Patrick Ewing is recognized as one of the league’s all-time greats. He is one of the best big man players the game has ever seen. The NBA all-star is a defensive and offensive legend who was able to dominate on both ends of the court.
Learn more about the basketball player below.
Early Days
Patrick Ewing was born on August 5, 1962. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica. It was not until he was 11 years old that he came to America. Soon after his arrival, he would be introduced to the game of basketball.
Despite starting the sport late, Ewing had a natural gift that was hard to overlook. Mix that with his height and size, it was easy to see the potential of the Big Man.
Highly Recruited
In High School, Ewing excelled and he was heavily recruited. Georgetown University offered the future Hall of Famer a scholarship. Ewing led the Hoyas to three Division 1 National Championship games and a national title in 1984.
Number 1
Patrick Ewing was picked number 1 in the 1985 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. The impact the Center had on the league was immediate. He would be named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1986. His career would be a stellar one.
The Knicks were considered contenders for most of his career, but they never were able to win a title. Despite not bringing a trophy to New York, Ewing is the franchise’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, and blocks.
Legacy
Ewing won two gold medals in the Olympics, one of them with the iconic “Dream Team.” In 1996, he made the list of the 50 Greatest Players of all-time. In 2008, Ewing was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
After retirement, Ewing would pursue a career as a coach. Ewing served as an assistant coach for many teams in the pros before getting a head coaching offer. He would become the head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas in 2017.
- Adam C. Better
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