Patrick Ewing is one of the greatest players in NBA history. His playing career spanned two decades, during which he became a living legend and an icon of basketball. A 13-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA selection, his name will forever be etched into the annals of National Basketball Association lore.
Drafted first overall by the New York Knicks in 1985, Patrick Ewing quickly made a name for himself with his stellar performance on court. He was named Rookie of the Year that season, and went on to become one of the franchise’s most celebrated players ever. With his tremendous determination and skill at both ends of the court, Ewing proved to be a powerful force that could not be denied. As a center standing 7 feet tall, he was known for his incredible rebounding ability as well as his formidable dunking skills—and opponents feared him accordingly!
He also had quite a reputation off court; having come from Jamaica to attend college at Georgetown University before joining the NBA, Patrick was always conscious about giving back to others less fortunate than himself. This led him to establish several charitable foundations aimed at helping those who had struggled like he did when he came to America as an immigrant looking for opportunities.
Throughout it all, Patrick remained humble and focused on what mattered most: winning games with grace and poise while making sure everyone around him benefited too. His commitment to excellence earned him numerous accolades over two decades in professional basketball—including induction into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008—but perhaps more importantly has left us with an inspiring legacy that will live on for generations.
Patrick Ewing – Early Life
On August 5, 1962, Patrick Aloysius Ewing was born in Kingston, Jamaica – one day prior to the nation declaring independence. As a child he had a knack for cricket and soccer, but it wasn’t until the family’s move to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1975 that he discovered his true talent: basketball.
With John Fountain as his mentor and Mike Jarvis as his coach at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Ewing developed into one of the best high school players in the country – intimidating opponents with his size and athleticism. Despite taunts from rival fans who even rocked the team bus when they arrived at an away game once,Ewing led Cambridge Rindge and Latin to three consecutive Div I state championships between 1979-1981. To further prepare himself for college play he joined MIT-Wellesley Upward Bound Program.
Patrick Ewing – College
As a senior in high school, Ewing signed a letter of intent to play basketball for coach John Thompson at Georgetown University. At the announcement event in Boston, where fans were hoping he would join local schools BC or BU, they were shocked when he chose the Hoyas. Though Ewing was close to signing with UNC during his recruitment process, witnessing a Klan rally nearby convinced him otherwise. He also considered UCLA and Villanova before deciding on Georgetown.
In his freshman season (1981–82), Ewing became one of the first college players to start on varsity as a freshman, leading them to their second Big East tournament title and #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Hoyas advanced to their first Final Four since 1943; defeating Louisville 50-46 to face North Carolina in the championship game – featuring Michael Jordan and James Worthy – where Ewing was called for goaltending five times (intentional per coach Thompson’s orders). Despite having a chance at winning late into the game, Freddy Brown threw an errant pass directly to Worthy which sealed their fate and gave UNC the win.
For the 1982–83 season, Ewing and the Hoyas started off as the #2 ranked team in the country. An early-season showdown with top-ranked Virginia and their star center Ralph Sampson became known as “Game of the Decade”. Despite a loss, Ewing dunked right over Sampson, cementing his status as a powerful big man. The Hoya finished 22–10 but were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Memphis State.
The following year saw Georgetown take home both Big East regular-season and tournament championships while Ewing was named Big East Player of the Year. Advancing to their third Final Four, they faced Kentucky’s never-before-beaten Twin Towers of Sam Bowie and Melvin Turpin. Turning an early 12 point deficit into a win 53–40 victory, they proceeded to face Houston led by future Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon in the National Championship game; Ewing and Georgetown emerged triumphant 84–75 for their only NCAA title ever. He was honored with Most Outstanding Player for his efforts throughout March Madness.
During Ewing’s senior year, Georgetown was ranked #1 in the nation for most of the season. He was named Big East Player of the Year and Georgetown won the Big East tournament title. In the NCAA Tournament they reached the Final Four, where they faced Big East rivals St. John’s. The Hoyas won easily 77–59 and advanced to play unranked Villanova for the title. Despite being favored, Georgetown was upset 66–64.
Ewing received the Naismith Player of the Year Award and the Associated Press Player of the Year. Over four years he helped lead Georgetown to the final game of the NCAA Tournament three times, win three Big East tournament titles, and be named a first-team All-American three times. He was one of the first freshmen to start and lead a major college basketball team and popularized the trend of wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt under a jersey.
Patrick Ewing – New York Knicks
Ewing was expected to be the top pick in the 1985 NBA draft, making history for the team that selected him. From 1966-1984, the NBA used a similar draft system to the NFL, based on teams’ win-loss records. However, instead of the worst team automatically receiving the top pick, the NBA held a coin toss between the two worst teams in each conference, with the winner getting first pick and the loser automatically taking second.
