Category Archives: Knicks

Ten years after leaving New York, Marcus Camby has finally come home. The 6’11”, 235 pound center will play his 17^th season in a Knicks uniform under the bright lights of Manhattan. The 38 year old is a huge defensive presence in the paint and is one of the greatest shot blockers of all time. Dikembe Mutombo is the only other player to lead the League in blocks three years in a row.

After playing three seasons for the UMass Minutemen and breaking all sorts of school records, Camby was picked second in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. Although Camby had some amazing moments in college and was named the College Player of the Year in the 1995-96 season, he also had some bad ones. While still a college student, he accepted money from agents hoping to represent him once he played in the NBA. He also accepted other forms of payment such as rental cars and jewelry.

But after being drafted by the Raptors, Camby was able to move forward in his career. Although he did not win Rookie of the Year, Marcus was one of the five players named to the All-Rookie 1^st team. And in his second year in the NBA, Camby averaged 3.7 blocks, the most in the League that season, and his personal best.

After two solid years in Toronto, the Knicks were able to acquire Camby in a trade for the veteran, Charles Oakley. Camby was a part of the Knicks team that was the first #8 seed to make the NBA Finals. And when Patrick Ewing got injured, Camby even started three games in the playoffs.

The Knicks kept Camby until 2002 and then made one of the worst trades in Franchise history. They gave up Camby and in return got Antonio McDyess. That move didn’t quite pan out and a few years later in 2007, Marcus Camby won Defensive Player of the Year with the Denver Nuggets. Camby played in 70 games that year and was able to average 11.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and was the League leader with 3.3 blocks.

After another year of success in Denver, Camby was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Marcus was not shy about voicing his opinion and was very vocal about his discontent with the Clippers organization. Camby still remained an elite rebounder and shot blocker throughout his two years in LA despite wishing that he was still in Denver.

In 2010, Camby was sent to Portland where his production began to drop. And last season, Camby was dealt to the Houston Rockets just before the Trade Deadline. Last season, Marcus averaged 4.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. These numbers are not terrible, but Camby is definitely not what he used to be. But the Knicks hope to get a blast from the past and a Marcus Camby that can help improve the 18^th best rebounding team in the NBA and a group of All-Stars that have trouble on the defensive end of the court.

Marcus Camby has somehow been able to maintain career averages of 9.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks. These are great stats for a 38 year old going into his 17^th season.

The one major concern about Camby over the years has been his durability. Can he stay healthy? Marcus Camby has not played 82 games in a season ever in his career. He has only played 70 games four times in his long career and he is now more injury prone than ever at his age. But if Camby can stay healthy, he would be just about the best guy the Knicks could ask for to back up Tyson Chandler.

The last time Camby was in a Knicks uniform, he suffered a season ending right hip injury and New York decided to get rid of the big guy. Now his career has come full circle and New Yorkers throughout all the Boroughs (maybe not Brooklyn) will be hoping that he can help the Knicks win a championship, and prove to all Nets fans that the Knicks are still the best team in New York.