WWIB turns the naughty 40
They say that things don’t get easier with age. That sentiment certainly rings true as WWIB turns “The Dirty 40”. It’s a short list of eight players in franchise history to have worn the #40, with half of them sporting it for just one season or less. Among the remaining four, none have ever achieved All-Star status. Adding to the challenge of making this week’s segment exciting is the reality that there is just one individual who clearly stands out above the rest in the limited lore of those who’ve donned the number 40 for the Knicks.
Kurt Thomas for the win, but will it be unanimous?? Probably not, as we can always count on those to vote against the grain.
Marvin Webster: Webster played 6 seasons with the Knicks. During the 1977-78 season with the Seattle Supersonics, Webster finished 10th in MVP voting and helped lead the Sonics to the NBA Finals. To date, Webster holds the Sonics record for the most rebounds in a half with 21. During the summer of 1978, the Knicks signed Webster as a free agent, and the team had high hopes that Webster could bring his brilliance on the boards to the Garden.
In his first season with the Knicks (1978-79), Webster delivered, averaging 11.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. However, his career trajectory was soon derailed by health issues. He played just 20 games the following season and never again averaged double figures in scoring or rebounding. In 1984, Webster was diagnosed with hepatitis, forcing him to retire and miss the entire 1984 and 1985 seasons. He made a brief comeback with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1986-87, appearing in just 15 games before retiring for good.
On April 4, 2009, Webster was found not breathing in a Tulsa, Oklahoma hotel room. Webster had passed away at the age of 56, and it is believed he died of coronary artery disease.
Walter McCarty: The Knicks selected Walter McCarty, a 1996 NCAA champion, with the 20th overall pick in what is widely regarded as the greatest draft class of all time. Although McCarty’s tenure in New York was short-lived, it coincided with a period of renewed optimism for Knicks fans heading into the 1996 season. Along with McCarty, the team had added three first-round rookies in John Wallace and Dontae’ Jones, signed key free agents Allan Houston and Chris Childs, and pulled off the trade that brought Grandmama to New York.
Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
On a roster loaded with backcourt talent, McCarty spent much of his rookie season on the bench, learning from seasoned veterans. He appeared in 35 regular-season games and two playoff games in limited minutes, gaining valuable experience.
While his time in New York was brief, McCarty found his stride with the Boston Celtics, becoming a fan favorite during an eight-year stint in which he played significant minutes. Known affectionately as “WALTAHHHH” by Celtics fans and announcers, he enjoyed a solid 10-year NBA career. After retiring as a player, McCarty transitioned into coaching, achieving success in both the NCAA and overseas basketball circuits.
Kurt Thomas: Thomas is the obvious choice here. During his time with the Knicks, Thomas played a crucial role as the team’s primary power forward, complementing stars like Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell, and Marcus Camby. His contributions were vital in helping the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 1999 and 2000, as well as the NBA Finals in 1999. In the Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Thomas was tasked with the challenging assignment of defending Tim Duncan at the 4 spot.
Thomas’s best season came in 2001-02 when he started all 82 games and posted career highs, averaging 13.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, highlighted by a career-best 33-point performance on March 7, 2002.
In 2005, Thomas joined the Suns and bounced around the league until he returned to New York in 2012 to finish out his career as a Knick. By the end of his 8 years with the team, Thomas finished with averages of 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, appearing in 569 games, and starting in 429 of those contests.
