Patrick Ewing’s Net Worth: NBA Earnings, Endorsements, Business Ventures & More

Ever wonder just how much an NBA legend like Patrick Ewing earned during his incredible career? A player who wasn’t just a basketball legend, but the heart and soul of the New York Knicks. If you followed the NBA in the ’80s and ’90s, you know exactly who we’re talking about. The 11x All Star spent most of his career anchoring the Knicks as their starting center, earning two Olympic gold medals along the way—one with the legendary 1992 Dream Team.

And yes, he failed to get a championship win for the Knicks, but he led the team to playoffs in 13 of the 15 seasons he played with them. No wonder he is considered one of the most important players in franchise history. Probably something that the franchise already realized and thus made him the highest-paid player in the league for six whole seasons. Yep, even more times than both Michael Jordan and LeBron James combined. Makes you wonder about his net worth and league earnings. So let’s have a closer look.

Patrick Ewing’s net worth and NBA earnings as a player

The 11x All-Star has a net worth of $75 million as of 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth. And his journey to financial success is nothing short of legendary. It all began in 1985 when Ewing entered the league with a bang. According to a NY Times article from that year, the New York Knicks signed him to a groundbreaking contract that guaranteed $17 million over 6 years. But there was more.

If he stayed with the team for 10 years, the deal could have surpassed $30 million. The final four years, however, weren’t guaranteed. The deal made him the highest-paid rookie in NBA history, surpassing Hakeem Olajuwon’s $7 million deal from 1984. Imagine the pressure on a rookie to live up to that kind of contract. But Patrick Ewing didn’t just meet expectations; he smashed them by winning Rookie of the Year.

And not only did Big Pat fulfill the 10-year clause, but he stayed with the Knicks for 15 seasons. Now, although he did miss the playoffs in his first two years, he led the team to 13 consecutive appearances. No wonder that by the time he completed 10 seasons with the Knicks, Pat was making history with an annual salary of $18.7 million. This came as the first instance that a player earned over $15 million in a season. But that wasn’t even his peak.

In the 1997-98 season, he earned $20.5 million, and during his final two seasons with the Knicks, he took home a combined $33.5 million. All told, he earned over $100 million with the franchise. But even after leaving the Knicks, Patrick Ewing continued to cash in. He earned $14 million in one season with the Seattle SuperSonics before finishing his career with the Orlando Magic. In total, the 11x All Star’s NBA earnings came to over $119 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth.

Big Pat, however, was in no mood to let the end of his NBA career put a stop to his financial growth.

Ewing’s earnings after his retirement as an NBA star

For the 11x All-Star, the story didn’t end when he retired. If anything, it proved to be a new chapter of his basketball journey. Like many greats, Patrick Ewing couldn’t resist staying connected to the game. Shortly after retirement, he stepped into coaching, starting as an assistant with the Washington Wizards before moving on to the Houston Rockets.

The 11x All Star later joined the Magic and then Charlotte Hornets, racking up 15 years of coaching experience. Coincidentally, the same amount of time he spent dominating as a Knick. Eventually, in 2017, he took his 15 years of coaching experience to Georgetown University as the head coach of the team.

This second Ewing Era has had its ups and downs, but there have been shining moments. Case in point: in 2021, his Georgetown Hoyas shocked the basketball world by winning the Big East Tournament as an eight-seed. Now, during his time at the university, Ewing earned about $4 million a year in this role, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Combine that with nearly two decades in coaching, and you’re looking at close to $80 million in earnings. Even before endorsements.

Speaking of endorsements, Patrick Ewing didn’t just wear sneakers; he built his financial empire with them. His 1985 deal with Adidas birthed the “Rivalry” line, a nod to his on-court battles with Michael Jordan. And by 1990, his own Ewing Athletics brand reportedly sold $100 million worth of sneakers.

And let’s not forget the 11x All Star’s foray into Hollywood! With roles in 4 films, including his role as the Angel of Death in The Exorcist III, Ewing’s bank account kept growing.