This encouraged losing games to improve draft position and potentially get into the coin toss. The only way two teams from the same conference could have the first two picks was if one of them traded their pick (as the Indiana Pacers had done the previous year).
In 1985, the NBA changed the way it handled drafts. Teams that qualified for playoffs were placed based on their winning percentage, and those that did not entered a lottery. All seven teams had equal odds to get the top pick; Commissioner David Stern randomly drew an envelope belonging to the New York Knicks which led to allegations of rigging.
The Knicks drafted Ewing who went on to become one of the premier centers in the league, earning Rookie of Year honors as well as eleven All-Star selections, once being named to the All-NBA First Team and three times to the All-Defensive Second Team. He was also part of the 1992 Dream Team at the Olympics and one of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Marred by injuries, Ewing was still voted NBA Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Rookie First Team after averaging 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. He quickly became a premier center in the league; eleven times an NBA All-Star with one All-NBA First Team selection, six Second Team selections and three appearances on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In the 1992 Olympics he joined “The Dream Team”.
Additionally, he was chosen as one of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. During the ’92 Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Knicks and Bulls Michael Jordan’s team, Game 1 saw Ewing scoring 34 points., 16 rebounds., and 6 blocks. Despite his bad ankle sprain limiting him physically in Game 6 of that series, Ewing had a great performance helping Knicks beat Bulls 100–86 (27 pts.). That effort earned Marv Albert’s comparison to Willis Reed’s legendary feat but they lost Game 7 110–81.
In the 1993-94 season, 7ft tall Patrick Ewing and his teammate Charles Smith led the New York Knicks to their first NBA Finals appearance in 20 years. While they had the best regular-season record in the Eastern Conference at 60–22, they were ultimately defeated by Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston Rockets.
Despite this disappointment, Ewing set an NBA Finals record for most blocked shots in a single game with 8 as well as setting a record for most blocked shots in a series with 30 which was later broken by Tim Duncan in 2003. The legacy of Ewing’s leadership remains today and will never be forgotten.
In 1995, Patrick Ewing’s New York Knicks faced the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The game went down to the wire with a potential game-tying finger roll attempt by Ewing that rimmed out of bounds and resulted in a loss for the Knicks.
The following year, they were eliminated in five games by Michael Jordan’s record-setting Bulls. In 1997, Ewing was involved in a brawl during their playoff matchup against the Miami Heat; unfortunately, they lost three consecutive games and were eliminated from contention.
Despite this setback, Ewing returned strong after suffering an injury sustained while playing against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 20th which required emergency surgery. He led his team to victory over the Heat once again and advanced all the way to the Finals where they ultimately fell short against San Antonio Spurs 4–1. This season also marked his 1,000th NBA game as well as his last one with the New York Knicks finishing with a franchise-record of 1,039 total games Ewing played for them.
Patrick Ewing – Post-Knicks Career
In 2000, Ewing departed New York as a part of a trade to the Seattle SuperSonics. The Knicks sent him and Chris Dudley to Phoenix with Glen Rice, Luc Longley, Travis Knight, Vladimir Stepania, Lazaro Borrell, Vernon Maxwell and two first-round draft picks from both Los Angeles Lakers and Seattle plus two second-round selections from the Sonics being received in return.
After an initial season with the SuperSonics followed by another one at Orlando Magic he declared his retirement on September 18th 2002. Thereafter Ewing was offered a job as assistant coach for Washington Wizards which he accepted.
Throughout 1,183 games over 16 seasons Ewing averaged 21 points per game alongside 9.8 rebounds & 2.4 blocks whilst having shot better than 50% of his attempts during that time frame. As of 2021 he is ranked 23rd on NBA scoring list with 24 815 points. In 2001 he testified in Atlanta’s Gold Club prostitution and fraud federal trial where owner Thomas Sicignano informed that he had arranged prostitutes for some professional athletes including himself who admitted receiving oral sex twice though never charged with any crime.
On February 28th 2003 Ewing’s jersey number 33 was retired by the team at Madison Square Garden ceremony thus marking an unprecedented occasion when representing Knicks during 2019 NBA draft lottery held on May 14th leading them to third overall pick in said draft class.
Patrick Ewing – National Team Career
Ewing was a member of gold-medal winning teams – the 1984 and 1992 United States men’s basketball squads, allowing him to win two Olympic Gold Medals. During his time with the ’84 team, he averaged 11 points per game and led all players in blocks with 18. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has described the ’92 Dream Team as “a gathering of extraordinary talent not seen before or since”.
