no better way to honor these great men than to let our fans show their appreciation at the Worldâ€™s Most Famous Arena.â€

To celebrate the teamâ€™s proud history, the Knicks Alumni Relations Department created an 11-person committee that selected the individuals who had a significant impact on the court in their respective decade. At halftime on March 23, each of the winners will be presented with a special Legends Ring to commemorate the occasion. The current decadeâ€™s best will be honored in 2010.

The following are the winners, as voted by the committee:

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1940â€™s:Â Carl Braun

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1950â€™s:Â Richie Guerin

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1960â€™s:Â Willis Reed

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1970â€™s:Â Walt Frazier

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1980â€™s:Â Bernard King

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1990â€™s:Â Patrick Ewing

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Legacy Award:Â Dick McGuire

A media availability session for all winners is scheduled from 5:00-5:30 p.m. at MSGâ€™s Expo Center for all credentialed media. (Please note that, unfortunately, Carl Braun will not be in attendance.)

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