Himmanuel or TC?
It’s a new week, and with it comes a new debate. We’re now three rounds into Who Really Wore it Best.
Last week, as expected, John Starks dominated Carl Braun with 80% of the votes. This week pits IQ vs. Tyson Chandler, two completely opposite types of players during two very different Knicks eras.
I think it’ll be Chandler who moves on due to his accomplishments over IQ’s but the younger fanbase who still feels bitter that the Knicks didn’t treat him better, may tilt the scale.
#5 Immanuel Quickley — IQ dominated the voting for Who Wore It Best #5, earning 94 of the 130 votes, but at the time WWWB #5 was released, Immanuel Quickley had established himself as one of the Knicks’ most reliable bench contributors and an undeniable spark plug. Less than six weeks later, he was no longer a Knick.
Following the trade with Toronto, Precious Achiuwa inherited Quickley’s No. 5 jersey. If the contest were held again, some might cast their vote for Achiuwa, while others may argue that his injuries and limited time with the Knicks would allow Quickley to retain the top spot.
The Knicks acquired Immanuel Quickley in a draft-night deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since his rookie season, where he averaged 11.4 points per game, Quickley’s production had steadily improved year over year.
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Although Quickley started less than 30 games during his time with the Knicks, his impact was felt far beyond the opening tip. Quickley frequently played a crucial role in closing out tight fourth-quarter battles for the Knicks, earning recognition as one of the league’s premier bench players. Two years ago, he finished as the runner-up for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award.
The Knicks’ failure to sign Quickley to a rookie contract extension before last season frustrated many fans at the time. However, that disappointment quickly faded with the arrival of OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa. Meanwhile, Quickley has struggled with injuries during his time with the Raptors.
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#6 Tyson Chandler — WWIB #6 sparked a closer debate than WWIB #5. Personally, I expected Kristaps Porzingis to receive more than just 19% of the votes, but the real competition came down to Tyson Chandler and Trent Tucker. Ultimately, Chandler secured the win, earning 64 of the 133 votes, nearly double that of Tucker.
Although Chandler was drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Clippers and immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls in the 2001 NBA Draft, it wasn’t until his ninth season that he truly solidified himself as a defensive specialist.
After a series of stints with several teams between 2001 and 2010, he was traded from the New Orleans Hornets to the Dallas Mavericks. Although Chandler played just one season in Dallas, he quickly became the team’s defensive anchor alongside Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd. His impact was profound. He earned his first All-Defensive Team selection, making the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team, and, most importantly, played a crucial role in leading the Mavericks to their first-ever NBA championship.
As Chandler entered free agency after the 2011 season, his market skyrocketed. Ultimately, the Knicks acquired him in a sign-and-trade deal with Dallas, and his impact was immediate. Chandler anchored the Knicks’ defense, helping the team improve its defensive ranking from 22nd in 2010-11 to fifth in 2011-12. That same season, he led the league in field-goal percentage and was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Knick in franchise history to earn the honor.
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In 2013, Chandler earned his first and only All-Star selection, and shortly after, he tied a franchise record by recording 20 or more rebounds in three consecutive games. However, injuries slowed him down that season, and following the 2013-14 campaign, the Knicks traded him back to Dallas. His reunion with the Mavericks was brief, lasting just one season, and from there, Chandler continued his career as a journeyman, playing for the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets, before retiring after the 2019-20 season.
Over the course of his remarkable 19-year NBA career, Chandler played for eight teams. Yet, it was in New York where he achieved some of his most significant career successes.