Patrick Ewing – Coaching Career
From 2002 to 2006, Ewing worked as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets respectively. After resigning to spend more time with his family, he was hired in 2007 by first-year Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy as one of four assistants.
In 2009, the team reached the NBA Finals but were unfortunately defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers. During this period, Ewing correctly predicted a win in Game 7 of the second round against their rivals – defending champions Boston Celtics – and witnessed Dwight Howard set a new record for most blocked shots in a single Finals game (9).
In 2010, Patrick had the opportunity to work with his son Patrick Ewing Jr. at summer league for the Magic. Three years later, he joined Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) as an assistant coach before eventually being appointed interim head coach due to Steve Clifford’s heart surgery. Eventually on April 3rd 2017, after taking charge of his former college Georgetown Hoyas’ coaching duties; they made it into the 2019 National Invitation Tournament which ended their longest NCAA drought since 2015.
The following year saw them crowned Big East tournament champions despite entering as eight seed – defeating Villanova Wildcats in quarterfinal and Creighton Bluejays 73–48 in championship game – qualifying them for 2021 NCAA Division I basketball tournament though they were unable to build on that success next season finishing 6–25 overall and going 0–19 in Big East Conference play followed by an early exit from 2022 Big East tournament.
Patrick Ewing – Personal Life
During his college years, Patrick Ewing interned in the office of Senator Bob Dole during multiple summers In 1996, he was featured in Space Jam as one of five NBA players whose talent had been stolen (along with Charles Barkley, Shawn Bradley, Larry Johnson and Muggsy Bogues). Additionally, he made cameos as himself on various shows such as Spin City, Herman’s Head, Mad About You and Webster.
From 1990 to 1998, Ewing was married to Rita Williams-Ewing and they had three children, including Patrick Ewing Jr. In 2001 he testified in a federal trial regarding an Atlanta club owner charged with facilitating prostitution. He admitted receiving oral sex from dancers at the club between 1996 and 1997 but did not consider it an act of prostitution.
After Alonzo Mourning’s kidney ailment diagnosis in 2000, Ewing promised that he would donate one of his kidneys if needed; however, when tested for compatibility in 2003 Mourning’s cousin proved to be a better match. Patrick Jr., wearing the same jersey number as his father (33), transferred to Georgetown University after two years at Indiana University and was later drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2008 before being traded to the New York Knicks – his father’s old team – where he ultimately failed to make their final roster and instead went on to spend most of his career playing basketball internationally or within the NBA Development League.
He also appeared in a 2009 Snickers ad suggesting that those who eat the candy bar might “get dunked on by Patrick Chewing”. Lastly, he co-wrote ‘In the Paint’ – a painting how-to book for children – and donated $3.3 million to Georgetown University Athletics Center; an amount which referred to his jersey number 33.
Patrick Ewing – Endorsements
In 1986, Ewing began his sneaker endorsement journey with Adidas. Subsequently in 1991, Next Sports and Ewing Athletics collaborated to produce the sporting goods giant’s signature shoes for sale in the United States. After a 16 year hiatus, David Goldberg of GPF Footwear LLC teamed up with Ewing to revive the vintage line of sneakers due to its popularity among customers on account of its chic retro style.
Patrick Ewing – Net Worth
Patrick Ewing is a retired NBA star who has amassed a net worth of approximately $75 million. This wealth was accumulated through his impressive NBA career, as well as through endorsement deals and other investments. His net worth has made him one of the wealthiest former NBA players in history.
Did Patrick Ewing make the Hall of Fame?
He is a two-time inductee into the prestigious Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. He was honored for his individual career accomplishments in 2008 and again as part of the celebrated 1992 Olympic team in 2010.
Why did Patrick Ewing wear a shirt under his jersey?
In the 1980s, Patrick Ewing began wearing a T-shirt underneath his Hoyas jersey to counter the chill he experienced during games. Comfort was his sole motivation in making this sartorial decision; it simply provided him with a layer of warmth.
How many MVPs did Patrick Ewing have?
The legendary Patrick Ewing achieved tremendous success throughout his basketball career. He was a three-time NBA All-Defensive selection and appeared in two championship series, while also being listed among the top five MVP contenders six times. Furthermore, during his run with Georgetown University, he won the NCAA title and earned the Final Four Most Outstanding Player Award.
When was Patrick Ewing drafted?
Selected with the first overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft, Patrick Ewing was drafted by the Knicks who had previously won the inaugural NBA draft lottery. Upon joining the team, Ewing gained immediate recognition for his potential to be a “franchise-saving” player and was quickly thrust into the public spotlight.
