Former Knicks Hall of Fame Superstar Back with Team in New Role

Hall of Fame former New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing is rejoining the franchise he brought back to prominence — in a new role.

New York announced in a press statement that the 11-time All-Star is back in town, this time serving as a team basketball ambassador. But that’s not all, he is slated to help New York’s basketball and business operations departments, suggesting his role will be strategic, not just ceremonial. Per Chris Herring of ESPN, Ewing will work in concert with head coach Tom Thibodeau and team president Leon Rose.

Ewing was selected out of Georgetown University, whom he had led to the 1984 NCAA title, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft.

Across a decorated 17-year career, the 7-footer was named to the aforementioned 11 All-Star squads, seven All-NBA Teams, three All-Defensive Teams. He was honored as a member of the NBA‘s 75th Anniversary Team in 2022. Ewing also claimed a pair of Olympic gold medals, alongside his longtime Hall of Fame rivals Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, in 1984 and 1992.

Ewing was the best player on a pair of NBA Finals-bound Knicks clubs, in 1994, and 1999, though he never won and was hurt for the second half of the 1999 postseason.

He was finally dealt to the Seattle Supersonics ahead of the 2000-01 season, his age-38 season. He wrapped up his career after a reserve stint on the Orlando Magic in 2001-02. Across his 15 seasons with the Knicks, Ewing averaged 22.8 points on 50.8 percent field goal shooting and 74.2 percent foul line shooting, 10.4 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 2.0 dimes, and 1.0 swipes a night.

“As I said the day my number 33 jersey lifted into the rafters at MSG [New York homecourt Madison Square Garden], I will always be a Knick and I will always be a New Yorker,” Ewing said. “I can’t wait to get started in this new position and to officially be back with the organization I love so much. The Garden has always been my home and I’m looking forward to working with (president of basketball operations) Leon Rose, Coach (Tom) Thibodeau, the team, and everyone else that makes this place so special.”

When his playing career wrapped up, Ewing turned to coaching. He was an assistant coach under Doug Collins during Jordan’s final playing season with the Washington Wizards in 2002-03, then served as an assistant, alongside Thibodeau, on the Houston Rockets. They worked on the staff of Ewing’s former Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy (Thibodeau was an assistant on those New York staff back then, too). Ewing then worked as an assistant coach on the Orlando Magic from 2007-12, before taking on his final assistant gig to date, for the then-Jordan-owned Charlotte Bobcats/Charlotte Hornets, from 2013-17.

The 62-year-old most recently took another trip down memory lane when he returned to his NCAA alma mater to serve as the Hoyas’ head coach from 2017-23. He posted a 75-109 record, leading Georgetown to the 2018 NIT First Round and the 2021 NCAA Tournament Round of 64.

“The New York Knicks and Patrick Ewing are synonymous with one another, and we are humbled and excited to bring Patrick back home,” Rose said. “A monumental figure in New York basketball lore, Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge from his time both on and off the court that is unmatched. We are ecstatic that Patrick will once again be back in the blue and orange.”

The Knicks are firmly ensconced as one of the Eastern Conference’s best clubs and have been a frequent playoff presence since Thibodeau took the gig. New York made a pair of massive trades this summer, acquiring All-Defensive small forward Mikal Bridges and four-time center All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns in separate deals. New York finished with a 50-32 record and the East’s No. 2 seed last year, and advanced to the second round for the second consecutive season, but is clearly hoping to return to the Finals for the first time since Ewing’s reign.

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