Patrick Ewing
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. arrived in the world on the 5th of August 1962, just one day before Jamaica declared its independence from Great Britain. He grew up playing cricket and soccer in Kingston before his family moved to the United States in 1975. The Ewings settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Patrick learned basketball at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School under coaches John Fountain and Mike Jarvis. His rapid development turned him into one of the most intimidating high school players ever seen due to his size and athleticism. He earned Parade All-American honors three times between 1979 and 1981. Hostile crowds often jeered at him during away games, sometimes rocking their team bus when his squad arrived. Despite these challenges, he led his high school team to three consecutive state championships from 1979 to 1981.
Ewing signed a letter of intent to play for coach John Thompson at Georgetown University after visiting six different schools including UCLA and Villanova. Fans hoping for local options like Boston College or Boston University left the room when he announced his choice. During recruitment, a nearby Ku Klux Klan rally dissuaded him from attending the University of North Carolina despite being close to signing with Dean Smith. As a freshman in the 1981, 82 season, he became one of the first college players to start and star on varsity teams as a freshman. That year, the Hoyas reached their first Final Four since 1943 before losing to North Carolina in the championship game. A shot by future NBA superstar Michael Jordan gave North Carolina the lead in the final seconds. The following season featured an early showdown dubbed the Game of the Decade against Virginia and Ralph Sampson. Ewing established himself as a dominating big man by slam dunking right over Sampson during that match. In 1984, Georgetown won its first NCAA Championship with an 84, 75 victory over Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston team. He earned tournament Most Outstanding Player honors that year.
The New York Knicks selected Patrick Ewing as the top pick in the 1985 NBA draft after winning a coin toss lottery. Commissioner David Stern drew the envelope containing the Knicks name from inside a hopper filled with other team logos. The franchise signed him to a ten-year contract worth $32 million described by The New York Times as tremendous at any time. He averaged twenty points, nine rebounds, and two blocks per game during his rookie season while earning Rookie of the Year honors. Over fifteen seasons with the Knicks he became an eleven-time All-Star and made seven All-NBA teams. His jersey number thirty-three was retired by the team on the 28th of February 2003, during a large ceremony at Madison Square Garden. He played one thousand three hundred thirty-nine games for New York making him the only player to reach one thousand games in a Knick uniform. The team reached the NBA Finals twice during his tenure in 1994 and 1999. In 1994 they lost to Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston Rockets in seven games despite setting records for blocked shots in a Finals series.
Ewing won Olympic gold medals as a member of both the 1984 and 1992 United States men's basketball teams. During the 1984 tournament he averaged eleven points across eight games while leading all players with eighteen shot blocks. Basketball Reference noted his defensive dominance throughout that competition. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame referred to the 1992 Dream Team as the greatest collection of basketball talent on the planet. He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame as part of that historic squad in 2009. His individual career earned him induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Massachusetts in 2008. He also received recognition as one of the fifty Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 and later joined the seventy-five Greatest Players list in 2021.
On the 20th of December 1997, Ewing suffered severe injuries during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center. Andrew Lang fouled him while attempting a dunk causing Ewing to land awkwardly on his shooting hand. The result included a displaced fracture, complete dislocation of the lunate bone, and torn ligaments requiring emergency surgery. These injuries were usually reserved for victims of vehicular accidents yet he rehabilitated faster than expected. He missed fifty-six games that season but returned for playoff action against Miami Heat. Despite returning to help defeat Miami in five games, the Knicks lost to Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In subsequent seasons he battled Achilles tendon injuries while leading New York to another Finals appearance in 1999 before losing to San Antonio Spurs four games to one. After playing his final season with the Knicks in 1999, 2000 he requested a trade to Seattle SuperSonics.
Ewing announced his retirement from professional play on the 18th of September 2002 after spending time with Orlando Magic following stints in Seattle. He took an assistant coaching job with Washington Wizards starting in 2002 under owner Michael Jordan. From 2003 through 2006 he served as an assistant with Houston Rockets before resigning to spend more time with family. On the 3rd of July 2007, he joined Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy's staff for the 2007, 08 season. The Magic reached the 2009 NBA Finals where they lost to Los Angeles Lakers. Ewing correctly predicted a win in Game 7 of the second round against Boston Celtics during those playoffs. In November 2013 he became interim head coach of Charlotte Bobcats after Steve Clifford underwent heart surgery. He lost his first game 101, 91 against his former team New York Knicks. On the 3rd of April 2017, he was hired as head coach of Georgetown Hoyas leading them to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2014, 15 season. His sixth season ended with firing on the 9th of March 2023 after finishing 7, 25 overall.
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Common questions
When was Patrick Ewing born and what historical event happened the day after his birth?
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. arrived in the world on the 5th of August 1962, just one day before Jamaica declared its independence from Great Britain.
Which college did Patrick Ewing choose to play basketball for instead of other universities like UCLA or UNC?
Ewing signed a letter of intent to play for coach John Thompson at Georgetown University after visiting six different schools including UCLA and Villanova.
What major injury did Patrick Ewing suffer during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on the 20th of December 1997?
Andrew Lang fouled him while attempting a dunk causing Ewing to land awkwardly on his shooting hand resulting in a displaced fracture complete dislocation of the lunate bone and torn ligaments requiring emergency surgery.
How many times was Patrick Ewing selected as an All-Star during his fifteen seasons with the New York Knicks?
Over fifteen seasons with the Knicks he became an eleven-time All-Star and made seven All-NBA teams.
On which date was Patrick Ewing fired as head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas after finishing the season with a 7-25 record?
His sixth season ended with firing on the 9th of March 2023 after finishing 7, 25 overall.