A basketball question: who is the best player in the Big Apple?

In a basketball-centric city like New York, you might get many different suggestions if you asked people to select the city's top player. Some could name Clyde Frazier, while others might name Dwayne Washington or Connie Hawkins. However, who is the best in reality?

In the game of basketball, Shamorie Ponds is among the best in the world. This doesn't make him the best, but it does give him a fighting chance to top the competition in the Big Apple. In addition, he has skills that you may not anticipate from a young man raised in Brooklyn.

He scored in the top 50 in the country as a freshman. He scored a record 573 points as a freshman.

In his second year as a pro, Ponds saw an increase in his scoring totals. In addition to putting up 17.4 ppg, he also pulled down 4.4 rpg on average. He also had a higher percentage of made three-pointers and free throws.

You might recognize Dwayne Washington if you follow the New York basketball scene. Playing with a lot of energy and speed, he has earned a reputation as a top player. But he's not just a good leader; he's also an accomplished player and coach.

When Washington was a high schooler, he was one of the most sought-after athletes in the country. As of the 1986–1987 season, he was named to the Big East's first team. a member of the league's all-time squad since 2005.

Before attending college, Washington was a well-known figure in the Big Apple. Starring for Boys & Girls High School in Brooklyn, he was named the nation's top high school basketball player in 1983.

Connie Hawkins is among the game's most underappreciated stars. He was the precursor to Michael Jordan in terms of playing style and "above the rim" success. He was also instrumental in establishing Julius Erving's career.

Forward Connie "The Hawk" Hawkins was noted for his aerial prowess and dunks. His professional basketball career spanned the American Basketball League and the National Basketball Association.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has inducted him. But the NBA kicked him out for trying to artificially inflate his scoring average.

Bill Cunningham is arguably the most well-known NBA basketball player. He has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was an All-Star twice. He retired with a career record of 454 victories and 196 defeats.

Bill Cunningham played a pivotal role for the 1967 NBA champion Philadelphia 76ers. This club went 68-13 that year, good enough to win the Eastern Division. During the playoffs, they also won against the New York Knicks.

New York's Dolph Schayes is widely regarded as one of the game's all-time greats. He became a member of the NBA Hall of Fame after leading the 1955 NBA champion Syracuse Nationals to the title. He also scored over 15,000 points and was an All-Star 12 times during his playing career.

Dolph Schayes, a native of the Bronx, entered the NBA at age 20. He was the league's most outstanding first-year performer.

Throughout the history of basketball in New York, Roger Brown stands above every other player. His contributions to the sport go far beyond the numbers on the scoreboard. He was one of the best players in ABA history, and he helped lead the Indiana Pacers to three championships.

In the 1960s, Roger Brown was unstoppable in the ABA. The Indiana Pacers made five trips to the NBA Finals with his assistance. However, the NBA refused to hire him again after a gambling scandal derailed his career.

Roger Brown, although still a high school student, participated in an amateur sports league in Dayton, Ohio. He had a stellar career at Dayton before signing a four-year contract with the Indiana Pacers.

Walter Berry is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most famous and accomplished basketball players in New York City's illustrious past. The May 14, 1964, birthdate of the basketball great is synonymous with his legendary athleticism and professional basketball career.

His NBA career began in 1986, when he was drafted, and he has played for several different clubs. The Portland Trail Blazers traded him to the San Antonio Spurs after his rookie year.

Some of the best basketball players ever included Walt "Clyde" Frazier in their ranks. As a member of the New York Knicks, he was instrumental in the franchise's two NBA championships in the 1970s. While playing for the Knicks, he was named to the All-Star team seven times and to the NBA's first team once. Additionally, he was selected to the All-NBA first team on four separate occasions.

The 18.9 points per game he averaged over his career is an NBA record. He scored 36 points and added six rebounds and seven assists in the Knicks' Game 7 triumph over the Boston Celtics. His play was hailed as unprecedented in the annals of NBA playoff history.