• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Larry Brown Sports

Larry Brown Sports

Brown Bag it, Baby

  • Home
  • Blog View
  • NFL
  • NCAAF
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • Media
  • Headlines
  • Podcast
BasketballCharlie WardKevin KnoxNew York Knicks

Knicks’ latest trade continues crazy ‘curse’ for team

January 14, 2022 by Darryn Albert • Comments
FacebookTweetLinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsAppEmail
James Dolan looking on
Jan 4, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Executive Chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden, James Dolan, walks off the court after the New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 104-94 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

James Dolan looking on

Over the last two-plus decades, the New York Knicks have been through Van Gundy, Sprewell, Starbury, Isiah, Linsanity, Me7o, Bing Bong, and a whole lot more. Yet the team is still hounded by one particular “curse” that has managed to outlast them all.

The New York Knicks traded away former first-round pick Kevin Knox to the Atlanta Hawks this week as part of their deal for Cam Reddish. Fred Katz of The Athletic pointed out that the trade continued an unbelievable “curse” for the Knicks known as “The Charlie Ward Curse.” Since Charlie Ward, who was drafted by the Knicks back in 1994, no Knicks first-round pick has managed to secure a second contract from the team.

Here is the full list of Knicks’ first-rounders after Ward and before Knox (buckle up): John Wallace, Walter McCarty, Dontae’ Jones, John Thomas, Frederic Weis, Donnell Harvey, Nene Hilario, Michael Sweetney, Channing Frye, David Lee, Renaldo Balkman, Mardy Collins, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Jordan Hill, Iman Shumpert, Tim Hardaway Jr., Kristaps Porzingis, and Frank Ntilikina.

All of those players were traded or otherwise let go before they could land a second contract with the team.

Some on Twitter pointed out that Lee technically got a new one-year deal from the Knicks in 2009. But it was not a multi-year contract and is generally not seen as having broken “The Charlie Ward Curse.”

The Knicks do have a few more chances to finally break the persistent curse in the coming years. RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, and Immanuel Quickley, all of whom were first-round draft picks following Knox, offer plenty of promise for second contracts with the Knicks. But you never know if a blockbuster trade involving those guys will come along in between now and then.

For the time being, “The Charlie Ward Curse” remains the most powerful curse in basketball other than this even more unstoppable curse.

Photo: Jan 4, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Executive Chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden, James Dolan, walks off the court after the New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 104-94 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports


  • i want more great stories!

Sign up today for free and get the best sports content sent to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.

.
LBS iPhone App
Get the App

Follow Us

Get instantly notified of the most viral news stories via Google!

  • Trending stories

Russ Smith poses for a mugshot

Former Final Four hero arrested on suspicion of DUI

6 days ago
Angel Reese in a jersey

Angel Reese wore ridiculous outfit to game before losing to Fever

6 days ago
The New York Knicks logo

1 Knicks player not expected to be back next season

6 days ago
The Lakers logo at half court

Report: Lakers to target ex-NBA rebounding leader in free agency

3 days ago
Deion Sanders in front of a microphone wearing a Colorado hat

Deion Sanders shares update on latest health issue

4 days ago

Sidebar

© 2025 · LB Sports Media Group Inc

  • X
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Process
  • Staff Writers
  • Privacy Policy
Dedicated to the memory of Nevil Vega