The New York Knicks has a major market, a historical stadium, and a loyal fan base. With that being said, the organization has been fighting for relevancy since the turn of the century. Sure, there’s been some exciting — albeit fleeting — moments: Carmelo becoming the hero of New York City and Linsanity shocking the world. But where is the winning culture Knicks fans desperately desire? For the lowly Knicks, the answer lies more so in their past than in their future. Specifically, the 2009 NBA Draft.

During the 2009 NBA Draft the Knicks wanted Stephen Curry. The Knicks had the 8th pick in the draft and contemplated trading for an earlier pick to guarantee they could draft the sharp-shooter out of Davidson. But they didn’t, and Stephen Curry — despite wanting to be a Knick — was drafted by the Golden State Warriors. The Knicks would go on to draft forward Jordan Hill. Yup, JORDAN HILL. Oh, what could have been.

How do we know Curry would have propelled the Knicks franchise to relevancy? It’s simple. Coach Mike D’Antoni. D’Antoni’s basketball vision was ahead of its time. While most NBA teams at the time played methodically to get off a good shot, Mike D’Antoni believed the most difficult shots to guard were in transition before the defense could set up (remember D’Antoni’s Seven Seconds or Less Phoenix Suns). Now imagine the most transition-centric coach in the NBA giving the reigns of his team to Stephen Curry, the best transition shooter of all time.

Steph Curry would have given the Knicks something to build around. Not just a tremendous player but also a humble leader, The Baby-Faced Assassin would have changed the Knicks culture for years, if not decades.

Thirteen years later, the Knicks are still searching for a franchise talent, still searching for relevancy. Sorry, Knicks fans. Your time will come. Won’t it?